It is a new month. It is a new day. Month 9 is here. Last week, S squad reunited for our month 8 debrief in Nairobi, Kenya. Those few days together as a squad in Nairobi were just what I needed to give me the extra momentum to continue onward in this nomadic journey. My time in Kenya was wonderful. We had an incredible contact and family, diverse ministry opportunities, and delicious cuisine. However, I experienced this tug-of-war in my heart while in Kenya. During my off-days in Kenya, I was torn between wanting to physically be in Cambodia [where I spent month 7] or the United States. I was losing perspective of the race. One night, I was listening to a piece of home, a podcast by David Platt about Abraham and the Gospel. Suddenly, the words streaming through my iPod changed the atmosphere in the room. “The Gospel is worth taking risks for. The Gospel is worth leaving your family and friends.� Tears streaming down my face. I was present at the worship gathering last January in Birmingham when Platt preached this message. The significance changes a little when you are on the other side of the statement. You can feel the sacrifice. I continued listening to Platt’s message and proceeded to listen to a worship playlist that my friend Kat made for me before I left for the race. Every song spoke directly to my heart. More tears streaming down my face. I tip-toed carefully around Jessica, Krystle, and Rachel [who were sound asleep] and sat on the staircase to not disturb the household. My time of worship on the staircase was one of my favorite moments of the race. It was one of those Mary moments where I sat at Christ’s feet and wept before Him. I knew that even though I longed to return to Southeast Asia for further ministry or return to the States to see friends and family that none of that mattered in that moment. Christ was present. I had this revelation that it doesn’t matter where I am. Christ is present with me. Wherever I go, I carry the Gospel with me because Christ lives in me. Suddenly, all the sacrifices of my rights and my “normalcy� that I’ve surrendered for this season didn’t seem much of a sacrifice compared to what Christ has done for me. He died for me. Nothing can separate me from Christ’s love. Nothing. No pain, no tears, no circumstance, nada, zip can separate me from Christ’s love because I have been redeemed by his sacrifice.
I’m approaching these next few months of the race with a renewed perspective. Wherever I go, people need to hear the gospel.
[Photo of me and Krystle at Kibera. During our last week of ministry in Kenya, the team and I went to Kibera, the largest slum in Africa to do speak at a school. Krystle gave her testimony and presented the Gospel to over 100 secondary students. We had over 20 students come and accept Christ that morning.]
