Yesterday afternoon we got on a plane from Taipei, Taiwan to Manila. The flight was only supposed to be 1h40, but thankfully we were delayed for about 30minures on the runway before leaving – I needed some more time with Jesus.
It was such a sweet time.
I started by reading a letter from a B squadder. Her name is Janele. She just finished the World Race last month, immediately after I went to training camp. And while she doesn’t know me, she lovingly wrote me a letter. This it what it said:
Farrah,
I pray you live a story worth reading. And at the end of the race, I know you will find the Lord’s handwriting written all over your life. But recognize this is only a chapter. This shouldn’t be the best 11 months of your life, it should be the best 11 months of your life so far. Trust the Lord that it will be.
Through Christ’s love,
Janele
B-squad.
If you know me, you know that I love my life. I put my all into where I’m at in life and I honestly think it’s the best thing in the whole world. When I was in university with such an amazing community who constantly pushed me to seek the Lord more and love Him more, with friends that I would stay up till the wee hours of the morning praying and interceding with, with sunsets at Fort Henry that were undeniably an act of personalized love from Papa to me, I absolutely thought that this was the best life would ever be. How could it even get better? It was so rich and sweet as it was.
And then, when the time to leave came, there was quite a bit of sadness. Life had been so perfect. My community had been so wonderful. Was that going to be the peak?
But God graciously reminded me that He had more for me and that He would always provide a family for me.
And He has. As I began the process of the World Race, once again I knew that this would be the new best time of my life. 11 months of diligently seeking the Lord and seeking to love His people? How could it get better? And yet here in this card, Janele so graciously reminded me that God had even more for me beyond the race. I’m thankful for the reminder that He’s got incredible things in store for me in the next 11 months, but even more beyond that too. So if you’re reading this, Janele, thank you for reminding me of the Lord’s forever faithfulness.
For the rest of the flight I found myself listening to ‘Sails’. As I looked out the window and saw the islands of the Philippines looking back at me, the words of the song rang in my ears
This is just the beginning
This is just the beginning
Of a new way of living with you.
I couldn’t believe that I was here. About to land in Manila to start the World Race. This thing that I had been looking forward to since my second year of university. It was here, and I could hardly believe it.
I sat on the plane listening to these words over and over, shocked, but so excited for this new way of living with Papa. A way of humility, love, service, expectancy.
I found myself unable to speak with tears in my eyes thanking Papa for bringing me here. A little bit terrified and a whole lot trusting what He was about to do in, through, and with me.
As we landed, collected our bags, said goodbye to our squad mates who were going to ministry elsewhere, and climbed into our van to our ministry hosts, I thought to myself for a brief moment “what the heck am I doing? I’ve already had to say goodbye to these new friends I love? How many more goodbyes will there be? What have I gotten myself into?” For the next 11 months I’m going to have this feeling of excitement and disbelief with a touch of sadness of saying goodbye every month instead of going home? What have I done?
But Papa in His sweet character reminded me “hasn’t this been your dream? I’ve brought it to fruition and fruit it will bear. I’ll be with you throughout all of it.”
It was a kind reminder that no matter the newness of the situation, or the number of “goodbye for now”s that have to be said, He is consistent. He is with me. I have someone familiar and known with me. I am familiar and known to Him.
I don’t know what the next 11 months have in store, I don’t even know what our month in the Philippines has in store, but I do know that I get to do it with my sweet Papa and I get to expect Him to blow our minds.
What an honour it is to do life with Him.
I am blessed, I am honoured, and I am excited to seek God, say ‘Yes’ and be loved and love others. Me and Jesus, we’ve got something good. I’m so excited to share it with all those around me.
