This past year has changed my life in more ways than I can express, and has shown me who God is, who I am, and so much more. As I look back on this year and prepare for going back home, I can’t fully describe how each month played a role in my year; but, what I can do is give you a little picture into what God was teaching me in that moment.
While spending time in prayer, God would give me a new word for each upcoming month about a week before heading there. These words have been something for me to cling to in the low moments, something to rejoice over in the high, and something to guide me as I worked. I didn’t always know what they meant at first, but God always had a plan and would gently guide me to what His lesson for that month was.
So, here they are. Eleven words (ok, not all are singular words) for eleven countries:
(This will be broken up into two blogs with the first five months here and the next six in the following)
Colombia: Maturity
Colombia was interesting. Not only was it the first month on the race but also it was an all-squad month (meaning our squad didn’t split up – we all had the same ministry). It was hard, but at the same time extremely exciting as we began this new journey. My word this month was so spot on as I was thrown into leading a team of seven men, even though I had no experience in international missions and was one of the younger people on the squad.
The devil threw a lot of lies at me about my age, experience, commitment and much more. I had to learn quickly how to truly stand on the word of God alone and not on my feelings. Basically, it was like getting thrown in the deep end of the pool and not knowing fully how to swim. Yet, God was there with me the whole time and healed me of so much from my past, and I definitely matured a lot this month.
Ecuador: Stepping into me
If Colombia was about maturing and getting me ready for the journey ahead, Ecuador was about taking that first step. This was the first month where my team was on its own, and I had to step into the leadership role that God put me in. It wasn’t easy and there were rough patches along the way, but our team (Rahkma Rua) really created our identity and future health this month, not to mention Ecuador is where our squad famous debates (ranging from predestination to Donald Trump’s wall) began. I really learned who God created me to be in groups and what it means to be a true leader in His kingdom this month.
Peru: Focusing on me
At first glance, you might think this is essentially the same as Ecuador, so did I at first, but that’s not what God had in mind. Ecuador was about stepping into leadership. Peru was about honing myself and my gifts.
While at mini debrief in Ecuador, God gave me a list of things He wanted me to follow for this month. It included: only listening to worship music, holding myself to a very strict quiet time and workout schedule, cutting way down on my sugar intake, and several other self-discipline focused activities. This was tough to say the least. Peru was one of my favorite months, but it took a lot of work. In the end though, God showed me who I am, where my giftings are, He gave me new gifts and vision for my life that I’ve since developed and grown even more in, and He showed me so much about Himself and the spiritual world and warfare. Basically, God blew my mind this month and really refined me more than I ever could’ve imagined.
India: Growth
This one’s easy. India was the hardest month of my race, and it’s not even close. My team and I went off to an extremely remote beach area, 13 hours from the rest of our squad and several miles from the nearest village (and I mean village, not a city, town, etc.). We weren’t allowed to leave except on Sundays, the culture was so different it could be insanely frustrating, there was intense spiritual warfare, I began to hit the B-zone (kinda like burn-out), and our food situation left something to be desired. Yet, this month was beautiful at the same time.
I grew so much in patience and in loving people I really didn’t want to love. I learned things about God and myself that I wouldn’t have learned any other way except by walking through the fire. Our team grew incredibly close as well, to where it was hard to change teams the next month, and we did it all on our own private ocean beach. I learned God doesn’t abandon us. He just sometimes hardens the clay He’s already molded.
Nepal: I have life for you – a more abundant life
Team changes!!
I joined my second team this month (Deepa) and wow what a month this was. The five others on this team became family for me. I was still dealing with the B-zone heading into Nepal and was also asked to step down from being a Team Leader into the role of Treasurer (a role I’ve had many times before, so I honestly wasn’t excited about this at first). God used this month to breathe fresh life into me though. The people on my team and that I spent time around this month gave me a renewed energy going forward that was crucial going into the second half of the race. God also showed me that He’s calling me back to America in the future and began to really develop my future ministry vision this month.
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Stay tuned for part two soon!
God Bless!
-Ben
