Dirty feet and a happy heart
Dirty feet and a happy heart is the best way to describe my experience in Lesotho, Africa so far. We are surrounded by mountains, cornfields and 13 different villages filled with sweet relational people. We walk into a village each day for ministry with our translator and visit houses seeking to build relationships, encourage, pray and help them around the house in any way we can. I have gotten to see the Lord speak though my teammates in sharing their past experiences with each family we meet and it has been really sweet.
BUT, In the midst of all of this there is a huge thing in the back of some of my teammates minds: fundraising. We have our final fundraising deadline coming up on the 31st and one of my sweet teammates Shea Greaves is not fully funded yet.
Shea has been thriving here in Africa from my point of view. She loves building relationships and hearing other people’s stories and is such a valuable part of our team. I have seen her grow so much during the past four months of the race and know that the race is exactly what the Lord has for her during this period of her life.
BUT, don’t take my word for it. I’d love for you to see a little of her heart and why she chose to go on the world race this year as well as get to know a little bit more about her.
So, here are a few questions I asked her in order for you to see her heart behind this journey.
Why did you choose to go on the world race?
“I felt like God was asking me to change my life and change it in a drastic way. I saw it as an opportunity to start something new. For so long I was set on creating a life from my perspective, but God wanted to show me something new, something bigger than I had allowed myself to imagine or that I could create on my own.”
How have you seen God on the race?
“I have seen God in so many ways. The clearest is through my daily interactions in ministry and also in building community with my squad and teammates. Also I have seen him specifically in the conversations he leads me to have and the things people share.”
What is the funniest memory you have from the race?
“At the orphanage in our first month of ministry we would help the girls get ready for the day and we would do there hair. I was finishing one girls hair and moving to another girls hair and went to sit down on the stool I thought I put there but I completely fell on the ground and all the girls in the room started giggling so loud that I couldn’t help but laugh as well.”
What has been the most challenging moment?
“Feeling lost, knowing that God invited me into this journey but not knowing what’s next after each month that we do. But choosing to take that step to be obedient anyways.”
What do you hope to get out of the race?
“I expect that God will open my eyes to new possibilities and breathe life into my faith in my prayer life so I will have more confidence in letting him dictate all aspects of my life and walking in that in full confidence because I know that I hear his voice.”
I ask these questions and have chosen to write this blog because I remember what it was like fundraising for the race and being fully dependent on others to be able to live out what I knew God had called me to in this next chapter of life. I remember asking others for support and praying that they would respond because I had no way of making this dream come true without them.
And in response I watched God move mountains. I watched him bring in over $7,000.00 in 20 days. I watched him provide someone to buy my car from the small town I was living in within two weeks. I watched him provide gear, emotional support, anonymous donations and so much more.
SO I fully believe that the Lord can and will provide for Shea. BUT, I also believe that the Lord works through his people. So I ask you: would you please ask the Lord if he has for you to support my lovely friend and teammate Shea through prayer and/or financial support so that she can continue on in this journey of the world race?
It would mean the world to her and to me! Anything and everything you can give and any prayer you pray will make a difference.
If so, please click on this link to check out her blog and also donate at ?sheagreaves.theworldrace.org?
Thank you so much for all of your prayers, support and willingness to read my blog posts full of thoughts from this trip so far. It means more than you know. 🙂
