Recently God has been showing me
how my life has been in his hands. Every day he has been there guiding the way
and being my strength. I want to tell you part of my life story, which started
two and half years ago. God directed me to a youth program called Lifeteams:
School of Urban Youth Outreach. 
Lifeteams is an eight and half
month program which changed my life. It is a small community of 6-12 students, based
in Abbotsford, B.C Canada. Living in one house together teaches students to grow
and see each other through the hard, challenging, and good times. Throughout
the year students would do things like: run inner city missions trips, work
with a community called Nehmiah Valley, work at a retirement home, work with
street ministries in downtown Vancouver, and get the opportunity to experience
living on the streets for one day. Monthly “days of silence” are a part of this
program, which is a time for you and God to reflect and learn together. Toward
the end of the year you do 24 hours of silence- teaching you the discipline of
spending time with God. You are also taught how to lead Bible studies and worship-
learning worship is not just singing but a lifestyle (Romans 12:1). As you
learn, you get a chance to practice whatever you’ve been taught or been
experiencing. You are challenged to act it out in your life choices, decisions,
and actions- finding out how to live a life for God every day and walk with
Him. On a weekly basis you work alongside a program involving youth, which
places you in one of the local cities for the year. In the house you have class
twice a week with guest speakers and amazing teachers that invest in you during
your time in the program (and beyond). Once a week you have one on one
mentoring and also assigned accountability partners, which are both used to
challenge and build you up spiritually. One of my favourite parts of Lifeteams
is adventure day. This could consist of caving, rock climbing, repelling,
hiking, etc. At the end of the year you run and plan a backpacking trip along
the beautiful coast of British Columbia. This year will challenge you, stretch
you, mold you, and build your character. It is a time to really come to know
God and step out of the box to see a bigger picture. If you are at all interested or feel like
this is a journey you need to take for your life, go to www.lifeteam.ca and check it out!!!
That year for me was a year I
still look back on and always will. I remember lessons I learned, things God
spoke, and the community that was built. I never thought I would love
the community that we built together so much. A deep love that has made my heart
aches when theirs aches, and have joy when theirs has joy. I realized it was similar
to the love that our Saviour has for His people and I began to feel, learn, and
obtain it. He showed me what church meant. God showed me what true
community was through the students and teachers (which now, are the closest
community I have ever had at home). God really opened my eyes
during my time there, and began peeling the layers off of me that I put on
myself. I began to see a new me. I found joy in life’s adventures-
learning to live life fearlessly and courageously. I learned how to be a
child of God who had Joy and laughter, and to rejoice in the Provider of all
things.
Let me explain one journey that
was started during that year. One evening my life had a major turn of events. I
got a phone call telling me that my dad had just gotten into a motorcycle
accident and had died. My point in telling
you this is because I knew that God had a plan for me to be in Lifeteams at
that time. I did not know why but knew that it was where God wanted me to be. I
found out one major reason that day! God used this community to lift me up
and really come along side this journey. Four days after that, my group went
repelling and it was that day I chose to live life to the fullest and not let
fear conquer my life. A month or so after that event I got baptized, and it was
an act where I simply had to listen and say yes. These events were a time for a
huge new season in my life. God recently showed me I had to make those
decisions, for this new season to occur. I cannot begin to tell you where I have been
over the past 2.5 years to be where I’m at now. Lifeteams and the journey that
took place that year started a big adventure for my life- more than I can even
comprehend at times. It taught me to find God in the quiet, see Him in the
people I interact with and meet, and to find God in the adventure and beauty of
this world.
These past 2.5 years have
been a journey that blows my mind most days and I just have to keep saying yes!
My desire for the World Race comes from God and an inspiration of my
father to dream big and never give up. Lifeteams brought me to a place where I
came to a deeper understanding of God, who I am, what true community looks
like, and how to live life as a daily sacrifice to God. It may look different
than what we ever expect, but the journey God took me on (and has and will) is
more than I have ever dreamed of. Lifeteams
was a year where I learned how to be more firmly rooted in Christ and give
control to God as he guides my life.
If you have any desire to learn
more about Lifeteams, go to the website www.lifeteam.ca or ask me. The directors of this program are amazing Godly people and invested their lives into many peoples lives. Lifeteams
is a life changing year, which will only lead you to more. This is part of my
journey I wanted to share with you. I thought it was important to share where
it all began, for me to be here -on The World Race!
