Well it’s official, I’m in my last month of the race! 10 countries + months down; now to kick of the last!
Let me introduce you to the World Race, where water buffaloes roam the streets, tarantulas live in your bathrooms, and baboons jump on the hood of your car.
Where one month you live in a church, and next month you’re at an orphanage, the next you live at a school, and sometimes you’re on your own.
From leading VBS (many many times) to painting school yards, preaching in churches or teaching in schools, working and living at an orphanage or living in apartment and befriending neighbors to share the gospel, I feel like I’ve seen and done it all!
I got to wake up on Christmas on a private beach while living on a rural, 3rd world island in El Salvador
I got to swim with sharks while I lived in Belize
I got to ski in Europe when I served at CFN- a Bible college.
I got to crash a wedding in Rwanda and the team was even asked to take a picture with the bridal party.
I got to meet the national soccer team in Albania and again they asked to take a picture with our team.
I’ve played soccer on 4 different continents now; I’ve planted potatoes; I’ve even cleaned a hotel.
I met a baby who changed my life by becaming my sponsor child.
I’ve lived with 4 different teams of amazing woman who all helped me grow in my faith and character as a woman of God.
So now 4 teams later, 3 continents completed, 2 dreams fulfilled (of traveling the world + going to Ethiopia),and now only 1 country left!
How lucky am I that I got to spend 75% of my 21st year of life on the other side of the world from where I grew up! I’ve got to experience God in new ways and see his creation praise him across the world. I’ve got to witness lives being transformed by the word + love of God. And I myself have learned to love + be loved by the one who is love.
Now here I am, at the start of the end. Month 11 in Uganda. I can’t believe I’ll be home in one month! Truly, where has time gone?
This month is for sure going to be one for the books, after all this build up of what God has changed and planted and grown in my heart and taught me in this year, I’m certain he’s going to end with a bang.
My ministry for this month is partnering with a pastor of a local church who is very passionate about sharing the joy of knowing Christ and how great this good news really is! We get to preach to the youth at church, preach at local prisons + love on those who are there, do door to door ministry and invite people to open air meetings called crusades where we will again preach the amazing news of what Jesus has done to save us! We will also get to work with the local village kids by teaching them English and helping with homework.
I’m so excited for this month, I can’t even begin to explain it!
And guess what, this month our bathroom is a hole in the ground outside. Our shower is a bucket we fill with water from the local well to pour on ourselves once lather ourselves in soap. We don’t have AC; our home doesn’t have WiFi; we don’t have a washer / dryer for clothes; nor do we have a sink to wash our dishes in. And you know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way. The simpler the better. Because less is more. You know why? With less you can receive more of Him. With less clutter you have less distractions. And with less, he has more room to work and provide all he has to offer.
And not to say those things are bad, or that I now dislike them (quite the contrary- the lack actually makes me eternally more grateful for the blessings I have awaiting me at home) but what a way to experience a whole new way of life which is very common by many people outside of the U.S., and I can’t even begin to imagine all that God is going to teach me through it.
So here’s to the last month of the race, and surely the best month at that!
————————
Thank you to EVERYONE who so graciously donated to my host this month, so she can have her hip operation! We have enough money for her in less than a day!!! Wow isn’t God good!
I cant wait to share with her how my friends and family love her and want to help her by being used as the hands and feet of Christ to provide for her operation!
This also means the world to me to have people who will come along side me and help me do what I can’t on my own! God bless you all!
—————————
Also just a reminder I am off of social media until I’m home in a month! Feel free to keep updated with my journey by subscribing to my blog! Also feel free to share blogs as you please!
