Read Parts 1, 2, and 3 about my month in South Africa.
Continued from Part 3:
I had the friends present with me in the month, but I knew they were tired too. We all were. And despite communicating with everyone back stateside, and other people within our squad, I settled into this idea that they couldn’t understand. I also knew the month was coming to an end and I could gut it through to the end.
But we were not meant to strive.
Through a series of events, I found myself arranging for our teams to leave our location early and I also learned of an opportunity to go to a summer camp (for adults, which is still a hilarious concept in my mind) run by Hillsong Church in South Africa. A large group of us (18), some from the teams I was with in South Africa and two of our other teams had off days saved for us at the end of the month and we would not have any scheduled ministry for a couple of days. The folks at the church let us join in on the fun and we quickly stuck out at the camp as “the Americans”
I reached the camp ready for some time to seriously sit down and sort through the blur of what all had occurred during the month.
It was the first time for a long time that I did not have much to do (I only needed to send a couple of texts during the 3 days spent there) and I got to be reunited with friends from my first team and other squad mates that are always good for a fun time.
God used those three days to let me hear from him. And to reconnect. I stole a hammock (sorry Christa) one day and simply laid there in peace with him. I fell on my face at worship one night, and released so many tears of frustration and felt his love wash over me. I took a marathon nap one afternoon and skipped a session to do so. It was soo good. And I played soccer for hours one night and had a blast. I also heard from the Lord about some things that He is asking me to embrace for life after the race. But more on that later.
It was what I needed before traveling to a new country and walking into a new month with a new team.
It was what I needed. I needed to reconnect with Him. I needed to rest and stop striving.
I am so grateful for those few days. For the ways that God allowed our squad to even be in South Africa for that month with those days off. For the way that He let me have time with some of my favorite and some of the goofiest people on T squad. For the conversations that I got to have with Ali, Audrey, Rachael, Autumn and some of the lovely people in my connect group.
I am so grateful for the reminders that He was always going to be there to release me from things that weigh me down. And that I am never alone. Especially on the World Race.
