Hey guys! I’m sorry I’m so bad at staying updated on my blog. The time has FLOWN BY! I feel like I have so much to say but I never know where to start!
For this blog I’m doing a Q&A!
-
“What is one thing you’ve seen God do through you in ministry?” ~Chelsea
I have seen God do so much through everyday ministry, but one specific thing I saw Him do through me was when we were prayer walking in Nicaragua and God perfectly ordained my group walking by this family’s house when we did. We walked up to their gate and could just feel a sense of heaviness in the atmosphere. It turned out that they had just gotten a call that their brother had passed away in an accident at work. We were able to pray for them and pour into them at the perfect moment. They felt the Lord at that moment more than ever and it was a very beautiful moment of experiencing the Lord even through the pain.
-
“What’s the strangest food you’ve had to eat?!” ~Jenna
We haven’t really had to or been forced to eat anything to strange but I usually choose to eat the strange things for fun. One thing that would seem strange for an average American to eat would have been the local food in Africa called Endura. The best way I can describe it is a circular sponge tortilla that you dip in a lentil sauce called sherro. It expands in your stomach so it would wreck you if you ate until you were full without waiting, my squad learned that the hard way. Some of the things I ate for fun were tarantula and dog!
-
“Will you do it again?” ~ Deborah
Unless God specifically opens a door and tells me to continue ministry with AIM I probably won’t be continuing on with World Race. The only thing I could continue on with is becoming an Alumni Team Leader for Gap year or waiting until later in life and being a squad leader, but as of right now, no I will not be doing this again. However, since coming on the race I learned to make ministry life and not just while I’m on this trip. Once I come home, I will continue to seek out ministry in everyday life, and probably go on other trips.
-
“What’s been your favorite place to visit so far and why?” ~Billie
My favorite place to visit so far has definitely been Nicaragua. Nicaragua was one of the hardest months of my race because I was sick for most of the month, coming back into civilization was hard after three months in Africa, and I got caught up in the busyness of how life is normally like for me and forgetting how simple God can make life if you allow Him to. Even through those struggles Nicaragua was still my favorite because one, I got to invite my mom to be apart of my journey. I really enjoyed letting her into more of life in my perspective and involving her in things I want to do for the rest of my life. Also, she got to experience God in a new way while she was here and that was everything I had been praying for, along with reconciling our relationship and learning to talk about the hard things instead of just ignoring them. I also really enjoyed Nicaragua because of the hospitality of everyone we talked to. Even if they had nothing, they would make sure they were putting your needs before their own. Nicest people ever. Very relationship and family oriented.
-
“What has been your aha moment, a.k.a. the moment that had most opened your eyes, changed your heart, etc.?” ~Jayme
I feel like everyday I have an aha moment. God never ceases to amaze me with what He can do, especially if you’re not afraid to ask Him. But one of my really big moments, that opened my eyes, and I’m sure you can connect with, was seeing the joy on everyone’s face in Africa. Knowing that they have NOTHING, but seeing how happy they are in every situation, really changes the perspective of an average American. The moment I saw this, my heart was changed forever. Going home, life is going to look different because I no longer have that American sense of need. I thank God that He gave me this perspective, because it will help me live life happier and better with His joy in a new way.
-
“Are there any times you felt like you couldn’t keep going and just wanted to be home?” ~Alyssa
Uh yes. Living on the mission field in third world countries is no easy task. There are only 2 different reasons that I have really wanted to give up and go home though:
Getting sick and being away from home and comforts is probably when I have wanted to go the most. Doing things while sick, like going to the clinic and the doctor asking you to go poop on the floor, that’s when you really feel like you have no dignity left. These are the times when you really have to trust that God has you here for a reason. These are times when you have to praise Him in the valley as much as you do on the mountain.
Also, I’ve been living with the same 50 people for eight months, and there are times where I don’t like looking at their faces anymore. They can get annoying or just constantly be in my personal space and conflict (and conflict resolution is a real thing). There is ZERO privacy on the race, and you are expected to get to know everyone deeply before you know simple things, like each others favorite color. But these people are constantly pointing me towards Christ and I couldn’t ask for a better family to spend this journey with. No one will ever replace them, no matter how annoyed we can get with each other, God picked us for each other perfectly.
-
“Which destination are you most likely to return to and why?” ~Grandma J.
Of all the places I’ve been, I would like to return to Ethiopia because it has a special place in my heart. I lived with orphans and widows for three months and I really got to experience their culture and everyday life. From making them breakfast, to walking them 2 miles to school and helping their class with English class, to playing with them, comforting them when they hurt, to tucking them in at night and singing songs with them. I got to be Jesus to these people and I got to experience more of Jesus and His love through them. I want to go back, I want to see the amazing men and women that they grow up to be, and I want to be in their hearts forever, because they are certainly in mine.
-
“What pushed you outside of your comfort zone the most?” ~Jasmine
Everyday of the race pushes me out of my comfort zone. Three things that push/ed me the most are:
Worship- at first I thought these people were crazy. When I first did worship with them i was like “why are they so loud and hype” then I realized that they do that for the Lord. I am now one of those people and feel like I have been like them forever. Experiencing the Lord through worship is one of my favorite favorite ways to hangout with Him. I never realized I could take my love for music and really really hear Him through it.
Obeying the Lord- Hearing God ask me to do things, first of all coming on the race, giving up my comfort and ways of life to learn new ways of life. Evangelizing was hard to believe that God would speak through me if I said yes to the opportunity. Encouraging the squad and calling them higher in things like remembering the dress code. Yeah, just listening to the Lord and not being afraid to step out into vulnerability because overall He is my strength.
The food- Eating things like endura (explained in question 2) and struggling with the meals have really blessed me now that we are in Costa Rica and when we have meals provided, they are meals you would receive in an elementary school. I AM THRIVING HERE!
Conflict resolution- Okay Jasmine lets be real- you have experienced my amazing skills when it comes to conflict ;)… haha but living with the same 50 people in close quarters for 9 months is not always easy. I have learned to go to the person and talk through all the conflict in love and seeking to understand and not be understood. It has been a long journey but I’m finally confident that the Lord will speak through me as long as I remember to point people to Him in every situation.
