Thanks to all of you for praying for Cambodia. It is a country that will always be dear to my heart because of the amazing people in it that have persevered even with their tragic past. I was so blessed to be able to encourage the believers there and share the Gospel every day. Actually, the last day one of my favorite students stood up and told us that while he was not yet a believer, he wanted to thank us for coming all the way there and truly showing him the real love of God. Wow, what a statement. We’ve done what He asked us to do, now they’re in the Lord’s hands, and that is the best place they could ever be.
We’re halfway through the RACE!!! Isn’t that crazy?! I still cannot believe it. I have been reflecting on what God has done, and while I had originally wished for more BAM moments, God’s way is always best, and things are really different from when we started. God has stretched me in ways I never would have imagined. For example: I now don’t feel the need to cry when I am cooped up in a house with seven people and cannot have a single moment completely to myself for a week.
In all seriousness, one of the biggest ways is the community here on the RACE. Imagine living with six other people 24/7 for 11 months (and sometimes twice that many). Those of you who are married are probably way ahead of us in this, but living in that sort of community, where you cannot get away from each other, even for a few hours, is tough. You do not have the option of choosing who is on your team, therefore, you don't have the luxury of flocking to those you naturally click with and getting away with being polite to the rest. I thank God for that though, because I now call brothers and sisters those I might not otherwise ever have.
How am I really changing through all of it? I am falling in love with our Father; really in love. There are times I still question Him, feel un-important to Him, feel like He’s holding out on me even, but thankfully His mercies are new every morning and He takes the time to show me how distorted my view of Him can really be. Just the other day l felt so weak that I fell on my face before Him, begging Him to show me how much He loves me and is going to move in/through me. But how much do I put God in a box and try to nail Him down? He has done so much for me already and is still patient with me, showing me that every day. The Lord is GOD; He is always good, and faithful, and WILL honor His promises… it just doesn't always look like what I expect.
So, if you are struggling with the same thing, and it doesn’t look like God is ever going to fulfill His promises, or that maybe they weren't meant for you, then I encourage you… ask yourself what you are expecting it to look like, and why… you might be surprised to find that you have constructed the walls of your own personal God box.
(pics – Months completed so far – 1. El Salvador 2. Honduras 3. Nicaragua 4. Thailand 5. Cambodia)
