I know I have already written a blog about community- only a couple months ago, but Community is such a big part of the World Race. It is one of the most important aspects of this 11 month journey. My blog before was more of my struggle with community, but after thought and prayer and well, more community, my views have began to change to see community more in a positive light.
This month while the men are doing their thing in ‘man’istry- it is time for us women to combine our forces and grow more into the beautiful, confident, bold, and willing women of God that He has called us to be. Coming into this month, I knew I would miss Family Force 6, but was also ready for my new all-women team, Relentless Rescue.
At first it was tough. But after awhile, I began to break out of my shell and was entirely comfortable with the girls. Even if that means having a crazy Thai dance party at 11:00pm in matching outfits (see video below). But it was during a team time one day where I realized how precious and rare this type of community is. Here we are, 5 women coming from different backgrounds, different states, different lifestyles, different family and home lives all sitting in the same room in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Even the routes we have taken to make it to this point in our lives are varying. God has called us to this specific dream, desire, and place for a reason. We differ in age and interests, but God has placed us together which is perfectly okay with me.
Within two weeks, I am opening up and freely sharing the hard stuff in life, the things I am struggling with the most and usually would not have shared with anyone. It took me many months to come to this trust and security with Family Force 6 and was still something I was struggling with last month. But I can tell I have come to a place of trust and confidence in these women and knowing that sharing my heart with these ladies will allow them to support me, encourage me and to join with me in prayer.
In around 2 months time. We won’t have this type of community available to us. We will all be going to our respective homes and lives without the constant aura of community lingering in the air. After living with 5 other people and being around them 24/7 without any truly alone time ever, what will it look like when I go home and my mom is at work and I have the apartment to myself? I think it will be pretty weird.
These next two months (with Family Force 6) are a time to really dig into community. To bring the trust and security I have found with Relentless Rescue to Family Force 6. This time is set apart in our lives to grow in this way. This is a time to really take advantage of community. A time to learn, a time to trust, a time to open up, a time to fail, a time to be encouraged, a time to grow, a time to be with a family (that would never have come together had it not been for the World Race). Come June 9th, 2012 when we land in LAX and all separate- that will be it. But let’s not think of that day right now. Let’s focus on these next two months in Cambodia and Malaysia where God is going to be doing great things within our community setting and I am super stoked to be a part of this group of people and what will take place in the next 66 days.
(we've been through a lot, and I can't wait to have two more months with these amazing people)
