Hello everyone! Are last day in Chaing Mai Thailand today! Be praying that we will be unified for Africa, that no root of bitterness springing up would cause division in our squad. That we would be strong in the strength of the Lords might. Africa will be biggest challenge yet, I have a feeling.
Change of plans! Our team is going to Zimbabwe and not Botswana. We will be in two different locations in Zimbabwe. I guess the Lord had other plans. We will however be in Botswana lifting up prayers the last 2 days of the month, then off to Eswatini. Things change on the race. For example, we got Nicaragua added to our route at training camp. We are very excited for our ministry. It will involve evangelism and revival. I hear we will be helping out pastors as well as children’s ministry.
So are time in Thailand is done. I have learned so much about walking with the Lord. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. I sometimes feel like we aren’t doing that much on the race in general, but I have learned to wait on the Lord. I hope and pray you all realize that too. I dream big I want to see people get saved, see miracles, but ultimately give that Glory to the Lord. Thank you for being patient. We are planting seeds and there will be a harvest down the line. I just want you to know your prayers and money have not gone to waste. I have grown so much it is insane. I am loving more because of the race. So, thank you!
One of the cool things I have seen happen is my relationship with the guys on my team. We are a lot better at communicating with each other. It is not easy being with the same three guys for 7 months now. But really it has been amazing how we have challenged each other.
Me and Lyle went through some things from Indonesia and until the end of Vietnam. There was tension and we could both feel it. I sat with the Lord for hours on the train to Ho Chi Minh City from Da Nang. I sat with the Lord and basically, I realized I still have a lot of pride. I felt like I was being made to look weak, because of all the feedback he gave me and the recent feedback was hard to take. Usually I take feedback with grace, but nothing was changing. I was told I had a bad attitude. But the lord showed me that ultimately, he was trying to love me. Also, that I should be grateful that someone is brave enough to tell me about the things that are hardest to talk about. He is not perfect as well and I needed to give him grace. I had such a great month in Cambodia because of that meeting with Jesus on the train.
We have a good relationship now. I have to give credit to him. Whenever there is tension he comes up to me and tries to resolve it. I usually wait to see what is going on in my heart first. Man, I have been really impressed with him. It is the Holy Spirit as He says, which it is. He has grown in grace so much on the race. Very recently I was irritated at him about something and I knew it was my own flesh, so I was praying about it and he came up to me and said he could feel the tension and told me how he felt over the last few days. It was hard at first, but by the end of the conversation my heart felt like it was healing. It was incredible, for sure spiritual. He has always been very bold and confident, but he has grown in so many areas. I am amazed sometimes. I also am not willing to let anything sit in my heart anymore. If there is conflict, I know I have to bring it up. No matter how small.
Carter has also been very easy to talk to. He shows so much mercy. He has grown immensely. He always talks about how Honduras was hard for him. You could tell he was having a really tough month. Since then it has been a night and day difference. He now walks with a lot of joy. I can ask him about anything and he will gladly answer me. He has shown me a lot of grace. He has given me a lot of advice on how to serve the Lord. The biggest impact I see is just from being around him. It makes me want to pursue the Lord more.
We are all so different. I think one of the biggest things I have learned from these guys is to let the Lords work come to me and not to strive. Lyle tells me all the time that the Father loves you because He loves you, you don’t need to do anything. I don’t think that reality has sunk in before the race, but I actually am starting to believe it. They have taught me about the fun in Christianity. I’m learning to enjoy life by not worrying if I’m doing enough. I hope we will be life long friends. Being around this community I have realized how tough relationships are. I have had a revelation that I have not had to work for a lot of friendships in my past. I am learning what it actually means to pursue people and to continue to pursue them, that is the key to the guys friendship for me. To continue to pursue them. But what does pursue really mean. We all say that. I am learning to do it. I have never really done it before.
I was walking down the street with them the other day and I was thinking to myself man this feels good to have these two guys with me. I’m so glad I chose this route. I didn’t know how good friendships can really be.
