Let me tell you about my best day on the Race. Maybe my memory is not the best and I haven’t really processed all the past months, but this day was a really really good day.
Thursday, August 15th, I woke up from my foam mattress. And to be real honest, I took a baby wipe shower and sprayed my hair with dry shampoo. Something about month 11 has made me more inclined to baby wipe showers especially on colder and shorter mornings. My team has been having team devotions every morning and Aundraya led this morning with the Vapor meditation. This meditation is based on Ecclesiastes, which reminded me of how short this life and race is. We are all fading flowers yet God has given us this short life for specific purposes. He is SO big and we are just a speck of dust yet He loves every detail of us. Friend, There is NO ONE like our God.
Today, we had special plans for one of our dear translators. So during breakfast, we blew up balloons and taped painted signs up on rope. I ate peanut butter, butter and banana bread for breakfast and with all the decorating forgot to make my cup of instant coffee.
Pastor Charles gathered our team and we prayed for the day.
Then we walked out to the main road to catch a taxi van. These vans are licensed for 14 people though so often with our big group there’s more crammed in. The van stops at multiple places along the road to pick more people up or to drop a couple off. They drive as quickly as possible so that these drivers can make the most profit. So this morning, Pastor Charles, David and Charlotte (our translators) and all seven of us cram into a van.
I put in my headphones and listened to worship music for the two hour drive. To skip the long traffic, the taxi decided to take the “short cut” which means a very bumpy, red dirt road. I am sure there was a couple of times when I was lifted off my seat. We finally got back on the main paved road. Because of traffic, we got stopped a couple of times. When we are stopped street vendors come up to your window with little snacks or drinks for sell. I just smile and say no.
I see so many wonders and often experience ‘I can’t believe that just happened’ moments. I think the most are when we are on the road. A couple examples are seeing a flat back semi truck driving with a single chicken nesting on the back and another when we just drove over the median separating the lanes to cut through traffic.
The drive was long but we finally made it to our destination. We arrived in the slums. We partnered up with a Pastor who started a school in this area. It is now a thriving school and ministry for the area.
The school was waiting for us when we arrived. There were probably about 100 students in this primary school. We watched several of them dances, recite a Bible timeline poem and sing. They even had a group perform a skit about sharing.
Then it was our turn. We taught them a couple of new songs called Tarzan, Oh lay lay and La toosh. After songs, I taught a bible story. I told them the story of Jesus walking on water. It was so fun! As I told the story, I encouraged them to participate in it for example: screaming like the disciples or making sounds of wind and waves. After the story, I encouraged them to step out in faith like Peter initially did. Instead of letting fears and doubts win, have courage and keep focusing on Jesus.
I also directed a group to reenact the story. They performed beautifully! The disciples in the boat rocked like they truly were on the waves!
After a testimony, a game and laying hands and praying for all the kids – my heart was full. The school prepared lunch for us with our favorite: chapati! (Chapati is almost like thicker wheat tortilla) So I left that school with a full heart and full stomach! Lol
After arriving back home, we quickly got our surprise birthday party ready for David. This man is incredible. He has such a big smile and heart for Jesus. He told us that he never had a birthday party and this year forgot completely about it. So we blew up lots of balloons, set out the cake and all the cards we made. Pastor Charles has taken him on a supposedly 5 minute walk but it ended up being 40 minutes later when they walk in the gate. Then it took 10 minutes for them to walk through the door! Lol the longest anticipation for a surprise I ever experienced…but it was worth it. David walked it and was so surprised he fell on his knees praising God. Honestly, his response shocked me and humbled me. It was beautiful and raw.
God reminded me that when good things happen to me, my first response should be praise to God my Father. After praising God, David told us his story. Then he cut his cake and served us all. It was so wonderful.
We ended the day playing a card game and starting a campfire. We sang African and English songs with a couple more dear friends who came.
It was such a long but beautiful day. God gifted me a day full of my favorite things with people who have become so dear to me. I do not want to forget.
Praise be to God Our Maker, who knows us so intimately and loves to delight us with His blessings. Thank you, Father!
