Today was a day to relax and sit in the Lord’s presence. Yesterday I was feeling really under the weather, so I got up a little later this morning and sat and had breakfast (what a blessing). One of my teammates met me in the kitchen and said that she felt awful and didn’t know if she could or should hike. After praying about for a while, she felt like God told her that she would make it. So we set out slowly together.
It was an easy 6-mile day that sloped gradually up through a huge park and then past a large pond. It was a beautiful walk! We listened to music, looked at ducklings, and talked the whole way! We dawdled and ate blackberries off the bushes along the road all the way. I came to the realization today that most of the travelers have no idea what blackberries are, so there are tons of them! Can you imagine not knowing what a blackberry is? It would be really sad, so we have been introducing others to them along the way. It is quite fun watching their faces light up.
Once we reached the city, everyone split up to find breakfast then took naps until the Aburgue opened. I got in a good nap that helped a lot.
Tonight we finished off the evening with worship on the ground porch area. That was incredible! People we have befriended came out and participated or watched. People from the streets stopped and listened to a few song. We even had a lady stick her head out the window of her apartment to listen.
My favorite part of worship though was when Brooke shared with us a conversation she had with a couple who was hiking. When the couple found out that Brooke was part of the “mission group,” she said, “I have heard nothing but good things about you guys! And now after talking to you for a while, I have nothing but good things to say.” People are talking about us to other people. We are making a good impact and impression on them! So good! It has all been worth it!
Today I processed Zimbabwe. That was a month of good things. That month we worked in a home for abused and battered women and girls. We came to love those women and children well but also teach them things we know. Because we lived there, I learned a lot about setting apart time for myself and God. I also relearned how much I enjoy teaching people things and what an investment into someone’s life that can be. They both went hand in hand: if I am not filled, I can’t pour out.
Speaking of being filled, I need to be filled with sleep so I can hike tomorrow, so I am off to bed. Tomorrow will be 11 miles of up and down, so I’ll need to get an early start. We are still praying for more people to meet and to hear about God’s will. Please feel free to join us in that prayer!
Good night!
Elise
