It has been an incredible month in Botswana. It is crazy to think that this country was not a part of my original route because I cannot imagine my race without it. The people of this country make me feel like I am at home. We have gotten to work in the school as well as get a taste of operations within the organization where I have had the opportunity to utilize my design background. It has been a deep month of growth and I hope to unpack some of that here with you.
The first area of depth has been personal; it has been on sonship. Our true adoption to sonship through the cross is the heart of the Christian faith however, the Lord has spoken specifically and personally through this word throughout my journey in healing and growth. This month I peeled back a few more layers of the onion on this idea, sonship.
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to SONSHIP. Because you are His sons, God send the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out “Abba, Father.” So you are NO LONGER A SLAVE, but Gods child, and since you are His child, God has made you also and HEIR.” Galatians 4:4-7
Do we fully grasp who we are and what we have access to through sonship? I know I am just scratching the surface of this.
The second area was sickness. This month, I experienced sickness on the race for the first time! During our weekend trip to the neighboring country of Namibia (we visited one of our ministries church plants to help with repairs and pour into their community) I got sick! The last full morning of the trip I woke up with terrible diarrhea, spent most of the day ok, but by sundown was puking my brains out and after the 15th or so time puking our pastor insisted we go to the clinic (or hospital, don’t tell mom). I thought I was dyeing, and the hospital trip was nothing short of what you would imagine in the middle of nowhere Africa, in the middle of the night. I can say that I have never prayed so vigilantly over myself.
Thanks to Jesus I am healthy and feeling great now, we assume it was something in the water. By the end of the weekend 5/8 of us experienced some degree of this “growing” experience. Shout out to all my prayer warriors who I know are always praying health over me!
Lastly (for now), surrender. I thought I had done all the surrendering I could. Every day, every month, I feel like I surrender a whole new level of something. This month I have had to lay down my expectations of the race. Honestly, in a lot of ways and areas…this year doesn’t add up to what I felt like God had promised me. Some days ministry just sucks, or is nonexistent. Some days I can’t stand the people I am with, or the lack of freedom I have. And most days THIS month I couldn’t stop dreaming about what is to come after the race. IF I SPEND MY WHOLE LIFE PLANNING WHATS NEXT, WHEN WILL I EVER ACTUALLY LIVE MY LIFE?! I think I have finally surrendered this one, at least as fully as I am able to. I feel like I could write a book on the topic at this point.
Amidst all of this the Lord loves to sprinkle gifts. Most days are far from jumping off a cliff over Victoria Falls but, some days are…
How do you respond to life, your calling, and God, on the days that are anything but adventure? As well as on the days that are the textbook definition of adventure? During the highs, the lows, and all the days in-between are we able to be fully thankful? Fully loving? Fully present?
Yesterday we said goodbye to Botswana, today we said hello to Victoria Falls, Zambia, and on Monday we will begin month 7 in Mozambique! Until next time, much love from Africa!
