New Wine is wrapping up as I sit here in the Café Rio Vida
at El Rancho, writing a blog about the experience. It’s been long and draining.
I’m exhausted, and once New Wine leaves, we’ve got a lot of cleanup to do. But,
as I sit here and look out at the mountains, I can’t help but feel that sense
of accomplishment that comes with the still small voice of God saying “Well
done, good and faithful servant.”
Because I’ve served this week.
No, correct that – we’ve served this week. JSL (Jesus Says
Love), 12:18, 3:17, Komboa, and Trumpets of One have served and served
hard. From wrangling kids to stewarding, staffing the kitchen to cleaning toilets,
we’ve worked our tails off helping to make sure New Wine came off without a
hitch.
And I haven’t heard anything but compliments from those conference
attendees I’ve had the chance to talk to out in the dining room.
attendees I’ve had the chance to talk to out in the dining room.
I think the highlight of the week for me has actually been
in working in the dining hall – occasionally bouncing, occasionally running,
and mostly making sure people got through the lines in a timely and orderly
manner. I’ve had some of the best conversations about life and The World Race.
in working in the dining hall – occasionally bouncing, occasionally running,
and mostly making sure people got through the lines in a timely and orderly
manner. I’ve had some of the best conversations about life and The World Race.
Not to mention, it’s where I met Grace.
Grace came through the first lunch service line rather
quietly, and then came back to tell me she liked my name.
It’s funny how friendships start like that. And how people
stick in your head.
Because if Grace had only stopped that one time to talk and
then disappeared, I never would have remembered her. I probably never would
have cared.
She did come back though. At dinner time. Then lunch the
next day. And dinner the next day. I found out she rode a horse I led around on
trail rides for my kids at kids camp a week ago (has it only been a week?). She
found out how large my family is (5 sisters, 3 brothers), and my favorite colors
(purple and red).
quietly, and then came back to tell me she liked my name.
It’s funny how friendships start like that. And how people
stick in your head.
Because if Grace had only stopped that one time to talk and
then disappeared, I never would have remembered her. I probably never would
have cared.
She did come back though. At dinner time. Then lunch the
next day. And dinner the next day. I found out she rode a horse I led around on
trail rides for my kids at kids camp a week ago (has it only been a week?). She
found out how large my family is (5 sisters, 3 brothers), and my favorite colors
(purple and red).
And her family will be following this blog.
I love Grace. I really do. She doesn’t know a stranger, her
laughter is infectious, and for a few seconds, I don’t feel like I’m missing my
family on the other side of the world.
I love her, and I can’t wait to hear from her and her family
as the race and life progress.
I love Grace. I really do. She doesn’t know a stranger, her
laughter is infectious, and for a few seconds, I don’t feel like I’m missing my
family on the other side of the world.
I love her, and I can’t wait to hear from her and her family
as the race and life progress.
That saying about it not being the amount of time you spend
with someone being important so much as the quality of the time must be true…
how else could I love her so much already?
with someone being important so much as the quality of the time must be true…
how else could I love her so much already?
Plus, as my team and I get ready to leave for Australia Saturday, it would have been so easy for me to check out, to just do what I needed to do between now and then to get ready for Brisbane and beyond.
God knew I needed to do better than that, so He sent Grace and her family to New Wine, so we could meet and I could actually be here in New Zealand.
And I am thankful for that.
