Hi! I have definitely been slacking in the blog area while here in Guatemala, my very last country of the race (WHAT), but its not necessarily a bad thing. Here is my excuse- I have been so busy with ministry, community and contentment that I haven’t found a good time to write it all down. Well, here I am now, listening to the Lord and finally being STILL. Stillness is not one of my strong suits. Im a goer, I love being on the move and surrounding myself with others, I don’t exactly enjoy sitting in silence alone. Finally, I am taking the time to do just that, the thing I don’t enjoy. It is actually refreshing and restful, maybe I’ll do it more often!
Anyways, I made it here 3 weeks ago to the date. So much has happened in the past 20 days that I don’t even know where to begin! I decided I’m just going to refer to my handy dandy journal and break it down week by week for my wonderful blog viewers. Y’all deserve a look into the life I’m living! So, here’s me being totally and completely vulnerable as I type in journal entries over the past few weeks.
-“the last travel” written at 10:16am on Sunday, March 18th:
“Yesterday was our last (official) travel day on the World Race… the next one will be when Im heading HOME! Wild. After 24 hours of bus travel, from Nicaragua to Honduras to El Salvador and finally we have made it to GUATEMALA! Staying in a town called Paramos outside of Antigua. This compound is a dream and a half. Sharing a room with nice bunk beds, colorful blankets and, get this, hot freaking showers! I don’t deserve this. I get to call this cozy, boujee base home for the next 2 and a half months! Feeling indescribably grateful.”
-“Guatemala orientation” written at 9:36am on Monday, March 19th:
“WORSHIP. I recognized the way I’ve seen Jesus in the people I have met on the race. Wholly and completely saturated in Him through others. He also revealed to me my fear of going home, of the race ending. Scared of what’s next. Not what I will be physically doing, but the spiritual season to come. But, He is my firm foundation, and I can rest in that. I know that I am called to shake things up, and when those things do shake I am not to fear because I am fully living out who Jesus has called me to be.”
-“Moonoostroo aka ministry” written at 8:02am on Wednesday, March 21st:
“Today we got our ministry assignments and went to our school to meet the kids and staff. My team and the other coed team is at a place called Loving Arms! Our daily ministry includes teaching, gardening and construction! We are to create the opportunity for kids to learn, build relationships and share the gospel. I’m stoked! Wherever I go, I want to fulfill what God has planned there! I want to do what He asks. I am privileged to be where I am. I want to walk so close to Jesus that I bring so much light to the darkness, demons will know my name and leave the room.”
-“WHERE TO BEGIN” written at 9:51pm on Thursday, March 22nd:
“WHERE? Do. I. Even. BEGIN.? Today= a glorious day. First of all, it’s MK’s 19th birthday! But wow, a really dang awesome wonderful day. At ministry we were greeted and welcomed with signs, balloons and children cheering! We then went outside and literally demolished a damaged green house, which was so much fun! Once back at the base, I crafted with Zah and Emma! They’re both so talented and honestly two of the sweetest souls in my life right now. Any ways, let me just skip to after dinner, an impromptu field photo shoot with Will, Dave, Emma and Hunter. Hopefully (please Jesus) my Austin community! It was silly but such a blast. My team then met up for team time and prayed for healing and spiritual gifts. We could feel the Spirit within us and break through was happening! This then turned into us randomly worshipping Jesus through music. With Hunter on guitar and Kiki with her voice, we somehow sounded like angels. We all sang our hearts out. Then Emma joined, with tears in her eeys, she really encouraged me. She said Jesus was active in our praises! Then Davy got on the cahone, which set the tone a lot for us. We worshipped the night away. Gods presence was so evident. I had Daniella pray over me and the pressure of my burdens were released! The weight I feel in leadership or with family. it was heavy, but has now been replaced by peace. May this feeling stay with me! Thank you, sweet Jesus.”
-“Semana Santa” written at 6:23am on Monday, March 26th:
“What a beautiful day! The beginning of Semana Santa aka Holy Week. The week leading up to Easter, the last week of lent, palm sunday, holy wednesday, maundy thursday, good friday, holy saturday and resurrection sunday! Yesterday I went to church, Shoreline City in Antigua! I went to Shoreline in Dallas, so this was a really cool experience. It made me feel right at home! They want me to join serve team while Im living here and I can’t wait for next week now! Now its today and I am about to head to ministry! We only have three days at Loving Arms this week because Thursday and friday are cultural immersion days! Sometimes I cant believe what my life is.”
