After about a week and a half here in the Philippines I am already beginning to be challenged and stretched in what is now my daily life. Although we are blessed to have comfortable accommodations, semi-accessible wifi, and such good food, learning to live with 40 other people for our time here and getting to know my team has brought to light certain key lessons I have begun to learn and changes I will have to make along the way.
The first of these is freedom from my own boundaries I have placed on myself. My goal on this trip was to be intentional about placing myself in the tough places. Volunteering for the ministries that were the most intimidating, asking to be placed on a team with people on my squad that are much harder to get along with than others, and allowing myself to be vulnerable and open in all situations.
The Lord has been already providing tough places and opportunities to grow are in no short supply. My team is so good for this. Almost all of them have a heart for trafficked women and the oppressed, and while it breaks my heart to hear the stories I have never really worked in a ministry that had a focus on it. Well this week my team is the only one that has the opportunity to travel to a town about 3 hours from where we currently are and try to meet and gather information about the prostitutes working and the town itself. This is not something I would have chosen for myself. Not because I didn’t care be because the thought of talking to any random person on the street and trying to get to the level of discussing their life story freaks me out. Where would you even begin? This is a moment when the easy thing would be to stay at home and play with the street kids outside our house. This is where my team comes into play. The decision of what we do doesn’t lie with just me and therefore, keeps me accountable to put myself in trying situations.
I feel that talking has never been a strong point of mine, and small talking is even less of one. However, I know and believe that I hold no power over anything that happens; it is 110% on God to accomplish his will using me as a tool. Why me? Lord knows why, I will be willing and open to all He requires of me regardless of my own insecurities, insignificance, and fears, trusting that He will never lead me to a place I cannot handle.
Lord, help my unbelief.
I cannot wait to be stretched, broken, and made new over the next 11 months. The Lord has so much more for each and every one of us than we can even imagine is we are open to and seeking all He has.
The second thing is learning to give up my Race. That’s not to say giving up learning, fun, growth, and community but rather to give up my wants and desires for the next 11 months for the people on my team and what would be best for them. I have already seen and experienced through other trips I have been on that the world is much larger than myself (although everyone needs a reminder sometimes) but now I am learning that it might not be the poor or broken in other countries that need what the Lord has given you most but it may just be the people close to you. Maybe your co-workers, family members, or teammates are the ones who need you the most in that moment.
I came to learn to love those who are hard to love, or easily forgotten and once again God has placed me right where I need to be.
Lord, help me to remember those around me.
My prayer is to be held accountable with my team on these and other areas of growth during the duration of this journey. Please pray with me for strength, wisdom, courage, and discernment for the future.
**If you are new to this blog please visit the “About Me” link on the left-hand side for more info on myself and The World Race.
