We have made it to the Philippines after a couple of pretty intense travel days! Although crazy, I find travel days to be the most fun and most bonding days among the Squad. We flew from Managua to Atlanta, Atlanta to LA, LA to Hong Kong, and Hong Kong to Manila. The men of S Squad still have one more flight early tomorrow morning to the island of Mindanao where we will be doing a month of "manistry"!
Before I get too wrapped up in what God has for me in the Philippines, I want to highlight and reflect on the time that He gave me in Central America, especially Nicaragua because that country has been my favorite on the Race thus far. Here are eleven people, events, or places that I will never forget about my first three months on The World Race:
- MY SECOND NIGHT ON THE RACE. As of right now, I can't go into too much detail about this night in Guatemala. Just know that this was a pivotal moment in my relationship with the Lord. It will be a blog someday. Now is just not the time.
- PASTOR ARNOLDO. While in Guatemala, Team Frureo and Team Metamorphosis helped prepare some land that will eventually be a conference center for Pastor Arnoldo's church. The faith that this man has still inspires me. He worked like it depended on him but prayed like it depended on God. When the Lord stopped providing, he didn't stop trusting because he knew the Lord would pull through. If you want to read more about him, please read my blog titled "The Road to Penuel".
- THE YELLOW BUILDING. In Honduras, Team Frureo had the opportunity to pioneer a ministry in a rundown building where high school and college-aged kids would congregate and play soccer. We walked down to the building during our first week of ministry, dove right in with playing soccer, and started forming relationships with them. By the end of the month, they were showing up at Zion's Gate, our ministry base, to see us. Hopefully, that was the start of something extraordinary. You can read more about this in my blog titled "The Yellow Building".
- ROSIBEL'S DAD. I don't even know his first name, but I still get chills thinking about the conversation that I had with him. Part of our ministry in Honduras was doing hospital visits. One day, Nidia, our ministry contact's wife, decided that she wanted to spend an hour praying in the Pediatric ICU. In there was a girl named Rosibel who wasn't expected to live. We finished praying and were getting ready to leave when I met a man waiting outside the unit. He was Rosibel's dad. He said, "If the Lord decides to take her, we will know that she is in His hands. We just want prayer that the Lord heals our hearts afterwards. We don't want to be angry with Him." I found out the next week that Rosibel had passed away after being in a coma for more than a month.
- EL CORAZÒN DE CRISTO. In Honduras, we spent a week at this ministry. This place provides a home for orphans, young mothers who became pregnant due to rape or incest, and girls with cerebral palsy. This ministry truly lives up to its name, The Heart of Christ. Gracee Murphree and her husband, Lee have hearts that break over the same things that break the Lord's, and they do everything they can to be an extensions of His hands and feet.
- PRAYING ROSA. We did house visits in the afternoon with this lady in Nicaragua. She woke up every morning at 3:00 AM to pray interceding for her family, her church, and Team Frureo. Awhile back, her daughter was clinically dead due to a power line falling on top of her. Praying Rosa prayed her back to life. She is living proof of Proverbs 15:29.
- LA PLAYA ROCA. We didn't do any ministry here, but this beach was absolutely beautiful! While sitting on the shore, I found myself thinking just how intricate and thoughtful the Lord's creation really is. Some of the best worship times doesn't involve singing, music, or instruments. It only involves enjoying the things He has made.
- MY FIRST SPANISH SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON. During our last Sunday School in Nicaragua, we were asked to tell a story five minutes before it was supposed to happen. I grabbed their Bible Story book, picked out a story, and read it to the kids. My Spanish reading skills aren't exactly like those of a fluent speaker, but the Lord definitely provided a fast-thinking mind and an eloquent tongue during those ten minutes!
- MATAGALPA. This place has absolutely nothing to do with ministry, but it was my favorite place in Nicaragua to spend a day off. Why? IT HAD THE BEST COFFEE! Between Barista and Seleccion, I could easily see myself spending a lot of time in Matagalpa if I were to ever live in Nicaragua!
- STUDENT SPONSORSHIP AT NEWSONG. Speaking of living in Nicaragua… The night before I left, I was asked by one of our ministry contacts, Lisa, to prayerfully consider and think about a possible future at Newsong working in the Sponsorship Program that provides education for kids whose families cannot afford it. Some of the best moments at Newsong were doing house visits to see how these kids were doing in school.
- I WAS ASKED TO BE A TEAM LEADER! During our last day off in Nicaragua, I received a call from one of my Squad Leaders asking me if I'd consider leading a Team during our fourth month in the Philippines! I knew the Lord was calling me to leadership on the Race. I just didn't realize it would be this soon nor did I know that I would be leading a Team of all men!
As I go into this next month of my Race, please be praying for me. Pray that I lead out of example and not power. Pray that I remain present even when I'm somewhere I don't want to be. Pray that the Lord starts to give me direction on what I should do Month 12 and beyond. The Lord is continuing to open door after door revealing the plan that He has for me during these next eight months!
