Heyo from Malealea Lesotho and half way around the world! I don’t know if its set in yet but month 4 is already half way over! Which means a month from now ill be half way through the race. That is insane! It feels like just yesterday I set out for training camp which in reality was 5 months ago! Man time is flying by isn’t it?
This month my team and I are partnering with another team from my squad for ministry with Africa 4 Jesus. We’re living in the remote valley of Malealea which is filled with varying villages and the sweetest people. On Monday through Thursday my team and I walk down to a neighboring village and go from house to house offering help with anything they need. Peter, our ministry host, has hopes that in doing this we will be able to cultivate a relationship with the home owners and be able to share the word and love of Christ with them.
So far I have been loving Lesotho! Every house we visit is so welcoming and interested in us. We’ve been able to take turns at each house sharing our favorite scriptures or what God lays upon us and then explain it to them. It’s humbling seeing how the people of these villages live. With next to nothing and yet they’re always so happy to offer us bread, tea, peaches, etc. It has turned my world and perspective of life upside down. The people of Malealea work so hard every day, out in the fields, tending to the kids… I mean just fetching water is a task in itself. And yet they’re so greatful for what they have and never complain. I know I could learn a thing or two from that mindset.
Health wise this month has been one of my best months yet! A HUGE thank you to all of you prayer warriors and the love you have sent my way. Central America was very hard on my body, but so far Africa has been good to me. Praise! I’ve had a bit of a head cold (runny nose, cough, headache) but I believe that’s from all the travel and change in altitude. And lets be honest I’ll take a head cold over tummy troubles any day of the week. Haha.
As I begin to transition out of month 4 and into month 5 I have a couple of updates and prayer requests. As you all know the race is all about flexibility and change. My leadership team has decided that after month 4 my squad will be experiencing team changes. To explain a little, I am currently on team Daughter Zion, made up of Anna, Ashley, Kasie, Jessica, Lynden, Mary Beth, and myself. After Lesotho is over we will be at what’s called a debrief(a few days in between months where we can relax, recharge, and reconvene. At this debrief my leadership team will put me on a new team with different girls from my squad. As I am a bit bummed because I have grown so close with my team I am excited to step into this new season. Anytime the Lord has called for a change in pace with my race it has caused immense growth within me. So I’m ready for this new unknown that will be my next team, but sad to leave what I’ve come to know and love on Daughter Zion. I’d like to ask for your prayers as i am transitioning into this new phase in the race. As ready as I am to see what the Lord is planning its not making it much easier to realize I’m not going to be traveling the world and doing ministry with the 6 amazing woman I’ve been with for the past four months. They are familiar, they are comfortable, they’re my new family, and my home away from home. But comfortability is real and I know my new team will only call me higher and push me farther out of my comfort zone. It’s just hard leaving home for a second time.
Lastly (I promise! I know this has been a long blog) I have HHHUUUGGEE news! I am fully funded!! YAY! Can you believe it?! Me either. The Lord has been so good and so faithful throughout this fundraising process. I’m not going to lie last January when I signed up for the race fundraising $18,017 seemed impossible. I knew if it was going to happen it was going to have to be God. Well here we are! A year later and We did it!
I can not begin to describe to each and every one of you the gratitude I have for your support throughout this past year and coming 8 months. I wouldn’t be here, in Lesotho, ministering the village people in the Malealea valley if you all wouldn’t have said Yes to partnering with me. Just as much as the Lord has called me to go, He asked each one of you to help send. And even though I am the one out in the field doesn’t mean I am the only one furthering the Kingdom.
Thank you. Thank you for saying Yes to the Lord. Thank you for saying Yes to partnering with me. Thank you for saying Yes to furthering the Kingdom and bringing glory to Gods name all over the world.
With all that being said I have one last prayer request/favor a few of the amazing woman I have been ministering and doing life along side with are not fully funded yet. So I’d like to ask for your prayers that the money would come flooding in and that you prayerfully consider partnering with them just as you have with me. Feel free to hop over to their blogs, read about them and their walk with the Lord(I’ll drop a link below to their blogs). They have all had a great impact on my life and race. Without them here my last 4 months wouldn’t have been the same.
Lyndenhuffman.theworldrace.org
Annagilbery.theworldrace.org
Ashleyhewitt.theworldrace.org
Whhoo. That was a lot, but you made it! Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for all you’ve done. I look ever so forward to coming home and being able to share face to face with you about my race and experiences. Only 7 months and 3 weeks left!
Stay Blessed,
Marah
