Hi Family & Friends!!
Less than 50 days till I get back home…I lost count, sorry! But, reflecting over these last 9 months on the race I can see I have changed and learned so much. I was talking to one of my cousins the other night & I realize I won’t go home the same. I hope these lessons won’t change as time goes by and I get back to the norm in the States. I know some of these won’t apply but this is my advice for future racers (& myself). I pray I can remember to live by the lessons I have learned. I am sure that I will continue to learn more and some will just come naturally because I have been practicing them for a year. Here’s my list of the things I have learned and I hope to be able to expand on these when I get back home and talk to you about all my adventures with Jesus. Love you and as always, missing you all! Thanks for the constant support in my life.
- Be ready to go (“hurry & wait”)
- Be patient in waiting
- Nothing starts when you think it does
- The distance is longer
- Have no expectations
- Prayer changes things
- Pray about everything
- Be flexible
- Be interruptible
- Be willing
- Give your best YES!
- Choose your team
- Give more than you take
- Lead as a servant
- Challenge yourself
- The race is what you make it
- Feedback is not scary
- Know why you believe in God
- Seek Truth
- Joy is a choice
- Find your ministry
- Ministry can be anything
- Ask questions
- Love deeply. Pursue people like Jesus pursues you.
- Each month breaks your heart
- Don’t give up
- The race is temporary
- You still have “work to do” after the race
- Write your goals
- Dream Big
- Pray Big
- Find Jesus to find Yourself
- Abandon what keeps you from getting closer to God
- Press in during the hard times
- It’s okay to not know everything
- Intimacy with God is key
- Nothing will prepare you for what’s to come
- Honor your host
- Leave things better than you found them
- Bring “lift” to what ever you do
- Build relationships; you never know what the future holds
- Meet people where they are at
- Come alongside your host/teammates
- Journal
- Keep track of answered prayers
- This will be the only time you’ll be in a community that surrounds you 24/7 that pours into you, enjoy it!
- Worry less
- You can have church anywhere
- You can worship with anything
- Don’t compare yourself to others
- Not everyone has the same gifts
- Respect your teammates talents
- You don’t need much
- Your heart can love many people, it expands as you go to a new country
- Be like a child: forgiving, care free and happy
- Rest is not bad (i.e. being sick and taking breaks)
- It’s ok not to like certain things
- Don’t complain
- Your voice/story matters
- Your tears are holy and worthy to be cried
- Emotions are meant to be felt
- Have fun
- Be adventurous
- Try new things
- Hear others stories
- You have influence
- You can’t change people
- Healing can sometimes come in layers
- Be vulnerable
- You’re not weak
- You can do anything
- Give, be generous and share
- God always provides
- Be intentional
- Change is the norm
- Comfort is optional
- Things happen when you get out of your comfort zone
- Your scars are beautiful
- Include God’s promises in your prayer
- The gospel doesn’t have to be complicated
- Build relationships to share the gospel
- Make them ask: what’s different? Who’s your God? Who’s Jesus?
- Meet people where they’re at
- Have clear communication
- Don’t just believe; participate
- Perspective is everything
- Pick up something “new” from each country (i.e. tradition, souvenirs or a word)
- Sharing your testimony changes things
- Be BOLD
- Your value/worth are set by Jesus
- Be sensitive to the spiritual realm around you.
- Process. Each month, each week, each moment.
- You can trust your teammates; “they’re not your enemies”.
- Love Does
- Find the strongholds in each country to pray over them
- You can change the WORLD
- Make Circles around your prayers
- All Christians need to be Missionaries
- Short term missionaries do make a difference
- Time flies so soak every moment!
I only have Ecuador & Colombia left!! Woohoo, praises!! If you would like to contribute to my monthly costs (i.e. hygiene products, travel day food, laundry etc) I have listed below the accounts where you can donate to & if you would like to donate any other way please contact me. Thanks again!
PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/JacklynJimenez
Venmo: @Jacqueline-Jimenez-17
CashApp: $jklynjmnz
