The end of our first continent has finally arrived. I have been gone for a whole 3 months yet I swear I just started yesterday. Somedays feel long and exhausting like all I wanna do is call home for just a moment to hear a familiar voice or drink a real cup of coffee. The rest of the time it feels like each day, week, month is passing by so quickly and I can’t slow them down even for a second.
A few days ago I stepped off a 30hr bus ride from Northern to Southern Mozambique and found myself thinking “huh, we’re here.” ( If you want a really good story ask me about this bus ride later because IT WAS WACK) Now here I am 3 days later preparing to leave for India and I just keep thinking “where did the time go?!” As I process and pick a part all that I have seen and done I can’t help but wonder if I have fully lived each moment with the purpose of glorifying the Lord.
Last month a friend I had mad in Mozambique from Life Church (the ministry we worked with) asked me how AIM goes about selecting people for the World Race. I confidently answered him with details about the application process. I mentioned that AIM was looking for people who were Kingdom minded. That the race was not a charity vacation but a lifestyle with a purpose. I Talked with him about our intentions to love people well, spread the Word of God and encourage discipleship among our brothers and sisters across the world. He immediately followed that with “Do you feel like you have discipled me?” I wasn’t as confident to answer the second question. Had I invested in him? Were we truly iron sharpening iron or was I just waiting for him to sharpen me? This set me on a long thought process of how intentional am I being with the people I am running into and the time I am given in a single day. Manguela reminded me that day that the race isn’t just for bringing the lost to christ during our ministry hours. I should be honoring and glorifying the Lord in the way I serve my fellow believers and in my free time convos. I have wisdom and words that the Lord has freely given to me along the way thus far and he is counting on me to deliver those to whom ever crosses my path. At the end of a convo someone may or may not remember where i’m from or what my cute dog’s name is but I guarantee they wouldn’t forget hearing from the Holy Spirit that dwells inside me or being touched by Christ.
In roughly 48hrs I’ll be on to the second phase of my year long journey and I can’t wait to see how the Lord uses me. I can’t wait to see where he takes me or who I will meet. Its all an incredible mystery and I hope to apply what I have learned here in phase one. Thanks again for all of your support and love.
until India,
Amanda
