Every week our teams are given something called C&Cs, this stands for “Challenges & Celebrations”. Basically we fill out questions so that our leadership team can catch up with us and hear about everything that has been going on. Since we are nearing the end of the race most of these questions consist of memories and throwback moments of the race. This week this was one of the questions that was asked.
“What is one moment from this Race that you never want to forget? How did it impact you?”
And here was my answer.
“I honestly can’t answer this with one moment there are just so many. I will tell you a day that I will absolutely never forget.
Waking up early in the bush I rolled out of my tent cold but happy. The first sight I saw, before the squatty, was a beautiful sunrise gifted to me by our even more beautiful God. After a breakfast of oatmeal and tea we were gathered and lead into a brick run down “church” type building. Using old school desks for chairs we sat and had worship and a devotion before a day of evangelism. We talked about what it looked like to have servant leadership and the ultimate leader that Jesus was and is. How we should strive to be.
After the devotion we gathered into three groups to head out to houses throughout the village (Makumba). While walking I got a chance to talk with our translator and friend I had just made, Faith, about how good our God is. Learning about her life while walking from house to house or hut to hut. We went to visit her husband and son, he didn’t seem too thrilled judging from the big crocodile tears running down his face, I hugged her mother in law before we left for another house.
Making our way to the final house we had time for, a presence came over my body. Not a bad presence though, quite the opposite actually. As we walked in I had a feeling that we wouldn’t be doing much here. A small old woman, whose skin had seen many days in the sun, waltzed out of her red brick home with a smile, that could have stretched for miles on her face. She handed Jared a rolled up wooden mat to lay beneath the tree in her yard. We sat with Helen for just about 20 minutes before we had to make our way back and in those 20 minutes we were the ones getting filled and encouraged.
We sat and listened to her story. She was married up until ten years ago when her husband decided to leave her for another younger woman. They had six children together and he just left. Unfortunately four of them had died before he left, the fifth shortly after. With one child still alive Helens son brought it upon himself to build his mother a new home. The home that she currently stays in. Tragically Helens final child passed shortly after the home was built. Leaving Helen with sixty acres and a larger home all to herself. Moving us all to tears Helen went on telling us about how grateful she is. How? How can she be so joyful and grateful when she has had everything taken away from her? Helen taught me what pure joy and dependance on the Lord looks like. She has no one in her life other then the Lord. She is the most devoted woman I have ever met and it inspired all of us. As we got up to pray for Helen tears were streaming and voices were shaky.
“When I wake up the Lord is with me and when I go to rest the Lord is with me… and that’s all I need” Helen says as we finish our conversation.
Preparing to leave Helen gets up and runs, literally runs, to her house and returns with a massive pumpkin for us. Even with nothing she still gives and gives and gives. Looking at her property it was very clear that the Lord had blessed her with more corn than I have ever seen. Turns out Helen hand plows, plants, harvests and sells her sixty acres of land by herself with the occasional assistance from fellow villagers. She has corn coming out her her ears, pumpkins and squash up the wazoo. She built her barns… yes plural, barns by herself and she still has the look of refreshment on her face. Just before leaving we asked her how old she was. She says,
“I need to go get my birth certificate…” coming back out of the house we find out that she is 82 years old. EIGHTY TWO YEARS OLD! This woman is unbelievable and God is blessing her immensely.
Later that evening as I sat in Jared’s hammock I watched as the boys played soccer into the sunset. With music playing from the car speaker it was a moment I knew was going to stick. Just sitting there watching all of my favorite people live life all while thinking “how is this my life right now?” I still can’t believe that this is the life that I get to live and that this journey, adventure and season is almost over. That day ended with an incredible team time where I spent my time laughing with my team in a tent. I was feeling so blessed… I mean what other team can fit comfortably in a two person tent. None, only Team Amen. I love my team, I love my life.”
