About 2 weeks ago, my parents agreed to do a BBQ in order for me to share with some friends and supporters what the Lord has done in my life this last year on the race. 38 incredible humans who have loved and supported me came to my house and we fellowshipped, ate BBQ and had the opportunity to worship and reminisce together.
IT WAS SWEET.
I wanted to give an idea of what a day on the race looked like and we started the evening by worshipping our King and remembering His sacrifice through communion together. This was a powerful time sitting in the presence of the Lord and worshipping. I then had the opportunity to share a few memories, highlights and ministry details from each country with those sitting before me. I felt so blessed with the support and questions I received and the intentionality of each person present.
— Now fast forward 2 weeks —
The past few days, I have been visiting family and friends all over the northeast US. It’s been such a blessing to fellowship and spend time with each of them and hear about what the Lord is doing in their life and share in my experiences and growth from the race.
As I share and continue to process, I am realizing that one of the most impactful things the Lord placed me to do on the race was translating.
As most of you know, 5 years ago, I studied abroad in Spain and had the opportunity and privilege of learning Spanish. If I’m being completely transparent, I was a little arrogant in my ability to communicate with the natives when we stepped foot in Colombia just a short year ago. I was excited to speak with our hosts and be able to help out my team a little bit.
And then…my world flipped upside down.
Within the first couple days (or maybe it was the first couple hours—it’s all a blur after this because my brain was FRIED), I was asked to be a translator for our teams. I, not so boldly, stepped on the first (not top) step of the stage at church to translate the first sermon Pastor Willy gave after we arrived. It was about Gideon, but beyond that, I was lost. I tried to find my place and continued to get lost and find my way just to get lost again a moment later.
I WAS HUMBLED.
And then, Pastor Willy looked at me and said ‘you can do it, you’re doing great, I trust you.’ My teammates looked at me from their seats and gave me smiles and thumbs up of encouragement (even though I know that sermon didn’t make any sense to them). And this continued. The encouragement NEVER stopped. My people never stopped encouraging me in the ability the Lord has equipped me with and pushed me toward opportunities to continue growing.
I WAS ENCOURAGED.
I continued translating for my teams for the first 5 months of the race and looking back now, I can see so many ways the Lord grew me by pushing me past my comfort zone, by breaking down my pride and by putting people around me who didn’t see the mess ups but encouraged the courage.
Sometimes the Lord puts us in places that are uncomfortable, difficult and downright painful. But if I learned anything by translating on the race, it’s that those things are the things that He uses to build our character, to make us humble, to equip and empower us for the purpose He has for us in His Kingdom, not our own.
I hope, and this is scary, that God keeps pushing me into the uncomfortable so that I continue to step into boldness, humility, and ultimately, Christ likeness. And I pray that for you too.
What is He doing in your life that is uncomfortable and how is He using that for His Kingdom?
