“Esto les digo: Si dos de ustedes se ponen de acuerdo aquí en la tierra para pedir algo en oración, mi Padre que está en el cielo se lo dará. Porque donde están dos o tres reunidos en mi nombre, allí estoy yo en medio de ellos.”
Matthew 18:19-20
(This I have said to you: if two of you on earth agree in anything they ask for, my Father in heaven will give it to you. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them)
I have always felt strongest within a community. Whether a community of camp counselors, musicians, a school community or just a tight-knit group of friends. There is something so powerful about being a part of something bigger than yourself.
The quote above is from a song I am singing with my college choir this semester that is the musical representation of this idea. As I prepare for this journey, this verse has more and more meaning to me. It explains that God will be with any community that gathers in His name, and that He promises that He will provide for us if we have faith. This song always speaks to my soul in a way I have never been able to fully explain, but now the message within it is unfolding as I dive deeper and deeper into God’s word and the promises He has given us.
Since I have been in college, I have felt kind of alone. I’ve had a few good friends that I could trust, but I never really felt like I had a larger group that I belonged to or a strong connection with any given community. Yeah, I have my church community and my camp friends, but I’ve never really stuck around with those groups long enough to feel like I truly “belonged”. I’ve sought community with college bible study groups and in choir, but those groups only offer temporary relief from the underlying loneliness I feel. Moments shared while singing songs and talking about the bible are nice while they last, but they don’t satisfy my deeper desire to belong.
I think this is a big reason God called me to go on the race. I feel ready to dive into a close community with God, where I can spend months at a time doing God’s amazing work with people who love God as much as I do. I am ready to reach out to others who feel lonely and remind them that God has a plan for them, and He will provide comfort and rest. I am so excited to learn about the experiences of my teammates and grow closer to them during this time as we are doing this mission work. I. Am. Ready.
Already, I have been making connections within people on my team for the World Race. I am also finding churches in the community that have opened their arms to me and embraced me and my story with open minds. I have been so blessed already and the race hasn’t even started yet, and I just can’t imagine what God has planned for me for when I actually leave in January!
