Hello Everyone!
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been more than a month since I’ve returned home from my time on the race! It’s also been a hot minute since I’ve taken any time to write out any thoughts or reflections through a blog post. I must admit, I’m not one to sit still for to long, which brought me back to work at the farm on day #2 of being back home. I might be a bit guilty in not taking as much time as I maybe should have to process things, but I’m back at the keyboard to share a few thoughts with you today! I’m sure I’ll continue to recall, process, and grow from all these world race experiences throughout the years ahead and into the future. I’m so glad that I took the time to keep a fairly detailed daily journal (well, actually two and a half journals) to capture so many memories from the everyday life on the race. I’d like to narrow all those memories and experiences down to a handful of prominently bold take-aways that really stuck with me. So, here we go!
- Mission is Life, Life is Mission.
Ok ok, how many times are you gonna throw this line into your blogs, Dave?? Really though, this idea right here speaks so much truth to me, and it really even nails down the very purpose of my own life on this earth! My life purpose should not change simply in regard to where I am in the world or what I’m doing. I think living a life on mission is such a key element in living out a Christian lifestyle. God calls us to make disciples of all nations, and that surely includes our very own! For me, there are times where that actually seems like it might be a tougher task at hand than reaching out to the people in places abroad. However, we aren’t called to be passive about the things of God in our lives, but rejoice in them and share the joy of knowing Him with those around us, wherever we may be!
Upon returning home and finally getting the chance to start seeing some people after my time of self-quarantine, I often received the question, “Well, are you adjusted back to things at home yet?” Now, I understand there are several adjustments to physical life from living in a tent in Swazi to my home in the rural countryside of Wisconsin, but truthfully, it’s more like a goal of mine not to adjust myself back to the normality of the greater American culture. I’d like to kick the idea of “me” to the wayside and continue on as the same David from the international mission field, who takes the time to pray for people, encourages others, and shares about the truths of our great God! The purpose of my life shouldn’t change under any circumstance, but remain a life of mission, and that life of mission really is a glorious thing laid before us that the Lord is so eager to journey through each of us!
In John 13:35, Jesus tells his disciples that everyone will know that they are his disciples if they love one another. People should be able to see that we are Christ followers by the love we express towards one another and I think that paints a picture of what living life on mission looks like. Do the people in the background of your life see Jesus in it?
- All People are God’s Creation, Made in His Image.
This was a mindset that I fumbled around with and finally came to better grasp during month one in Colombia. There’s a lot of drug usage within the city of Medellin, which greatly contributes to the vast internally displaced and homeless population. I couldn’t walk four blocks home from the store without being hollered at and solicited by the people on the streets for the things that I had just purchased. I also remember visiting that designated place, “the Bronx” where drug users sat around to get high. My initial thoughts from my hard-working mindset, fresh from America didn’t show much pity. I thought, “Well, if you hadn’t made such poor decisions with your life, maybe you wouldn’t be in such a tough situation!” Maybe true, but throughout that month, the Lord changed my perspective of these people. I think seeing the changed lives from the men in the Ciudad Refugio rehab program, who have broken free from the devils grip of addiction and have been made new, helped me to see the good in people and start to carry a different mindset. I remember a shift where I rather took the opportunities of meeting people on the streets to pray for them in their tough situations, sharing with them the hope of their identity in the Lord.
I think this mindset and perspective of every person being God’s creation, in His image, set me up for success to better love people the way God calls me to love them throughout the future months of the race. The second greatest commandment behind loving the Lord is loving your neighbor as yourself. So, just who is your neighbor? Medellin is a far shot from central Wisconsin, but you bet those people are still my neighbor! Jesus answers that question of, “Who is my neighbor?” in the book of Mark with the parable of the good Samaritan. A story where love overcomes any difference. The people we’re the least expected to love, are still most certainly our neighbors!
We can live this mindset out in our daily lives by putting judgements aside, even if someone really doesn’t have it together. We can remember that they are indeed a precious belonging of God, and the neighbor we’re called to love the way Jesus loves. If you ever find yourself speaking about someone in a way that you wouldn’t be comfortable speaking about them to their face (I’ve definitely been guilty of this), remember just who you’re speaking about! They’re His image!
- A Community with a Common Purpose is a Beautiful Thing.
Community living.. This is actually one thing that I’ve really missed since returning back from the race. It was such a blessing to do life with such a group of like-minded Christ followers, living out the same new experiences as myself. Even if it came along with having to wait for the frying pan to become free in the morning to make my eggs for breakfast!
