Halfway, baby.
Let’s try and make this one good. I’m feeling poetic.
Waking up my last morning in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan brings feelings like the weather this week. A little rain, a little sunshine. I’m always excited to go on new adventures to new places but leaving here is going to be harder than I thought. The small town brings tourists to the mountains for hiking in beautiful summers and skiing in cold winters. The Muslims here are somewhat accepting of Christians, but don’t want to have a new religion forced on them. Because they are Kyrgyz, they are Muslim. They are born into their religion. The only way to reach the Kyrgyz people is to know them. Lucky for us, spending time in this beautiful culture is more of a blessing to us than they will ever know.
My team of all girls, Adamant Eve, had the blessing of working with fellow brothers and sisters during our time here. We were able to pray over the spaces they teach English and have small group in. We spent time with a bunch of teenage girls, so it reminded me of my first love: camp. We painted murals, had game nights, worship nights, shared lots of testimonies, and did a retreat for the girls.
Here are some pictures that I hope can show a small glimpse of this wonderful month. God is so good.
Here is my beautiful team of women! Honestly, we were put through a lot this month. Through trusting one another and the Lord, we were able to worship through a lot of spiritual warfare. “She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25
Ashley, Susanna and I. These two bring tears from laughter. “A cheerful heart is good medicine.” Psalm 17:22
A picnic with the high school girls. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
Here is one of the wall paintings we did for the classrooms. We had lots of candy and dance breaks during our afternoon painting sessions. “I lift my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and of earth.” Psalm 121:1-2
This little one stayed in our hostel with us. A treasure. We snuck some prayers over her. “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
We went horseback riding! If you know me, you know how much fun this day was for me. God will take us back to our first loves to remind us He has been with us since the beginning. “Those who chase after false gods forsake their one true, faithful love.” Jonah 2:8
Lily! My mini-me. My little sister. My best friend. Lily might be it for me. She was brave, humble, and so endearing. “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “
I realize I haven’t had an update like this blog in a while. I usually use this to process and reflect on the whirlwind I am living in. Thanks for sticking with me. I hope the second half of the race is a deeper intimacy and dependency in God. Like my Colorado boss says, “We don’t need more knowledge of God, we need to be consumed by God.” Please pray this over me!
Love you all. And miss you always.
