This month has been full of plenty of special, different happenings.
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I’ll start with PVT.
My parents were able to come and visit me for PVT (Parent Vision Trip) from August 29 – September 3 here in Ethiopia.
It was surreal. I couldn’t believe this day was here and I couldn’t really tell exactly how I was feeling as I was anticipating their arrival – excited, nervous, happy, joyful, ecstatic, anxious.
To be honest, as long as it’s been since I’ve been home, it hasn’t felt nearly that long. The saying “time flies” is a real thing on the Race. Even now, I still don’t know how we got to month 9, much less how were about to be in month 10. MONTH. TEN. “The days are long, but the months are short.”
“Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.” Psalms 144:4 ESV.
”Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV.
After being gone from home for 8 months traveling across the world, I didn’t know what to expect of this time together with my parents.
“Have I really changed at all? Will they see a change in me? Will they see all that God has been doing inside of me? What if I’m still the same person that left in January?”
These were questions that came into mind prior to their arrival – wondering and questioning if my time on the Race has truly made an impact on my life – and whether it’s a good one or not.
Despite how I was feeling, I knew in my heart, mind, and soul that I have changed and still am changing… would they see that, too?
But, deep down, I knew God was going to work, move, and stir something new in not only my heart but in my parents’ lives, as well as my other squad mates’ families.
And indeed, He did.
We had time to talk, to hang out, to meet other families, see some of the town we were in, to do ministry together, worship together, pour into each other – ultimately, it was a time for them to get a small taste of what it’s like to be on the Race.
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I’d like to share about a special visit when a group of 10 of us went to go visit homes in the town. These homes are sponsored by the organization HopEthiopia, in a rural area outside of Adis Ababa.
The last home we visited that day was a home where eight children lived. Eight brothers and sisters. They live in a small one bedroom home with one bed and a small kitchen alongside one of the four walls. That’s it. Their dad is not in their lives and their mom passed away just this past year. The moment I walked into this home, I felt the Spirit telling me that my mom was going to have an impact on this family. I didn’t exactly know what that meant in that moment.
Most of the children were home, but we ended up talking mainly with the oldest child, an 18 year old girl. As we spent time with her, got to hear more of her and her family’s story, and pour into her – our leader asked us if anyone wanted to share anything with her. A few of us shared some passages from the Bible – none of them being my mom. As we were about to wrap up our visit, our leader asked, once again, if anyone wanted to share anything else – if the Spirit was telling us to encourage these children in any way.
As soon as we were about to stand up and head out, my mom spoke up.
”I’d like to share something.”
YAAAAAS. You go, mom.
She began sharing her story with this orphan girl. The fact that her mom died when she was 4, and there were 12 children in the house and they basically had to fend for themselves. You can instantly see how this girl was encouraged by my mom’s testimony, knowing there are others that have gone through similar hardships, but because of God and His grace – He got her through it and He will get her through it. She just needs to trust Him and seek Him with all of her heart and He will strengthen her, He will be with her and never leave her.
You never know the how the Holy
Spirit can use your story can impact the people around you. But, if you’re not actively listening to the Spirit’s prompting, when will you ever know if He wants to use you?
I share this story because to me, I never thought I would witness my very own parents come to a different country and pour into others who need to hear the Gospel – walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit and sharing Truth.
Oftentimes, whether it’s talked about or not, being a Doer of the Word isn’t really practiced. It’s preached, but easily not practiced.
As I grew up, I heard many teachings of the Word, but I can’t say I really ever put the things I learned into practice – much less, I rarely witnessed it.
Witnessing my parents faith and obedience throughout their time with me was a beautiful thing. It instills a Hope in me for what’s to come. An abundant life pursuing after the Father together, with my family.
I know God is using them for His glory and that God has amazing plans for them and my family. I thank God for the time that we had together – it was a blessing.
Before the Race, being a doer of Truth was something I didn’t strive to do. Since being on the field, I’ve learned what being a doer of the Word actually means and what it looks like.
For me, it means being intentional about listening to the Holy Spirit and following through with what He is asking me to do. It means, being bold and not ashamed of the Gospel – AND to find and seek opportunities to share the Good News. It means, being the salt and light to everyone I encounter. It means, putting into ACTION what I’ve been hearing all of my life and to what I know for myself to be the Truth.
James writes (1:22-25; TPT),
“Don’t just listen to the Word of Truth and not respond to it, for that is the essence of self-deception. So always let his Word become like poetry written and fulfilled by your life! If you listen to the Word and don’t live out the message you hear, you become like the person who looks in the mirror of the Word to discover the reflection of his face in the beginning. You perceive how God sees you in the mirror of the Word, but then you go out and forget your divine origin. But those who set their gaze deeply into the perfecting law of liberty are fascinated by and respond to the truth they hear and are strengthened by it—they experience God’s blessing in all that they do!”
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After PVT, Team Torch and Team Olive Tree left HopeEthiopia and headed to Blessing the Children, which is in a different town about an hour from Adis Ababa – which is where we are now until September 20.
At this ministry, we are doing both home visits – where we visit families around the community, asking their needs and praying for them – and painting the two schools – which has a total of 1400 students. So, lots and lots of painting.
It’s been a blessing to be apart of helping the needs that are here in this community, and am looking forward to the remaining 4 days.
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Month 10. Next stop:
Mergem in ROMÂNIA.
We fly out September 20 and will be there until October 21.
THIRTY-ONE. WHOLE. DAYS.
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Continue to be in prayers for my teammates and I as we have two months left on the Race. That we give it our all, that there are no illnesses, and that we continue to persevere and run this Race set before us.
Soli Deo Gloria.
