Hello, I’d like to give everyone some insight on what we did for ministry in India this month! Our travel to India was our longest travel yet, spaning over a couple days. My team and I had a great and exhausting time traveling. Here is proof of that exhation and that as a World Racer you learn to sleep wherever and whenever you can!
Anyways, our first week in India was spent with our whole “D squad“ and another squad, known as ”G squad” at what is called awakening. This was a time of rejuvenation. We were able to spend time being enlighten by the one and only Garry Black (I don’t actually know if he is the only Garry Black in the world…There are probably multiple actual lol). As racers we were also given the oppertunity to lead a breakout session if the lord was putting something on our hearts. We were informed of this about a week or so before awakening happened and the Lord laid on my heart to share about financial stewardship. I was somewhat confused seeing as to how at the time I wasn’t fully funded, I have collage loans back home, and I am in no way an expert on this topic. But the Lord wouldn’t let me say no, so I stepped into the uncomfortable and found enlightenment and joy!
Through my time of preparation for my session the lord revealed so much about stewardship to me. He reminded me that stewardship goes beyond just finances, but extends to all we have including our belongings , our bodies, time, food, relationships, and all the lord has blessed us with. He said to not waste the opportunity He has given me to glorify Him through what He has blessed me with. Below are some of the bullet points from my notes.
- So what is guiding our decisions is it the Lord or money? Yes, maybe the Lord is, but is money a close second. Or is it a tie between the two. Does the lord and money carry the same weight?
- Are you saying yes to what the Lord is telling you to do, however saying “I don’t have enough money yet so I’ll put it on pause until I have enough money and then I’ll do it.”, but then when you get to the point you once thought was “enough“ it’s no longer enough.
- If so you’re putting money in a place where it doesn’t belong you’re putting it where God belongs.
- Maybe as we are on the race we do not currently having an income and we are not thinking about our next paycheck and what to do with it. We are however receiving funds from people who are working for their money and working towards glorifying the Lord though their finances, as they give it to people on mission for His kingdom. As the people receiving we have the responsibili of stewarding that money well. To respect the person who is giving and glorifying the Lord who has given.
Some of these hit real close to home for me because stepping into the race a big part of my decision relied on my financial standing. I felt I was unable to go on the race because I didn’t have sufficient funds and I had loans that needed to be paid. I was letting money decided things for me for awhile, until the Lord revealed to me that He is my Jehovah Jireh. The Lord provide in my financial situation while at home, Glory be to God, and now by his grace I am fully funded!
After awakening D and G squad said their goodbyes and we went on our way to our ministry sites. My team (The Wildflowers) have been partnering with and organization called Sarah’s Covenant Homes. “Sarah’s Covenant Homes is a collection of family-style homes in India for orphaned and abandoned children and young adults with disabilities. In India, children with disabilities are the most likely to be abandoned and forgotten. We believe that every child has the right to a loving family – no matter their condition. Our mission is to respond to and prevent the abandonment of children with disabilities by providing holistic care in foster homes to enable children to remain with, return to, or join loving families.” (The “Who are we” from their website)
They have two different locations with many homes in each. We spent a week at both locations. My team and I were blessed with the opportunity to do VBS for the children, take videos for their website, help clean and organize, and on our last day play with the kids and paint a mural! As we worked alongside this organizaction we got to see how they operte, love and their needs. There are SCH homes that do not have AC units and the heat here in India is cazy, it has been in the hundrens most of the time we have been here. They are raising money for AC units if you are wanting to bless these children with some refreshing cool air click HERE. I have loved working its SCH this month! They are a blessing to these children and these children are a blessing to the world!
Now as for the Wildflowers, this was our last month as a team. We have been living in community, pursuing the lord, and serving others together for the past four months. It is a bittersweet time as I have loved learning and growing with each of these women. We are all very thankful for the time we were blessed to have with each other and looking forward to see what the Lord has in store for us as we continue on this journey.
As we move onto Nepal next month we will be placed on new teams and participating in what the World Race called “Ask The Lord month” (ATL). This means once our new teams are organized we will be asking the Lord where to go, what to do, and how to do it. We won’t have ministry host already set up for us, but rather we are fully relying on the Lord to guide and provide! Once I know my new team and am able to I will introduce to them, until then please be praying for my beloved Wildflowers and my new team!
Love, Courtney
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