Who knew God could do so much in 6 days! I can’t even explain the excitement we had when we saw that bus turn the corner! Tears started running down all of our faces as we saw our parents beautiful faces for the first time in 6 months. I learned so much this week with my parents. We got to do some cool ministries. One of them was where we got to work with kids and love on people here in Africa. I learned that my parents are more of power houses for the Lords kingdom than I thought. I learned that they have so much wisdom and so much love in their hearts. I already knew all of this to be true, but I got reminded of how blessed I truly am to have them as parents, mentors and my best friends. I asked each of them to write a little bit of what God taught them and what they plan to change in their lives.
Dad aka Allen:
Living uncomfortably is comforting. There is something about reliance on the Lord that brings peace. An understanding that we don’t have to be in control of our temporary earthly circumstances fade and wither like the grass but the word of the Lord is eternal. Watching believers make themselves available to be used for the kingdom is an incredible sight! Asking God to use ME where I am is life changing.
The Country of South Africa taught me that love and kindness are a universal freedom founded in our Lord that tears down cultural walls. Watching the sons and daughters of the next generation boldly preaching the name of Jesus in the streets, in peoples’ homes, at the mall, and in everyday life proved extraordinary. Watching strongholds fall and strangers lives changed because your child and many other young adults have stepped up to the call and have grown fearless in presenting the love of Jesus and his gospel truly restores hope!
I am so grateful and blessed to have spent this time with my daughter Brittany on the Parent Vision Trip and see first hand the Work the World Race is doing in South Africa! I will forever cherish the memories and new friends made, but mainly that unbelievable feeling of God working through each of us that were called to be there!
Mom aka Kristi:
It is almost indescribable how much I loved the country and people of South Africa. Although most of the people we met had very little money and lived in tiny huts with no indoor plumbing or air conditioning and little food, they were absolutely the most kind, genuinely happy people I have ever met. For example, we were blessed to have several women who helped with making the food for all of the racers and parents at our camp every day. While all of them were precious, one of the ladies (whom Britt and I called Mama) was an absolute joy! Every time I saw her we gave each other the biggest hug and she always gave me a kiss on the cheek. She didn’t know English, but that didn’t matter at all. Love simply flowed from her.
We were able to experience several things that Brittany has been doing during her time in South Africa. We fed and loved on a group of precious kids and some of their parents, but we were the ones that were truly blessed by their bright smiles, beautiful songs and hearts full of love.
It would take two days to tell of every amazing experience that I encountered while visiting South Africa. Of course the top of my list was seeing the beautiful smiling face of my precious Britt. Oh how I missed her. To see how much she has grown in her relationship with the Lord is absolutely incredible. I was able to experience God truly working through her one day when we went to the mall to walk around and pray with people. As we were walking through the parking lot on the way to the building Brittany told us that she doesn’t know what it means, but that God had placed a pregnant woman in a white shirt on her heart for three days in a row. She told me she didn’t know what it meant, but that God would show us. As we walked into the mall I looked up and not seeing Brittany and Allen I walked around a column and there was Brittany talking to a precious, very young, VERY pregnant 16 year old girl in a pure white shirt. Instantly I got goose bumps on my arms and tears in my eyes. Not two minutes earlier in the parking lot she had told me about God placing a girl in her heart and here she was talking to her. The sweet girl was there with her father and she looked terrified. It was actually her due date and when we asked if we could pray for her, she and her father said absolutely yes. When we told them about what God had placed on Brittany’s heart regarding a pregnant girl in a white shirt, the father got tears in his eyes. Knowing that God not only cared about his daughter, but also knew what she would be wearing showed us all how much He knows us and how He was going to take care of his little girl and her baby. It was by far one of the most powerful experiences of my life. I am still in awe of God’s marvelous love.
Every second I spent on this trip was purely a blessing to my soul. As we watched Brittany’s bus pull away after we said our goodbye’s I knew that she is doing exactly what God has called her to do. Although I was sad to see her leave, I was also excited to hear of the amazing people and experiences she will encounter over the next three months in Thailand and Myanmar.
