…Why don’t you go ahead and grab yourself a comfy place on the couch and while your at it get yourself a cup of coffee and popcorn because this is going to be a long one…
HALF WAY SUMMARY THROUGH THE RACE
Woah! today is the day… the half way mark of the World Race… It has flown by, but at the same time month one seems like 5 years ago and last week seems like a year ago. It is crazy how that works!
In CELEBRATION of it being the half way mark of the race, I thought I’d share some pictures, favorite memories, and things God did during each months!
CHILE
Chile!! Seems like years ago!! First month with my 7:10’s! The Lord began to show me what true community looks like. I am forever thankful for this group of sisters. They truly set a foundation for the rest of the race and catapulted me into this year! My race would not have been the same without starting with them.
Jesus showed me His sweet sweet love through the teachers and children at the school Los Rosas, where we volunteered helping the teachers in the classrooms. The children filled me with so much love and laughter each day. Through Los Rosa’s I saw the love of Christ and was humbled by the sacrificial love the teachers had for their children!
The Lord allowed us to partner and live at the House of Hope, which was our main ministry. We built relationships with girls coming out of the orphanages, hoping they would see Jesus in us. This ministry was so cool for me because it was something I was already so passionate about so I felt this was a sweet way God started the race off for me! Also got to share my testimony and bible stories with the house of hope girls!
DEBRIEF IN VINA DEL MAR, CHILE
Debrief is a time spent with the whole squad, where we share testimonies with each other about what God did in the previous month and debrief the month. It is a time of refreshment, rest, and worship, while also getting to catch up with other squad mates!
Spent the day in Valparaiso, Chile. A colorful town, full of lots of art!!
AREGENTINA
Man, Argentina, looking back is not my absolute favorite month, but the Lord definitely wrecked my world when He spoke truth about my identity over me. We partnered with Youth with A Mission in Argentina, serving alongside their ministries. Doing lots of evangelism, prayer, and service.
We worked daily with the YWAM staff! One of those people being MARLIN!! We worked with him a lot sweeping leaves and helping around the YWAM camp! He was awesome and loved us even though he sometimes acted like he didn’t! 😉
We went into the city of Mendoza one day into a park, praying for and evangelizing to people we met. We met this guy and started talking with him and his family. We prayed for them and then the man started crying, wanting to ask Jesus into His heart!! And he did!!! Such a cool God experience, all the Holy Spirit working!!
BOLIVIA
Bolivia was probably the hardest/one of the best months of the race so far. We partnered with three different churches. Encouraged the congregations, shared testimonies and scripture, swam across a river, and oh we hiked for five days through the amazon jungle, just to visit the people of Mojo’s that God loves so much. Through this month, the Lord revealed to me a little bit of what Paul’s missionary journeys might have looked like. Things I loved about Bolivia: The bags and bags of Pan (bread), the huge slide at the church in Apolo, and the wild pineapples that grew on the mountains.
While hiking to the Mojos, I decided to get baptized in the Tuiche River. I had been baptized before, but this was a symbol of washing away the previous sin I had walked through and also of a life of complete surrender and dedication to the Lord!
TRAVEL DAY IN PERU!
When traveling from Bolivia to Cambodia we had to fly out of Peru, where we were able to explore a bit! Spent a few hours on Lake Titicaca, exploring the floating islands.
CAMBODIA
Cambodia, was a month of stepping out in boldness. Sharing the gospel with strangers, and building partners with ministries that are building Kingdom. Siem Reap, Cambodia, was one of my favorite cities because the people were SO friendly, they had dollar smoothies around every corner, we road bikes around town, we had the best tuk tuk drivers, and we lived in coffee shops, which I will never complain about! In Cambodia the Lord truly awakened and confirmed my desire for building relationships and sharing the gospel with people. There were many opportunities for this in Cambodia and because of this month I will never be able to live my life the same!
One of our Unsung Hero meetings!
These guys were our tuk tuk drivers (tuk tuk seen in the back ground!) They’re out of control in the best way possible. Love them!!
Yes, I saw this with my actual eyes and got this close to this cute monkey family!!! Ya know, just some monkey parents taking care of there babe!
