Yep, that’s right… I am spending my “month 11” in America.
April
24th I landed in Fort Wayne, IN and my only thoughts were, is this
real life? 30 hours ago I was surrounded
by little African children that walked around my home with a plastic chicken that
squeaked.
My
first pit stop upon hitting the ground running was Taco Bell. Most of you are not surprised with
this statement.
The
flood of questions started as soon as I announced to the facebook world the
next day about my surprise of being home. I inevitably knew I was going to need
to post a blog about this at some time to get most everyone’s questions
answered in one shot.
“Wait, I just saw a photo of you on facebook surrounded
by a bunch of Africans, why are you here?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be on the
missions’ field right now?”
“What
are you doing here in Angola?”
I
walked around Trine Univeristy’s campus on Thursday and these questions were
thrown right at me. Among many other, “how was your race?” questions.
The
short story is that I was having team conflicts and that I was called home to
begin the process of support raising for Cambodia. If you are interested in the long story, I will gladly
share that in person or via skype.
My last month of the race in Rwanda was
hard. It was so hard. I was
trying to get things geared up and ready for Cambodia, but still stay present
while in Rwanda. I believe the Lord used me to speak a lot of truth and life in
Rwanda and to love on the children there, but daily it was a struggle.
When
I found out I’d be going home I was pissed, to say it nicely. I was not happy.
I didn’t think that there could be any good in it.
I didn’t have a place to go, but within a few short
phone calls He provided a place for me to stay. I didn’t have anyone to pick me
up from the airport in FW and drive me to Angola, but He provided after one
skype call.
Then
I realized that all my friends from college were still there and I’d be able to
see them; something that would not have happened had I come home in time.
The
Lord really wanted me to spend an extra month getting a job and support
raising.
I’ve had so many talks with people about
what God has laid out for me in my future and I am pumped and the most
important thing is that these people are pumped to!
I’m not going to look back at regrets
for not finishing the race because there is a plan in me being here right now.
I’m going to look forward in the goodness there is in me being right where I am
right now.
“For I am already being poured out like a drink
offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me,
but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8
The
Lord knew from the beginning that I would finish the race after month 10.
The
Lord used me in ten months all around the world to do crazy things for His
Kingdom. Honestly, I am the most changed person from this adventure, which is
to be expected. I’ve made friends that I
will remember for a lifetime and I have enough stories to talk for hours.
The
Lord gave me these verses during my month 10 in Rwanda as I was daily battling
staying present.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we
are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light
and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs
them all. So we fix our eyes not on what
is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is
unseen is eternal.“ 2 Corinthians
4:16-18
Man
that is so good. I’m not fixing my eyes on this reverse culture shock that is
around me, but rather I am fixing my eyes on my Daddy. Though I was tired in
Rwanda, the Lord renewed my strength daily. Despite everything that just happened,
I cannot lose heart of the great things that the Lord just did in and through
me.
The
greatest lesson that comes from coming home is that my race is over, but that
does not stop me from sharing Him and what He has done. Since my race is over,
it does not mean my journey as a missionary is over.
I was first drawn to this route and to the race
because it goes to Kenya. Sadly, Kenya is the one country I did not enter into.
The Lord drew me to the race because of Kenya, but the real reason I went on
the race was to find Cambodia.
I’ve
got a little less than four months from the day I landed to raise about $23,000
for my first year on the field (note: some final numbers are still being worked
out).
Four months. $23,000.
The
Lord has blessed me with people like you reading this blog that are going to
help me to get there. To read more about
my heart and my calling to Cambodia, check out my blog www.brandincambodia.com. Also, be sure to subscribe there as I am transitioning most of my posts away from my world race blog. To
donate directly to my account today go to http://www.worldoutreach.org/donationsand
click on “Wilcox, Brandi – Cambodia” I’m specifically looking for people to
help me reach my goal of $1,600 a month through monthly donations of anywhere
between $25-$100. Please email me if you have more questions or if you are
interested in hearing my heart in person, [email protected].
Since
I was here in Angola for such a time as this, yesterday I had the opportunity to
help make and package food for Haiti. Here I am pictured with my Campus
ministers kids, Isaac, Heidi, and Emily.
If
I were not in Angola, I would not have had this opportunity. It’s all in His
time, not mine.
If
you have any more questions about why I am home early, please feel free to
comment or email me! I’m an open book and if you want to know the long story, I
am open and willing to share!
