Opportunity is abundant wherever you go. And I don’t mean opportunity to go on adventures, to rise up the corporate ladder, to land a date with that guy or girl, to accept or decline that big decision you’ve been trying to make. Those are opportunities, yes, but they aren’t the kind of opportunity that I’m talking about.
God gives us opportunities and invitations to walk life with intentionality in every moment of every day. Walk intentionally in love, in discipline, in saying yes, in extending grace, in doing instead of thinking, in using your voice instead of staying quiet.True opportunity is God placing people in our lives that need to be shown his love. And this opportunity doesn’t knock. It’s everywhere you go. It’s staring you in the face. It’s so commonplace and frequently evident that it’s paradoxically invisible. It’s blaringly loud, but somehow deafeningly quiet. So instead of waiting for that big opportunity to knock on your door, realize that your greatest opportunities are sitting quietly in front of you. Walk in that opportunity with intentionality.
This is something that God has had to teach me. “I’m not going to do everything for you, Anna. I’m not going to make every decision for you, serve up opportunities to you on a silver platter, do all the hard, dirty work that you need to discipline yourself to do. I will be with you, but I will not do it for you.” The best opportunities that God gives us are simple every day things that require intentional obedience. And again, this opportunity sure as heck ain’t banging on your door. Most of the time, they are very quiet whispers.
Intentionality and self-discipline are not easy for me, I’ll be honest. In fact, it’s really really difficult. So this is me also preaching to myself and lessons I’m still learning. But I’ve found that in the moments I’ve been obedient to this type of “knocking” and have forced myself to be intentional in life are the moments that fill you the most and spur you on towards more. They’re the moments that fill your gas tank and increase your drive. Life has so much to offer if you walk intentionally in grasping the opportunity of loving others, loving yourself, and loving God. But don’t wait for it to knock, otherwise you’ll be waiting a long time.
The Philippines is a country full of these opportunities. (As is everywhere else, but let me tell you about this location 🙂 ) This is our last month of the World Race. God has sweetly placed our entire squad (all 19 of us) in the same ministry in Manila. Manila is the largest city in the Philippines and has a lot of need. We are with an organization called Kids International Ministry (KIM).
This month has consisted of hanging out with toddlers and children at KIM’s children’s home. What an opportunity to love and play with these sweet children! (We were not allowed to photograph here).
Going on neighborhood feedings. Metro Manila has some of the worst poverty I have seen on the Race. What an opportunity to be able to serve those in need!
Doing manual labor around the base. What an opportunity to assist and improve KIM!
Assisting at the pregnancy clinic. What an opportunity to be a part of new life!
The coolest thing for me this month was that I got to assist in the birth and delivery of Christian Luke. He was born August 21st, weighing 5lb 3 oz. I got to sit with the new mom, Mary Ann, holding her hand as she went through contractions and birthed her baby boy. I got to clean Christian’s little body and put his first diaper and clothes on. I got to watch the miracle of new life up close. What an AMAZING opportunity.
God is so cool to have given us so many opportunities this past month. I will be forever grateful for the things I was able to do and see here in Manila.
ANOTHER amazing opportunity I had was to travel to the Banahue and Batad rice terraces with 6 other members of my squad. It was absolutely stunning. I may post a little more about this soon.
I also plan on writing some more blogs about home and overall thoughts of the Race. My computer is not working at the moment, hence my lack of blogs, but I will try to give more updates, I just can’t promise they will come out soon.
That’s all for now, I will see you guys soon! We are flying out of Manila today and back to the US by Friday. God bless you!
