Hello friends and family! I am writing you this time from our final destination, Spain. We arrived in Spain in late July and spent the first 10 days outside of Barcelona living together as a whole squad and now are in the middle of walking the famous El Camino trail for ten days before heading home in a couple of weeks!
This month is very open ended, almost nothing structured. But it’s good, it’s month 11 and we are mature enough to go out and make our own ministry in a variety of different ways. The Camino trail is notorious for people “soul searching” and we have befriended quite a few along the way. The same people usually end up in the same hostels each night so it’s a great way to build relationships and spread the love of God.
It’s hard to believe at times that the end is here. Looking back it sometimes feels like a day and sometimes a million years. Over this year I have experienced so much. I have lived in a tent in the jungle of the Philippines to a villa in Spain, as well as just about anywhere in between.
We have come along side Schools, Churches, Ministries and poured into them in a variety of different ways from teaching English to evangelism to manual labor, even running around dressed as Santa Clause singing Christmas carols in the intense heat of Malaysia. A very interesting year to say the least.
One thing that has become so evident this month is the atmosphere of our squad. About 35 of us set sail on this journey from all over the country not really knowing what we’re getting ourselves into. I don’t really know how to describe our squad, we’re all pretty unique yet normal and in a similar phase of life hoping to make a difference in the world and be changed by the journey.
But one thing we definitely are is a family… a Church. We always got along but since around the half way point and exponentially since, we have grown closer together. We are always laughing and know each other so well, what we tease each other for is also what we love about each other, like family. We aren’t Christian superstars but we love each other well, love the Lord and love others. Hey right their is the fulfillment of the great commandments… we’re a Church.
I also want to specifically give a shout out to my friend from Texas Andy who’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had. We’ve been on the same team since day one and God has discipled us through each other in the best of times and worse of times, thankfully many more good times than bad.
Something I have learned as an over arching theme of the trip is intimacy with the Lord. It’s great getting to go to a lot of places with people and this or that, but without the Lord anything looses its luster sooner or later. The reason Jesus came to earth was to set us free, bring us from death to life in this intimacy with him.
“I have made you known to them and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:26
Paul says without this Love ‘I gain nothing’
We can trust that God loves us and dwells among us regardless of what happens around us because his word says he does. The same word that created us( Genesis 1:26) Paul tells us even when we were his enemies God loved us “For if when we were Gods enemies, we were reconciled through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled shall we be saved through his life!” Romans 5:10
So what’s the next step for me after the Race? Honestly, I’m not sure, and I’m not worried about it. I don’t have a plan for a job, or ministry of some sorts right now. I certainly want to re connect with the all of you, my family and friends and take some time reflecting on the past and considering the future.
We recently had guy speak to us all about vision casting and dreaming which is inspiring. In my heart I would love to see the Church come together in many different ways impacting all parts of society. I believe that when Christ changes our hearts it should resonate in our family’s, our businesses, our schools, our governments etc. I know that’s a bit broad, but hey that’s what we all dream about right? Heaven on earth. Mostly I’m just focused on growing closer to him and he will set everything in place.
I sincerely want to thank all of you who have supported and prayed for me during this time. I have become so aware to how truly powerful that is. I can honestly tell you that there has not been a time this last 11 months that I felt in the dumps. And I know that incredible source of strength has not come from my prayers alone.
I love you all.
So is this the end? I title this “end?” Because I am a Lord of the Rings nerd and I love the scene when Pippen says to Gandalf “I didn’t think it would end like this” and Gandalf goes off on a very poetic speech about how it’s not the end, there is far more to life, yeah probably a little over dramatic for my blog post haha.
So is this the end of the World Race? Yeah, of course. But my journey with the Lord? No, no, no… there is no end.
