“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
One of the hardest parts of being a World Racer is leaving the friends that have become a part of your heart. I would say that I probably have the most experience in doing this, but the truth is it never gets easier.
Some would look at this experience as a way to close themselves off to the world. “Why would I ever want my heart to be broken?” “Why would I want to get close to a little child and then leave them” “Isn’t that exactly what they feel as being an orphan? These are just some of the questions that run through your mind as you leave.
Then I look at the alternative. You are a child that has been orphaned by your parents and you are crying out for love. You live in an orphanage with 27 other children that have similar stories with hurts that reach down into the deepest parts of your heart. Then out of nowhere 10 Americans show up with a different objective.
Most of the time teams come through the orphanage looking to build something, improve the landscape, or accomplish an objective. Yes they do play with us sometimes but they have something to do. This group is different; they just want to love on us, they just want to play with us, they just want to be a part of our lives.
Memories of joy and love last forever. We can try so hard to accomplish something, but what these children need is love and to know how much they are loved by Jesus. Yes we will leave but the love that Jesus has for them will never leave and the experiences that we had together will be memories that we will never forget.
As we drove away from the orphanage my heart not only broke for the children but for the racers that opened their hearts to the children. Amy said, “I don’t know how I am going to do this all year, I don’t like this.” I told her that what she did was give a child love that she never had. If we had not come to this orphanage because of fear of hurt, then these kids would never have seen the love of Christ that we are giving. Our hearts and our lives would never have been changed for these children.
I consider it pure joy to have my heart broken because I know that this is exactly what my Father in heaven wants. He wants me to get past myself and look to the needs of the children that He so preciously loves. He wants me to be His hands and feet and show the world how much He loves them.
Some would ask how you could possibly do this all the time. The answer to that question is Jesus Christ. Jesus is my strength. Jesus is everything to me in life because He is Love. Every second that I pursue Him I get abundant joy no matter the situation. If I would just sit back and open my eyes, Jesus is in everything that I go through in life. He did not come to destroy but to give life and to give life abundantly.
(The A & B squads will be coming together for debrief up until the 15th were we will be off to Lima Peru.)
Dont forget to check out videos at www.youtube.com/theworldrace
God Bless.
