Two weeks ago was my squad’s PVT (parent vision trip). During this 5 day trip, I got to spend time doing ministry with my parents and showing them the beautiful country of Guatemal where I had been living/working for the past 3 months. PVT was one of the most amazing experiences for me, so I hope you enjoy my parents‘(Amy and Blake) insights and enjoyments from their PVT.
When Gracie asked us to write the blog this week about our Parent Vision Trip I got a little lump in my throat because I wasn’t sure I could come up with actual words to express what I saw. The highlights for me were the ways I saw my daughter turn into a grown woman right before my eyes…and one who I truly admire. Gracie gave me the biggest “little girl hug” with tears as soon as we arrived, then BAMM! She turned into tour guide, confident leader, Spanish speaker, God lover and faithful servant right before my eyes. Not that she wasn’t before, but her growth just exploded into maturity.
The World Race has been a wonderful journey for Gracie, but the parent trip allowed me to see how Gracie and God together have touched the places shes been. Her name in Spanish is a little too close to the word they used for “crazy” (snicker, a little too true, G), so as we walked up to the home where Gracie worked with kids, the children ran up to her calling out their name for her, “Graciella! Graciella!”. The immediate hugs and excitement they had when they saw her coming blew me away. She loved on them, spoke to them in easy Spanish and introduced us to the women who hosted many mornings of fun, learning and love in their home with Gracie’s team. The next day I was moved to tears again as Gracie led us to a pastor’s home where we had church and were fed a lovely and generous “thank you” meal by his family. We also visited a family who received the stove Gracie helped install, and the amount of love and appreciation from them was evident in hugs and tears. Just wow! The final day was spent hosting a field day where I got to watch my girl organize, plan, play and love with her team and 40+ kids.
Needless to say, I am proud, but mostly to see a beautiful woman giving of her spirit and herself in ways I am only still learning to do. I guess our goal as parents is to see our kids pass us up in many ways! The week ended with a sweet note of encouragement from my girl…basically, “life is good…it will get better…God loves you…He’s not finished with you yet”…a mirrored message I needed to hear that I have tried to pour into her and now she is pouring back out into ME and the world. -A
I, also, was a little unsure of writing a blog for Gracie’s board about the World Race, because – as Amy said – it’s difficult to put into words exactly what we saw. What I learned, and what Gracie reiterated to me in the note that she wrote me at the end of the week is that she and I can tend to be “doers”. Nothing wrong with doing, but sometimes it is better to simply “be”. I saw Gracie participate in a whole, whole lot of “doing” with the kids they’ve worked with and there were pictures of the kids working to put the stove in for a family, but there was also a time of simply “being” with people; asking about family, asking how God is moving in their lives and truly listening to their answers. Taking the time to “be” (as those in Western North Carolina might say, to “sit and visit”). Sometimes it is hard for me to just “be,” but what I think I learned is that in this time, we can allow ourselves to hear what the Spirit of God is saying within the words of another. I’m pretty private about my relationship with God, but I have learned that it is completely okay to ask someone if you can pray for them and to not just pray, but take hold of that person and pray with all your might for the Spirit to work a miracle in that person’s life. There is really nothing unusual or embarrassing about being confident that the Living God can work a miracle right before your very eyes; in fact I think in modern society, we’ve put far too little emphasis on it!
I guess what I experienced in Guatemala with Gracie was a feeling of being led by my daughter. As Amy mentioned, you want to see them surpass you, and I think there’s no doubt that Gracie has a confidence in her faith that I’m still trying to attain. I know that God is pleased with the way she is following Him. -B
As always, thank you all for reading! If you have any more questions about my experience and my parents experience at PVT feel free to reach out!
Many ????? (blessings),
Gracie J