The second half of this word “community” contains the word “unity”. My world race squad was made up of individuals from all different backgrounds and upbringings. We all had different personalities, different strengths and weaknesses, but it didn’t take long for me to see just how strong we could be as a unified body with a common motive. We were made up of people gifted in different ways; prayer warriors, servant hearts, powerful speakers, those with a special love and connection with kids, ect.. We each brought something a little bit different to the table, but we were so much more effective as a unified body for Christ!
Another part of good community is good communication. My squad and I practiced good communication by giving and receiving feedback amongst each other during our evening team times. It was so encouraging and motivating to be called out in my strengths and the things I did well for the Lord. It was also helpful for my brothers and sister to call me higher *out of their love for me* and help me to grow in certain areas of my life. I feel like I’ve really grown to grasp that proverb stating that a man (or sister in Christ) sharpens another the same way that iron sharpens iron.
As people of God, we are designed for fellowship and community with one another. I’m quite blessed and thankful to have friends at home that I can enjoy good Godly conversations with. Check in on your brothers and sisters, especially in a time like this! Share about the things God’s been doing in your everyday life and watch your conversations be blessed!
- The Church is not Contained to Four Walls on a Sunday.
I’ve had such cool opportunities to join in on services held in several different churches throughout my time away. From spirit filled messages that motivated me for the Lord in Ecuador, to 3 hour services in Lesotho and Swazi that were full of heartfelt singing and worship, its been a blessing to be able to gather together with believers from all over the place. They each hold different cultures and backgrounds, but they all come together for the same God.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of the word “church” reads, “A building for public, Christian worship”. I’m not going to say this definition is wrong. I’d agree that it’s true, but it’s only part of the entirety of the biblical concept of church! In the bible, the word “church” is derived from the Greek word “ecclesia” which describes a called out company or assembly. Simply put, God’s church is His universal group of all believers, His people. God’s covenantal promise that He will be our God we will be His people sums up the idea that we are God’s church. His people! The church is something so much bigger than any individual denomination. As God’s people, we are part of the body of Christ! What an incredible thing to be invited into!
As God’s church, we aren’t contained to the walls of any building either. In Matthew 5, we’re called to be the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. The vast majority of the ministry we did while on the race didn’t actually take place within a church building. Our lights we shown while on the soccer field in Colombia, while painting a school roof in Ecuador, while out visiting village homes in the Malealea Valley of Lesotho. God’s church not only happens when we gather together on a Sunday, but any time we gather together to be the hands and feet of Jesus!
- Cool Things Happen when we say “Yes” to God.
Even though this world race journey was cut quite short, saying “yes” to the Lords leading into this journey has proven to be one of the best decisions of my life. I’d say yes again in a heartbeat. (hopefully I’ll actually get that chance again if we get some vaccines for this virus yet!) This trip was quite a leap of faith for me. It was no easy thing to say goodbye to my family and friends, a good job on the farm, and a comfortable lifestyle. None the less, the Lord blessed my answer to His call, and I always felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be during my time away.
As I continue onward in life, I continue to ask myself, “What does it look like to be obedient to God going forward?” I’ll be honest, there are a lot of days I’m not so sure that I know the answer to that question. I think it can look different each day. Small opportunities or big ones, God opens up doors for us to proclaim His glory and make a way for His name. Be sure to seize those opportunities and be amazed at just what you can do with the Lord! I’d never have imagined that I’d speak to a youth group in Ecuador, washing their feet afterwards or share a message in a church in rural Lesotho on a Sunday morning, but God will use us if we are willing to be used. Each of us are His specially designed tools, and He’s ready to use us the way we’re meant to be used!
(Bonus Take-Away) – Don’t eat the Ceviche in Peru!
OK, so this ones more of an irrelevant joke. There’s a popular Peruvian dish called “ceviche” that consists of a type of fish or sea food. The fish is never cooked over any heat, but “cooked” from sitting in the acidity of lemon juice for a time. Being the wild and adventurous world racers that we were, we wanted to give the stuff a try! The Lord thankfully kept me good and healthy the entire time while away, other than the time we tried ceviche.. I don’t think it’s made for American stomachs! None of us became badly sick from the fish, but we suffered some indigestion for a short while. Kaelyn, the wise Canadian, opted out of the dish and she faired just fine. It tasted alright, but if you’re ever in Lima, probably ixnay on the ceviche!
Returning to a more serious note, I’m so thankful to have lived out these experiences, and I’m sure that I’ll continue to learn and grow from them. I’d like to thank so many of you who have prayed for me, encouraged me, or financially supported me along the way. It means the world to me and I look forward to personally thanking some of you for the ways you’ve followed along through this journey with me! I’m not yet sure what the future will hold or what the options will look like for finishing the race, but I know who holds the future and I can take great comfort in that.
God bless you all!
Stay safe, stay healthy, and as always, thanks for reading!
