August 11th, 2019. Such a special day I had, celebrating the beginning of my 22nd year of life. I don’t for a second take for granted this life I’ve been so graciously given by my Creator. I am blessed beyond measure and thankful every moment.
Not many people get to say they spent their 22nd birthday in the beautiful beach town of Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa while traveling on mission with the World Race. If you would have told me that’s how I’d spend this day this time last year, I would’ve laughed in your face (but also felt giddy at the possibility of what God would do to make that happen). God is SO cool!!!!!!!!
At midnight on August 11th, my team, the other team we’re living with, and some friends we met at the Transbaviaans Mountain Bike Race (find out more on Facebook), all sat around a warm, comforting campfire, roasting marshmallows, and singing “happy birthday” (in English and Afrikaans) to me. In that moment, I got the coolest nudge from God, reassuring me that I was going to have a stinking awesome day. And I did. But let’s rewind for a moment.
As soon as I picked my route for the World Race, I quickly realized that I would spend my birthday in South Africa. And that it would be my first month on the field. As excited as I was that I would spend the start of 22 in an amazing place, the devil completely washed that excitement away with his lies, telling me that I would have a lonely, unfulfilling birthday because my squad wouldn’t yet have had the chance to get to know me well. August 11th was only 11 days into the Race, so I’d only have known the people I’d be living with for like 20 days. Who can get to know someone as well as my family and friends back home know me in 20 days? I was nervous that it’d turn out to be an awful day (or even worse, that everyone would forget my birthday) and that I’d be so homesick that I’d have wished I’d spend my birthday back home like usual.
Well I obviously didn’t, in that moment, lean in to who God is and what He says about me. Because if I look at His word, He says that He works ALL things for good for those who love Him, and that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and that He will never leave or forsake me, and that He has given me a spirit of LOVE, and not one of fear. He loves me so fiercely and wants to wrap me up in His goodness. For sure I would feel that truth on one of the most important days of the year: the day 22 years prior that He gave me life on Earth.
I prayed hard that I would be loved well on my birthday. And I was. So much better than I could have imagined myself.
After the wonderful start to my birthday around the campfire, we all went to bed with the mountains surrounding us. We woke up several hours later in serenity. I’ve never been in a place so quiet. When you speak, it feels as though you’re in a small room with four walls, not in the middle of nowhere with a vast mountain region encompassing you for miles. As I cleaned up trash off the ground from the mountain bike race the day before, I began thanking God for all of the blessings in my life thus far. In reality, good or bad, all that has happened in my life has been a blessing, because they all culminated to this one moment with me in the mountains with a community of incredible people, serving the Lord.
As soon as we were all packed in trucks, we tumbled (literally) down the mountain back to JBay. Two other girls and I rode in the back of a truck all the way down, laying on tables and chairs, trying to get comfortable enough for a 3-hour nap. Let’s just say we spent more time laughing at the fact that we were thrown side to side in the truck every 5 seconds than we did napping. Either way, it was an adventure, and that’s what I’m on the Race for, right?
We returned to our log cabin with just enough time to unpack before taking the long trip up a flight of stairs to the second floor of our house to enjoy a beautiful church service in the company of about 20 other JBay community members. I took a moment to appreciate the simplicity. A four-person worship team, a 20-square foot space in our home, folding chairs, a few couches, and an intimate church congregation. I came to recognize the beauty of house church. Everybody supports everybody, there’s always a helping hand, and the presence of God is tangible. Just lovely.
We spent time in the kitchen afterward spending time in fellowship with the locals and, of course, drinking coffee. It felt like home. Like I was spending my birthday with family from back home. What a comforting feeling.
Once the last soul left, our two teams called a few cabs and drove downtown to a restaurant called Nina’s. When I saw a vegan menu, I about shrieked of joy. I shared pad Thai and loaded grilled cheese with my other vegan teammate, Kacie, and I couldn’t have asked for a yummier dinner. Sharing a meal with these girls (and a few guys we met on the mountain) who I met not too long ago, who already feel like I’ve known them for years, was so refreshing for my soul. I felt LOVED. And that was enough.
When we got our combined bill, I took a look (even though my team graciously paid for my meal), and the total came to R2,222 (don’t worry, the exchange rate is like $16 to R1, do that math if you wish). I can’t make this stuff up. 2,222. God, is that you?
Not more than 2 minutes later, as we were leaving, I asked Kacie what the time was. She looked at her watch and replied, “9:35”. Again, I can’t make this stuff up. I was born at 9:35pm. The whole day, everyone would kindly ask if I felt different now, being 22 and all, and I would respond with, “I’m not actually 22 until 9:35 tonight”. And in that moment, with the check reading 2,222, and the time reading 9:35, God whispered to me, “Here it starts, child. This is the beginning of a fruitful 22nd year, and I will be here with you every moment, just as I am now”. If you didn’t know already, we have such an intimate, personal God, who knows us deeper than we know ourselves, and loves us more than earthly possible. He is perfect. And He always shows up when we need Him. In this moment, I needed Him. I needed that beautiful reminder of His presence surrounding me in that moment. I am so grateful to serve a God like Him!
Last but not least, we left dinner and walked to the beach for the first time since being in Africa. The whole day I had this little hope that I’d get to see the beach on my birthday, since it’s my favorite place in the world. Like always, God came through for me. We felt the beautifully soft sand in between our toes and heard the roaring waves steps away. My first time seeing the Indian Ocean. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my birthday.
This is a day I will never forget.
Thank you to everyone who made it that way.
Love always,
Allison