-“good!” written at 7:35am, Saturday, March 31st:
“A good friday and saturday it has been, indeed! The day of Jesus’ death, how dang powerful. How dang sad. How dang grateful I am. God has truly brought me into undeserved privilege. At this point in my faith, I don’t care about looking like a fool because I feel so lucky to love my Lord! Any who, last night for good friday, we did communion. Overwhelming, thats the word I’d use to describe it. I was so consumed by the thought of Jesus’ death on the cross. Overwhelmed by His never-ending, reckless love. It started after a little bible study with Will and Dave, I was on a joy high from how good Romans 5 was! I just couldn’t stop smiling and dancing after! Then communion started. Annie, Christy and Jess spoke wonderfully. Though, I felt very heavy. A good heavy. I felt good. Everything they said, and every verse read during communion, helped my head wrap around what Jesus really did on the cross for me. For everyone! All of good friday felt like rejoicing. a day with my community. A GREAT good friday!”
-“EASTER” written at 5:23am on Sunday, April 1st:
“Happy Easter! And April fools, but thats not important. Im up this early for a sunrise service, then I am headed into Antigua to join serve team at Shoreline, eat lunch with my friends and then head back for smores and worship. I can already tell how amazing this day will be! The sunrise looks cool. Hues of pink and orange reflecting off the dusty blue sky. I love the sky. I love the stars and what they represent to me, thats why yesterday I got it TATTOOED ON MY BODY! Yep. I got a shooting star tat on my left hand AND a jasmine flower behind my right ear! They both mean so much to me. Im in love with them, it was quick and painless and so special! Im feeling nostalgic and reflective this Easter morning.”
-“I’m a dreamer” written at 7:28am on Wednesday, April 4th:
“Ah, dreams. I have many. In my sleep, during the day and every moment I am breathing. I cant help it. Today marks exactly two months until I go home, the beginning of month 8. In my dream last night, I woke up at home and was crying because I missed everyone on the race so much. I woke up with a hurting heart and actual tears in my eyes! There have been so many planes, countries, miles, people and memories. The thought of letting go and saying good bye is hard. This is an experience I will cherish forever. I pray to live in the moment and take advantage of every opportunity. I pray for God’s peace to transcend over me on this last stretch of two and this launching pad in to the life that awaits me. I pray for Austin, my home. That I’d be a missionary in my own city. My dreams for home are to befriend strangers, take up videogrpahy (documentary style) to reach others, maybe begin a small group or house church with the Wills, Show Jesus’ love to my family through my new way of life, get plugged in at church and treasure the community God has given and will give. I know these dreams will be fulfilled, so Im resting in that now.”
-“Seth Barnes is our favorite guy” written at 10:21pm on Thursday, April 5th:
Well, the owner and king of the World Race is here! Lol. Seth Barnes is at our base right now, I actually met and just had a good conversation! He encouraged me to pursue my passions, to maybe begin a business at home because of my personality type! He called bout the leadership qualities in me and that gave me a lot of affirmation. It was cool, he’s a cool dude. His talk to our squad really resonated with my heart, even though he called me out for digressing in conversation! Oops, my minds is everywhere sometimes. Well, here I go digressing because I am now changing the subject to the guys on our squad! For weeks, Ive been praying for them as I have felt that they were needing to be called higher into the men of God that they are. God loves them enough to humble them and step up. Myself and a few friends prayed this over them, then an hour later we hear from Seth that they have some things to share with us. My heart sank to my stomach as I knew what they were about to do, exactly what I had been praying for! They stood up and spoke truths over each and every girl. They encouraged us and called us beautiful, because thats what you do in the body of Christ. You help turn ashes to beauty, and that is just what they did! What was spoken over me made me cry, it was so honoring and kind. I was called selfless and a good leaders. A big sister and a confidant. A best friend and catalyst. A seeker of truth and giver of wisdom. It was so special, I barely even have words. As they wrapped it up in prayer, hand in hand, I realized my fear for going home was still there, and I broke down like a seeing fool. As i cried, I felt as if I was mourning over my World Race community. I am going to miss them so much that its already painful to think about. Friends came up to hug, pray for and reassure me after, and then suddenly that fear left and excitement kicked in. Im happy to be where i am and happy about where I will be two months from now! I am so overjoyed and feeling extremely seen and loved by those around me and especially by God. Thank you Lord for this night!”
And last but not least, the topic that has recently been consuming my mind!
-“flesh” written at 6:37am on Sunday, April 8th:
“Ive been learning a lot about the desires and battles of the flesh versus those of the heart. Why is it so hard to decipher between the two sometimes? i think it is because my heart is in heaven and my physical body is living on earth. They are so closely knit inside of me, my spirit at times doesn’t know what it wants. Well, Galatians 5:16 says to walk in tune with the spirit of God and to not fulfill fleshly desires. Also, I hate the word flesh. ew. Since I hate it, I may as well walk in a heart posture and reject those desires that are not of Him, because Id much rather focus on God than myself!”
I know that was a lot, but Ive missed blogging and wanted everyone to have some insight on what I’ve been doing and experiencing over the last 3 weeks! I hope that you enjoyed this. Thank you for reading!
