"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame,and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." – Hebrews 12:1-3
Month 11. Well believe it or not the time has finally come. I still remember like it was yesterday making the decision to come on the World Race and then getting on a plane in Chicago to head to Guatemala. Now I find myself halfway through the last month of what has been an epic journey of refining my relationship with my Savior and bringing His love and story of grace to the nations.
South Africa: No better place to end this journey. This month my team and another (Sweet Aroma) are living in Ocean View, a small community on the outskirts of Cape Town. This country and especially Cape Town is by far one of the most beautiful and amazing places that I have seen not only on the race but also in my entire life.
(Travis, Bryan, and I on top of the Cape of Good Hope)
My team and I have had to endure some very big challenges and hard living conditions this year. Everything from freezing bucket showers, cockroach infested bathrooms, living in the slums, fundraising in hospitals, and months where meals include a double helping of carbs with a helping of starches on the side, with the idea of meat as foreign as the massive, blonde-headed white man walking down the road. These months have been hard however, I praise the Lord for these months and have learned how to rely on Him when there is nothing else as well as how much stuff in life we value that in the end has no true value.
I have recently returned to the book of James and am starting to become obsessed with it. One of the main topics that James talks about in the first chapter is perseverance and how perseverance pays off. I feel that this can be applied to my journey this year. Persevering through these difficult months and trials, I believe the Lord has truly blessed us during this final month.
The first way the Lord has blessed us is, this month we are living with host families and Travis, Bryan, and I are placed with David and Alice Marshall. David is an amazing Spirit lead pastor who leads a church from his garage, and Alice runs a 80 child pre-school from the house (yes 80!). She also may make the best food that I have ever eaten (next to the worlds’ best food found at Jill Moser’s diner).
We are also blessed to be living with two girls from Kansas State, who are part of a group working at the schools here. It has been great to intermingle with some Americans and come alongside them for some corporate worship.
Ministry this month is working with Kingdom Sports Ministry and our contact Bradley Barnes, who is just an incredible man of God. We start the mornings off with Travis, Bryan, and I going to a gym! Yes, a real gym. No more lifting car parts welded together or cinder blocks. We have a real gym! We then spend most of the days working at pre-schools and doing street evangelism. It has been great to hit the streets with the other men and just share Jesus with where the Spirit leads. We also are blessed enough to have the opportunity to play basketball, coach soccer practices, and attend rugby games.
(watching a South African professional rugby game)
There is nothing that I could ask for to make this month better. It is one sweet way to end the race and I believe this month is a reflection of the perseverance that the team and I have endured this year. In Hebrews 11, the author says, “God rewards those who honestly seek Him”. He has shown me this month what that looks like this year and the importance of constantly seeking Him.
(no better way to do street evangelism when your street is a beach)
It is bittersweet to see this race coming to the end. Over the course of the year my squad-mates who were strangers a year ago have become as close to me as any brother or sister can. Everything inside of me would love for this squad to stay together and just keep going from country to country. However, just as death is not the end for us as believers, but merely the beginning of something so much greater, hearing what incredible things the Lord has planned for each individual on the squad, I can see the time has come to close this chapter of our lives and begin the next better chapter of growing more in intimacy with our Creator and bringing His Kingdom to Earth. This isn’t the end, but just the beginning. THE END IS WHERE WE BEGIN.
