The World Race begins in the first week of 2017.
Hello to those who follow my blog. Please accept my sincere apologies that I haven’t post any update for a while as…….many things had happened. I just felt like that I was waiting for the right moment to put everything into words. I want to make this post as beautiful and inspiring as possible but the Holy Spirit is just telling me “Don’t worry about how to word it, just write down what actually happened”. In case you don’t want to read this post (Yes, it is gonna be long), here are the summary of it:
- How was fundraising?
- I lost my job
- Falling in love with a girl
- Leaving training camp early
- Switching to new route: Fusion
If you notice the title of this post, it is indeed the same as the most popular pregnancy guide. Often I feel like I am pregnant with this God-given dream (The World Race) and waiting to give birth to the God-given destiny (living in God’s plan). Much like a 9 months of pregnancy journey, there are many unexpected things/tests will happen when you decide to give your life for God to use. (No, I am not actually pregnant. I am just using it as an example) Anyway, here are a few short stories. Enjoy.
#1 How was fundraising?
Wonderful! Honestly I really did doubt that God will provide all the money I need. Few months ago, I was about $2000 short and the first $5000 deadline was due in 2 weeks. Feeling discouraged as I thought that there’s no way I will make it. One night after a long and tiring day at work, I went to waffle house by myself because I wanted to be left alone and eat. Then I ran into some friends whom I haven’t seen for years. They prayed for me after l told them about my struggle in fundraising, and one of them even gave me some money. While later they left and I began to talk to a waitress as I ate. The waitress told me her story and how she was working hard to provide for her child(Not going into details here), and I said to myself “If I have some money right now, I would totally give it to her.” That’s when I heard a voice said “Yes you do. It is in your pocket.” I replied “Oh God no, I really could use this money for the Race. How about I just give $20? That’s still a lot for tips.” The voice said again “Give it all you got.” I pull out the money and counted, it was $100 in 5 twenty-dollar bills. I put it down on the table and left with SO MUCH peace and joy. Two weeks later, I met the first $5000 deadline. This lesson taught me one thing: God provides. IT IS REAL! He provided for the waitress that night as He is doing the same for me everyday!
“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” Luke 12:24
#2 I lost my job
Way to start this topic after the previous story right?
Well about month ago my previous job decided to cut my position due to company restructuring. I worked there for almost 7 years and put in so much hours and effort. I couldn’t tell you how unappreciated I felt. But on the same day I received the news. Same day! A regular customer walked up to me and said “I have been praying lately…..Do you need a job?” I promised that’s exactly what happened. Now at this new job I work with children in different Daycare as a sport coach which is totally a God-given job because I will also be interacting with children during the World Race. I enjoy at this new job and I will receive a severance package that is equal to the amount as if I work until the end of the year. Once again! God provides, more than I have ever asked for.
#3 I fell in love with a girl
(Okay, I know what you think. Don’t pass your judgement too quickly please.)
I believed SO MUCH when I used to read all the devotionals and books about how God uses singleness to serve Him. Actually when the last relationship ended almost 3 years ago, I was so devastated that I thought I would never want to date again. In fact, I laughed when people said I will find a girlfriend during this mission trip. I often replied “You are missing the point here! God did’t call me to this just to find a girlfriend!” I have never considered to date…..definitely not until after the Race. Then I started to talk to this girl about 2 months ago, she is a fellow world racer and we were in the same team. We started to have feelings for each other after a while. It seems like we just draw each other closer to God every time we talk.*** I want to be REALLY careful here (especially you are a World Racer) because my story isn’t an encouragement or invitation for you to feel free to date anyone during this journey, plus there’s this “Do not start a new relationship” policy when you agree to join the Race (So I don’t want to give too much details here. You can ask me privately and I am happy to share with you). Me and her were so confused and couldn’t understand why God would want us to date in such a “bad timing”. We thought we were being selfish for wanting to start a relationship.
#4 Leaving Training Camp early
Few weeks ago I went to training camp. Basically it is a 10 days camp to prepare everyone to be ready for the World Race spiritually and physically. ***Please read these blog posts about how insanely incredible and amazing this camp was. (Link: https://goo.gl/CThmfu) Long story short, training camp required us to be completely honest to God and our team. Me and her felt convicted that we need to tell our coaches but we didn’t want to. We were afraid how would the coaches react (It felt like telling your parents when you did something wrong); we were afraid how would our teammates see us. On the third day I kind of decide perhaps we should just hide it for few more months. During the worship session that night, I helplessly prayed to God “Lord, I know you called me to this journey but I am feeling so lost and distracted right now. I need a super obvious sign from you to tell me what to do. So obvious that I know it is from you.” Same night right before I went to sleep, one of my teammates came up to me and said “The Holy Spirit just told me during worship to tell you that you are about to make a decision that your flesh is not going to like it. But if you follow God’s will, he will give you what you need at the end.”
I promise, that is exactly what happened.
#5 Switching to the new route: Fusion
(Link: https://www.worldrace.org/?tab=routes&subtab=january-2017-fn)
So the next day I told the coaches everything. We were given an option that one of us will need to switch to a different route. (I want to take a moment to say that our mentor and coaches were so supportive. They weren’t there to fail us but to help us to succeed) Me and her spent an afternoon to talk and pray about the change. She said “I remember you told me about this fusion route a while back.” Few weeks ago, when I was asked to consider to join the fusion route, my heart really wanted to but I said no because how attached I was to my team and her. Suddenly I realize God wanted me to join this route all along. My heart felt the peace from God as I started to see His work in such mysterious way. Since this route has their training camp during the first month of the Race, I needed to leave early from the camp.
#6 Bonus story
The last night I was at training camp, my mentor asked if I felt comfortable to share the news with the whole team. I said “Yes but I knew she didn’t want me to”. I remember she asked “Do you know what to say?” I replied “No I don’t but I am trusting the Holy Spirit will tell me.” As I began to speak in front of 50 plus people including the teammates, leader, coaches, mobilizer, and…(OK! There were lots of people), my mind drew blank and I started to sepak. Honestly I don’t remember most of the things I said. I only remember I was in tears as all of them laid their hands on me and prayed for me. After that each and everyone gave me a hug, just imagine how long it took to really hug that many people……like REALLY hug them.
The presence of God was there that night.
Final thought:
2 years ago when I was saved by His Grace, I said “If there’s anything you can use me Lord, use me.” Through this Before-World Race time, God is constantly showing me how compassionate, GOOD, responsive, real, supernatural, kind, and trustworthy of a father He is. I can’t force you to like my stories but that’s what God let me to experience. He gives you a dream; He asks you to follow Him wholeheartedly; He is calling you right now. I sincerely hope that you just pray to God now and thank Him for all that He has done for you, and ask Him to show you what you need to see.
Because all these are real. God is real.
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Thank you for reading this crazy long post, please feel free to contact me if you…..Well, if you want to talk to me. I love you. God loves you more.
Nat Lee
