I’m pretty sure we have all heard this phrase if not used it at some point. I know I have heard it plenty of times while on mission trips as a sentiment of giving all we have to the ministry even if it means losing sleep. It is easier to go all out for a trip that is one week, two weeks or even a month. We go all out for that amount of time and then are home in order to recharge. This is not the same for the World Race. Going all out for 11 months is going to result in a tired missionary and no energy for ministry.
Going into month 9, I realized just how tired I am. 8 months, 245 days, 8 ministries, 3 continents and 15 countries can really wear a person out. I know there is still a continent to go to. I know there are still 3 countries to travel to and 3 ministries to participate in. If I keep the mindset of going all out without sufficient rest, then both I and my ministry in Asia will suffer. I think I have finally learned to appreciate rest.
I would say I am a version of a perfectionist. Working towards something until I think it can’t get any better. Not resting until something is as I envision it to be. And I’m not saying that is a bad thing, I love accomplishing different things, but there is a time for work and a time for rest, especially when in long-term mode. The World Race is the epitome of long-term mode.
This month in Thailand is going to require all of me. My love, my energy, my emotion, my physical well-being and most important my spiritual growth. This month is going to involve late nights and long intercession sessions. This month is going to be exhausting, but I know I will only make it through as long as I rest as well. For some reason my team is dead tired. We just went through today on little energy. We are going to need to be refreshed and energized for ministry this month. Now is not the time to slack off in ministry.
I guess my purpose in writing this blog is to point out the necessity for rest, and to ask for your prayers that as W Squad comes upon these last months of the World Race that we will find time for rest to continue strong and to start out strong when we all return home.
