This isn’t what I expected the World Race to be. That thought has run through my mind so many times in the last week and half.
You see this month my team and I aren’t partnered with a ministry. We aren’t playing with kids. We aren’t taking hope to women in the red light districts.
This month our job as a team is to find new ministry contacts for Adventures in Missions, but above that our mission is to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow. Watching this unfold over the last week has been pretty cool, and even though there have been several challenges, I know that God has us right where He wants us.
This week our ministry has looked way different than I expected it to be. Yes we have had a few opportunities to pray over people and to teach some kids, but overall it has been investing in one another.
Praying together and asking the Spirit to lead us to the contacts that we need to encounter. Studying the word together so that we can all grow together. Spending time getting to know one another in a way that it would normally take months to do. Being real about our pasts and what each of us has walked through in life.
These five other girls now know more about me than just about anyone else. They may not know every funny instance of my past. They may not know my every quirk, but I’ve forced myself to be real with them. They know what I have struggled with in the past, and just by telling them those things have lost power over me.
This community is so sweet, and even though this month isn’t what I expected it to be I wouldn’t change it for the world. I may have come on the Race to serve other people, but I think the thing that is going to change me the most is this community thing.
We are reading through Acts right now as a team and in chapter 2 verse 42-47 it says:
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
This is such an awesome picture of community! As we were talking about it the other day, we zoned in on the part where it said that they were praising God, and had favor with all the people, and we all were in agreement that’s what we want.
I think right now God is building this bond between us, so that throughout the rest of the Race that’s what people are going to see in us. That by our relationships with each other, those around us will be able to see Jesus. I love these girls so much already, and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in us this year.
Love you all!
Audrey