Met this beautiful girl in Cambodia at an ice cream shop she works at. We instantly became friends and started hanging out! She has big dreams and I can not wait to see what God does through her.
THAILAND
The land of tourists!! In Thailand we partnered with The Hope Home, if you’ve read any of my recent blogs you know God really showed his love through the staff and children at Hope home! It was such a beautiful place! We were able to truly provide lift and serve their ministry while we were there, which was awesome. One of my favorite places in Chiang Mai, was “Butter is Better,” which was a typical American diner, that served chili and cornbread, and biscuits and gravy!! And I mean goooood southern food, it was piece of home in Thailand. The $1 pad Thai was pretty bomb too. I loved the routine we built in Thailand and how God used us to show His love, with those that we saw everyday. Thailand was also my first month with my new team, The Wildflowers, and also my first month stepping into my new role as team leader. Our first month as a new team was awesome. We set the tone for the month, by kneeling on hands and knees in prayer for our team, the ministry, and our future months together. Setting the tone in prayer and intimacy with the Father, really allowed us to go deep with each other and God, while creating lasting friendships.
MY *WILD*FLOWERS*!!! Each individually wild and unique!!!
SERBIA (So far…)
Were currently in Serbia and it might be my favorite month so far!! (But every month I say that!! Lol) We went from five months in 80-degree weather to 40-degree weather and snow. However, the cool air has been refreshing! This month we are in unsung hero month again, searching for churches and ministries in southern Serbia who we can bring lift to and to help build the Kingdom. Without having a place to stay or having any contacts coming into this month, we go where the spirit leads and man has the Lord been so faithful and has He provided! We met a missionary couple from Texas here (45 min away from Waxahachie), the first day, who immediately gave us opportunities to jump into their ministry. This month has been all about building relationships with people! I am learning so much about Serbia and about Eastern Europe and the Lord is revealing His heart to me for these people! (They are awesome and this country is beautiful!!)
Having coffee with some of our new friends!!! <3
And that’s a wrap!! First 5.5 months down, 5 more to go!!
The World Race has been an amazing experience so far. I am learning so much about the world, different cultures, God’s people, His Kingdom, different ministries, and community, all while diving into deeper depths of God’s word. These things are all great, but the Lord is also giving me a peace and contentment in Him and not in the things of this world.
It is not the cultures or food or beautiful sites, that bring joy to my soul during this season, but the interactions and relationships that are built with those who were created to glorify God. The random encounters with strangers, the friends that are built, and the Ministry partners, are what truly lights up my heart. Interacting with God’s people all over the world, in their different languages and customs, is what this is all about. Sharing Jesus and seeing the Kingdom around the world!!
If you have read all of this, THANK YOU!! I know it was long!
My desire, is to take these things from the past five months and grow from them as we head into this next half of the race. To continue being a light and sharing the love of Christ throughout the rest of Eastern Europe and in Africa!
Here are some things you can be praying for as we head into the second half of this journey:
-Energy!! Pray for newfound energy. To be renewed in the Lord. For my heart to not grow weary from what we are doing, but to only have a deeper passion for sharing the gospel and loving like Jesus!
-For focus! For distractions to fall away. To stay present. That we would not get focused on what is after the race, but that we would still be present in this season and what God wants to do!
-Pray for the nations. The ones we have been to and the ones we are going to! Pray for ones that aren’t even on my route. Or read one of my blogs and pray for a specific individual that I have come in contact with. Pray for those seeds to be watered and for further discipleship in the lives of those people.
-For our upcoming PVT, which is when parents will join some of us for a week on the race!
-Funds. I am almost fully funded for the race, but still lack a couple hundred dollars! I am not worried, because I know the Lord is faithful and will provide like He has so far, but pray that I will become fully funded so that I can continue doing what the Lord has called me to. Prayerfully consider supporting me.
The Lord is working and moving! He is active and alive! He hears our prayers and desires us to know Him and be known by Him deeper. He is so satisfying, so good, and so loving!
I am so honored to get to serve Him and share His love through this journey! It is such a privilege. And I thank all of those who have supported this journey so far, God is working through you to help reach the Kingdom!!
