A year full of adventures, hardships, new experiences, and so much joy. I can’t believe that we are finally about to head back to American soil again. The last few days we have been in Bogota, Colombia for our final debrief. Our whole squad is together for the very last time and we have been debriefing so much of the year and the memories we have. And oh, so many memories! Some that are so funny we are still laughing, some that we can barely believe that we made it through, and some that remind me of how incredible this year has been. All these moments that have been our reality and now they are about to become only memories.
India: What an incredible month! This honestly was probably my favorite of the whole race. The culture, the food, but most of all the people. We lived in an orphanage with the sweetest kids in the world. They loved us so well and called us their sisters and brothers. We got to preach in the streets to people that had never heard the name of Jesus and see the raw beauty of reliance on the Lord. God allowed us to see Him heal people and mend broken relationships. This is one country I could easily see us going back to one day to continue to see God work in a country that desperately needs to know His love.
Nepal: Nepal wasn’t anything like I expected. Our whole squad was together in one house with water that worked occasionally and a dog that barked all night long. We worked with a local pastor who taught us so much about spending time with the Lord each day. Ministry was a little slower paced, but it allowed room for me to deepen my relationship with God in a new way. Which thinking back on it all, was so awesome to fall more in love with the Creator of the world in one of the most uniquely beautiful places in the world. The Himalayas and Mt. Everest are such immense beauty that continued to remind me how big and mighty God is, how He created those mountains but before that He was thinking of us. I learned so much about who God is and He opened my eyes to so much more about Him.
Thailand: The land of lush green landscape and delicious food! I absolutely loved Thailand. We worked alongside an orphanage for HIV/AIDS victims and helped with projects around the base. Most of our time was spent painting or brick making, but we did get develop special relationships with some of the orphans that we ate dinner with each night. Learning how to cross cultural barriers was so crucial in creating those relationships and it was challenging. God taught me how to love deeply even when I didn’t speak the same language as someone and how even a smile or hug or laugh shared is a way to share Jesus. He works through anything we are willing to give Him.
Cambodia: One of my favorite parts of Cambodia was that we got to ride bikes all month as our mode of transportation! It was scary at first trying to navigate traffic, but after awhile it was so fun to have that freedom to get around on our own. We spent a lot of time painting this month, but also a lot of time getting to love on the kids that lived in the slums. It was heartbreaking at times and hard to see the goodness of God amongst the despair of some of the people. But God was able to show me more about how His heart breaks for His children and how He uses us to love on those that are hurting.
Vietnam: Vietnam was such an interesting country. From eating pho and more noodles than I ever thought I could imagine to chocolate fish ice cream to ginger tea – we got the full Asian experience during this month. Our ministry was working with an English café to teach people how to have conversations in English, which turned into sharing the gospel in the most unique ways. Sharing the gospel is illegal in Vietnam, but it was amazing how God opened doors for us. People would come to the café because they heard that there were Americans and then they would start asking questions about what we were doing and a door would be opened. We would tell them about a God that loves them so much that He sent us across the world to tell them about Him. It was beautiful!
Ethiopia: This is Africa! Our time in Ethiopia was dedicated to finding new contacts for future teams that will go there. We were able to connect with this amazing pastor who loved the Lord and the people of his country so much. From preaching to painting to teaching to killing chickens, we did it all during this month. Even though we didn’t have the comforts of running water or electricity, we found so much joy in the simple things. I saw some of the poorest people in the world and yet they seemed to be rich with love for God. It was incredible to experience and encouraged me to remember that God is only thing that I can’t live without. Material things will never bring me the deep joy that the Lord does.
Rwanda: I will always have a special place in my heart for Rwanda. The people were probably the friendliest people I have met in all our travels. We spent most of our time with kids and preaching. God has taken a country that was ravaged by a horrific genocide and created a country that is rooted in community and love for one another. Kids would come from all over the place and run and jump into our arms each day. They were so content to just sit with us and hold our hands and it reminded me of how we should respond to our heavenly Father. To just spend time with Him, content in His love.
Bolivia: Our coldest month of the race! We lived in El Alto at 14,000ft and it was cold and hard to breathe, but God showed us amidst un-comfortability, His redemption is perfect. Our ministry was working in a rehab house for teenagers who struggle with addiction. These kids have seen or experienced such hardship and are surrounded by darkness. It was such a powerful reminder of how much control the enemy can have in our lives but how Jesus has already declared victory over the darkness. How when we surrender our fears and lives to the loving God of the universe, He breaks any chains that are holding us in the dark. And how amazing is that!?
Peru: During this month Andy and I were separated for what we call manistry, when all the guys from the squad are together on one team. I was with 3 other girls and we had an incredible time building community and sharing the gospel with kids in different schools. I learned so much about how even though God has brought Andy and I together to further His Kingdom, there is still so much I have to offer as an individual. God uses our gifts together, but He also has so much purpose for us on our own too. Just as it deepened my love for Andy (absence makes the heart grow fonder right?), it deepened my love for Jesus with my personal relationship with Him.
Ecuador: We started this month so tired but were so refreshed and rejuvenated by our host family! They accepted as their own children and loved us so well. From surprise visits to waterfalls and the zoo to delicious homecooked meals to free massages, this family spoiled us at a time where we needed the encouragement. It was crazy how God placed us with the exact family that we needed at the time and how much they were able to encourage us to keep running this race well. We spent time loving on toddlers and leading bible studies and just bringing His light wherever we went. God taught me how He always knows exactly what we need and how He can fill us up in a way that nothing else can.
Colombia: Our final month! And what a beautiful month is was. We were again placed with an incredible family who accepted us as their own children which was exactly what we needed as we prepared to go back home to our own families. God opened so many doors to share our testimonies and preach of His goodness to people who needed to be encouraged by Him. From working with the homeless to preaching to guys doing drugs in the street to crying with a woman who had lost her son, God showed me that He can use my story in big ways.
It’s been an incredible year, a journey of a lifetime. But as I reflect through it all I realized that it is just the beginning. That in saying yes to God, we are saying yes to a lifetime of journeys as we follow Him.
Andy and I are still trying to figure out what to do in this next season, but we know that as we continue to put our trust in Him, He will continue to provide.
