Welp, that month is over and I have left the continent of Africa. WOW! That’s crazy to even think about. I lived in Africa for 3 months. I honestly can’t believe this is the life God called me to, but I am so grateful that He has. Madagascar was a challenging month in some ways, but overall, it was a month of extreme peace. God is good and He is in Madagascar, and I’m walking away with some really good lessons
Madagascar is the Island of Misfit Toys
Before heading into Madagascar, I kept feeling like it was going to be a preview of Asia. I didn’t know what that meant, but I felt like it was going to be our bridge between Africa and Asia. I didn’t realize how literal that word would be. The people look like a mix of Africa and Asia. There are so many cultures floating around. They speak French, they have amazing pastries, they have rice fields surrounding their packed city. There are Muslims as well as Christians. People live basic lives similar to that which we saw in Africa, while having certain amenities (like phones, mopeds, and nice cars) like Asia. It really was a mixture of so many things that it’s hard to simply describe the country and it’s people.
I Can Ask People for Their Time
I had a hard conversation with a teammate and she said that she doesn’t want me to walk away from the race feeling like I didn’t get to know people. This conversation caused me to look at how I interact with our squad. And one thing I realized is that I felt guilty asking to spend time with my squad-mates. I felt like I hadn’t really earned the right to ask them for their time. And that’s not true. When we signed up for the race, we signed up for community. This community. And that means that I have the freedom to ask to take some of people’s time and hang out with them. I am not a burden or a 5th wheel, but a part of this team and I need to own that.
Keep Your Peace
This month we had one of our teammates choose to go home. During the entire situation, our team sought God’s wisdom and guidance for us. And we each received overwhelming confirmation and peace. However, there were conversations and situations that challenged that. “How can you have peace when your teammate is leaving?” Simple, because we seek after God’s heart, not people’s approval. You must truly put God’s words and opinion and understanding before anyone else and follow His peace wherever it is. It may not make sense to people, but God knows what He is doing and we have to have confidence in that.
You Must Choose to be a Victor Not a Victim
Bad things happen all the time to everyone. Even when you follow Christ, he does not promise a life of ease. In fact, he says that hard times will come. I have not had an easy life. My teammates have not had an easy life. If you look at our past and the things that we have gone through, we have every right to cry and moan and say that we lived through things we didn’t deserve. But at some point in our lives, we chose to give EVERYTHING to God and let him heal our hearts and teach us to live from a place of victory. In Hebrews 12:11, it talks about how hard times should be looked at as discipline, and discipline isn’t pleasant, but the end result is righteousness and peace. As children of God, we fight from a place of victory. He has already won!! We don’t need to fear or have doubt that evil will overcome us because we are heirs of Christ and children of the God who has won the war.
God is Doing Something in R Squad
From Training Camp all the way in October, R Squad felt different. We operated differently, bonded strongly, and really just craved God. And God and AiM has seen our heart and been throwing more and more at us. I feel that this squad has been diligent in the small things we have been given and because of that God is saying, “Give them more. Watch them love me in bigger ways. Watch them rock it.” We had two route changes, we have been given more freedom, we got to choose one of our countries, and so many other little things. God is doing something here and not even we know what it is, but we are pushing forward trusting that He is at work.
Africa has been really good, and I am blessed by each place I’ve been to. I have no clue what Asia will look like, but I trust God and know that my journey is in His hands.
