Theres too many amazing things I could share to sum up my start of the Race so I chose three categories to give some insight into what God is already doing…I’ll call it the 3 P’s: a Personal change or lesson I learned, a Praise for something that happened, and Prayer requests for today for my heart.
Personal change/lesson: as you know we are living out of a back pack for the year and I was VERY limited on the clothes I could bring so each item was chosen with specific purpose. On the Camino I brought three shirts total, one for sleeping and two for trading off and on while hiking each day. On the second day I was packing my pack and noticed one of my hiking shirts was missing. I was obviously pretty upset at first because I now had only two shirts remaining. I prayed and explained my anger to God over the shirt and by the end found myself saying, “Okay God that shirt is yours, you’re right, I don’t need it. And if there is anything else in my pack that I don’t need I ask you take it from me now.” Well day three rolls around and I’m getting ready for bed and cannot find my sleep shirt. UNBELIEVABLE! This time you would think I would be even more upset but instead all I could do was laugh. God answers prayers in silly ways and He showed me how little I truly need, only one shirt and to always turn to Him.
Praise: I praise God for an amazing encounter I had with a 12 year-old girl at one of our hostels. April, was the daughter of one of the owners of the hostel and from the moment we arrived she caught my attention. I quickly started getting to know her through our broken English/Spanish and joked around with her as she helped bake and serve all the guests. Later in the evening I was outside reading my bible and she came over and started asking what I was reading. I was terrified with how to explain to a 12 year-old what the Gospel was and get the message across through a bit of a language barrier. From there the Spirit took over (and I smile as I think back at this) because I have no idea what I said or how she fully understood, but she did! I offered to pray for her and as we held hands and closed our eyes I asked the Spirit to enter her heart and pursue her and begin His relationship with her. After Amen she looked up with wide eyes and a glowing face and all she said was, “Wow.” Then she gave me a huge hug and I knew the Spirit had done something in her. I’m still shocked and lost at what happened and how it happened but I know God was there, in me and in her, in that special moment together. Praise Him for that!
Prayer: As I sit here reflecting on my heart, I feel God showing me two lies that I’m wrestling with and ask that you help me trust that God has already conquered them. One lie that I’m struggling with is the discipline surrounding food. I feel like Satan is trying to make me think that I am developing a problem with food as I discipline myself with how much and what I eat. The reality is that God is teaching me how to not allow food to be an idol in my heart. Pray that I would not believe the lie that God is not in control of my choices around food. Secondly, I am struggling with the lie that what God is showing me for others shouldn’t be shared because I shouldn’t tell people what to do or what God wants them to know. The reality is that God is using me as a way to reach the people in my life and show them love and encouragement. Pray that God would help me believe that these things are worth sharing.
And thank you so much for your continued support and prayers. God is working in more ways than I can write. Please comment or email me (
[email protected]) if you feel something on your heart, I’d love for there to be a community around this journey.
