Some days 3 months seems like a week went by and other days it feels more like a year. Just like life back home, there are good days and not so good days but here are a few nuggets of things the Lord has been revealing to me in my time abroad.
– No matter how many times I packed and repacked before the race, there are still things I forgot and things I should have left behind. Oh the struggles of living out of a backpack.
– Similarly, no matter how ready I thought I was emotionally and spiritually for this wild adventure, there are still plenty of areas I was highly unprepared for.
> > God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.
– Although I’ve witnessed and encountered some incredible things like healings and people receiving salvation and being set free, the greatest thing I’ve experienced is the work the Lord is doing in me.
– Throw all expectations out the window. Seriously, what can change probably will so be prepared to go with the flow and make the best of the cards you’re dealt. It keeps things interesting that’s for sure.
– Humility. I can’t stress this one enough. Before the race I consistently told the Lord that no matter what happens in these 11 months to keep me humble. And boy He has. Let me tell ya. The second my pride creeps back in there’s Jesus to remind me that dignity is not one of the fruits of the Spirit.. And I’m grateful for it. Grateful that it’s not by anything I’ve done or could ever do but by Christ alone.
– Like anything in life, you get out what you put in. The more willing you are the more growth you’ll have. This lesson took me some time to figure out. My stubborn tendencies often got the better of me and I found myself saying isn’t it enough that I’m here? The answer is no. It’s not enough to just show up. You’ve got to want it and want it bad if you ever hope to get it whatever “it” may be.
– Obedience is our. Results are God’s. We don’t always like our ministry or even agree with it which can be difficult. But I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter if I agree with our contact or their vision for the ministry. What matters is that I’m there for 30 days and trust that that’s exactly where Jesus wants me. And because of that I will seek His face in every conversation/interaction and in ever task I’m given. And He will reveal himself to those who earnestly seek Him.
– Community is no joke. Privacy? What’s that? Personal belongings? I don’t think so. You guys don’t get along? Too bad. Work it out cus you’re living, sleeping, eating, worshipping, and ministering together for a year of your life. Back home it’s easy to surround yourself with people like you that you can relate to and get along with easier. The race has surely stretched me in this. Having to live out life with people that I often have nothing in common with other than Jesus as our common denominator but learning to make it work and still loving them the way Christ loves. Community man.. It’s a tough one sometimes. 53 people from all over the world and all walks of life tossed together into this beautiful creation called Osquad.
– I’ve learned that my body can take more of a beating than I realized. Everything from falling down a flight of stairs in the pouring rain in front of the entire squad (haha another lesson in humility) to painting a 3 story church every day for weeks 7 hrs/day to walking 2 miles on the burning sand and asphalt with no shoes carrying a backpack, cooler, surf board and 2 water bottles.
– Jesus is greater than any cultural or language barrier. I know you all know this already but seriously. I have seen God do some pretty rad stuff despite that fact that I can’t communicate at all to most of these people. And it’s just the beginning. I know some Spanish but just wait till Asia and Africa. Thankfully God’s power is not limited by my abilities.
– The supernatural is just as real now as it was in the Bible. Miracles are still happening on a daily basis and people are encountering the love of God in supernatural ways all around us. We need to only open our eyes to it besides its all around all the time.
– The pain of your past was preparation for your future. God had a plan for your Devine destiny before you were born. It’s amazing how I look back on my life of just 23 years and can see all the mistakes and wrong turns I made but the Lord is showing me how they weren’t actually wrong turns. They were moments of preparation leading me to the Devine destiny he has for my life. Without those “mistakes” I would have never been led to the race and never encountered God in the ways He wanted me to.
– Baby wipes become you’re best friend. AIM makes it very clear to take care of your personal hygiene while on the field but it’s a lot trickier than you’d think. I have a new appreciation for clean clothes and a clean body that’s for sure.
– Intentionality. That’s a big one. If you want something then you find a way to make it happen. Period. Pursuing relationships (both on the race and back home), more quality Jesus time, fitness, fundraising, personal growth, whatever it is. If you want it bad enough you’ll make it a priority.
– Sonship (or in my case daughtership). As a child of God I have been created new in Him and am an heir to his throne. I have the authority granted by God because his Holy Spirit lives in me and nothing I could ever do can make Him love me any more or any less than he does right at this moment and every other moment. This is a daily lesson really. It’s been a consistent theme the Lord’s been showing me over the last year honestly but especially since being on the Race. He’s drawing me closer to Him and revealing more everyday of how He views me rather than how I view myself.
These are just some of the many many things God’s been teaching me in the last 3 months and I could probably write a blog about each one. It blows my mind how much I’m learning in such a short amount of time. It makes me excited for what the next 8 months will bring.
