In honor of Thanksgiving I thought I would write a blog about one thing I am thankful for from each month of the World Race.
I am officially home now and know I have so many things I want to share on here but this seemed like a good way to get back into the swing of blogging as well as a way to reflect a little on the year.
In month one we were in Colombia. We partnered with City of Refuge in Medellin and thus began the World Race! The thing I am thankful for in Colombia was community. Our squad was given the gift of a first month as all squad month. Our whole squad was together living in the same place and doing ministry around City of Refuge together. It solidified our squad as a family in so many ways!
Month two was Ecuador! In Ecuador we partnered with Cru in Quito but also lived with Inca Link Quito. I am beyond thankful for our host in Ecuador, they adopted us as their own children and took care of us in ways that was not expected at all. I am also thankful for the tools we used with Cru for evangelism, they were tools I had used before and it brought in comfort by doing ministry in ways I had already done before.
Month three was Peru! In a way it is funny, I am so thankful for having my own classroom in Peru. During the month I was there I was sad because no one knew my kids and I also had no one to take pictures of me in the room. But now, I look back and I was able to know each child in that five year old room so well because I was alone in the room with them, and their teachers of course!
Month four was India! We partnered with some people and we did some things. Every day we visited different village churches. I am thankful for a month of seeing so much of the part of India we were in and meeting so many people. This was the month I stepped into a deeper confidence when praying for people.
Month five was Nepal! In Nepal we were also with some people doing some things! A lot of walking was involved and eventually even some trekking. I am thankful in Nepal for lungs that worked! I was able to trekk the Himalayas and bring some pretty awesome news to people who had never heard it before!
Month six was Rwanda! We partnered with Pastor Moise and his school and church! We taught in the school and sang in the church as well as painted at a closed church. I am incredibly thankful for Moise and his family. They brought us into their home for every meal and loved us so well. I know for a fact I will see my Rwandan Dad again!! (He is in Michigan right now)
Month seven was Uganda! We partnered with Life Force Ministry in Lira Uganda. We worked in three different parts of the ministry: teaching PE, manual labor, and community outreach. I am thankful for a month of being able to stay within community outreach for the whole month. We moved around halfway through but due to an illness (shingles) I stayed with the community group. Being able to go out into the community to be a light and help families in practical ways was such an amazing experience!
Month eight was Kenya! We partnered with Woven Together Ministries in Maasia Mara. This ministry had so many aspects as well that we joined in with. I am thankful for the people we met and worked along side with. For Chef David and Eshwani and Isiah, always having me do the dishes but still teaching me random tricks for cooking and making coffee. And especially for mama Deb, bringing us literally into her home and giving us the rest we needed while also showing us how a house can become a home no matter where it is!
Month nine was Ethiopia! We partnered with Hope Ethiopia and Bless the Children this month. We were with Hope Ethiopia for our Parent Visit trip, and you better bet I am thankful for that! My parents got to come meet me in Africa and see a little bit of what the World Race is all about. At Bless the Children I am thankful for a ministry that is reaching the needy right where they are. For a time of reflection as we painted desks every day and for our little protector Buddy, the dog who adopted us as HIS humans.
Month ten was Romania and the USA for Training Camp! We partnered with Cristy and Cami and their family in Pitesti. We spent the month working with a local gang at a homeless outreach as well as doing children’s programs for children in impoverished neighborhoods. I am thankful once again for our host family. For laid back ministry timelines that allowed us to get to know the family on a deeper level. In the USA I was in Georgia, I am thankful for a leadership team that was understanding of my situation of still being on the field and for my new squad, they are so full of wisdom and grace! Training Camp 2.0 was where I grew the most on the ENTIRE WORLD RACE!
Month eleven was Portugal and Spain! We walked from Porto to Santiago De Compostela on the Camino. I was so thankful for the team I was with. The positivity and laughter that came from them really helped on our harder days. I am also thankful for the time of reflection this month gave me.
There are so many other things I am thankful for from this past year but these are the first ones to pop into my head.
I could not before and I still cannot express how thankful I am for all of my supporters! You followed the call God placed on your life in helping me follow the call God placed on mine.
I am thankful for my family in understanding my absence in this past year and understanding the absences that are sure to come in the future. As you can see above I have another time of being out “on the field” again so I am support raising again. This next time is a time of leading a team of a new squad during their first few months on the race.
This time is a little different for me for support raising since it’s a smaller amount for field expenses but a higher amount of personal expenses, not shown above. Since I am going again so soon after returning I will not be able to work very much to save money for this next adventure and I have depleted my savings in traveling to Training Camp from Europe to meet my new squad.
If you would like to give towards my field expenses, and have the giving be tax deductible, just click the donate tab above! If you would like to give to my personal expenses, refunding for Training Camp travel and to help me pay my student loan bills these next few months, you can give via venmo: @courtney-shackle or let me know and we can figure out the easiest way for you.
I also am in need of prayer warriors! To say up to date with this journey just subscribe to this blog and my updates will come straight to your email!
I will leave you with this last thought!
It took me only a few minutes to think of one thing I am thankful for from each month this year, granted each month looked very different but I want to challenge you to do the same. Even on an easier level of what is one thing you are thankful for from each season of this past year? How did God move in the spring and what did He do for you in the summer? And what little thing happened in the Fall that put a smile on your face?
There is always something to be thankful for, and I want you to know I am extremely thankful for you!!!
Love,
Courtney
