I was warned in Gainsville at Launch that I would hit a wall in blogging. That the first few weeks, everything would seem blog-worthy. That one day, I would realize that it’s just normal life on the Race, and I’ll have to choose what to write about because I simply cannot say it all. It’s already happened. There are stories from every day, which strike me as ridiculous. I feel like I’m about to start saying, “You know you’re on the world race when”
You walk through cornfields to get to the bus stop, and wait for 40 minutes only to
hitchhike into town in someone’s van as a group of 11 because the bus never came.
Stuff like that. You know, the stuff that doesn’t happen while you’re in the States, but is somehow “normal” after two weeks in a foreign country. Or, when you find out that the tub you bought at the groceries, which legitimately has pictures of strawberries on it, which you assume is jam, is…wait for it – actually lard. Go figure.
This month is definitely going to be one of patience and prayer. The X-squad team Rise Up actually stayed in Targu Mures last month, in the house that I’m currently living in, and left us a note. It read:
“Welcome to Romania! We’re so excited for you to being your ministry here in Targu Mures. This month was one of learning patience and prayer for us. We hope you will also learn the importance of taking EVERYTHING to the Lord in prayer. God bless you as you being your race. Keep your eyes on Christ.”
I love it, because there are two fellow badgers on Team Rise Up. Small world, no? Anyway, the prayer and patience are so true. I’m definitely a person who likes to go. I do not sit still well. I don’t do the quiet thing well. I’m more naturally a do-er than I am a be-er, if you know what I mean. So this has been hard for me. It’s been hard to sit at the house and wait to hear what our next move is. It’s been hard to be somewhere on time to have the time change drastically. I am used to having more control over things, more say in things, and I just simply don’t here.
So, it’s a month to learn patience.
- It’s a month to redefine what "doing ministry" means
- It's a month to realize I can follow the Lord even in the quiet and the still.
- It’s a month to learn that my prayers are powerful, and that even if I don’t see the fruit from them, it does not mean that they return void.
- It is a month of letting go of my expectations of what ministry “should” look like.
- It is a month where I learn to dispel lies and say “I feel like I’m doing nothing, but I’m not. I’m praying for this place, I’m pouring into this pastor’s ministry, and that is not nothing.”
- It's also a month to listen to O-zone because they sing in Romanian (Dragostea Din Tei is listened to a lot)
These past two weeks have also been full of life, and joy, and pure fun. I’ve watched teammates dance and sing while washing dishes. I’ve seen dance parties and serenade sessions erupt from nowhere. We’ve played games, and learned more about one another and fought for one another. We have another two weeks or so, and I am so excited.
I'm working on a Vlog. Let me know if you enjoy reading, if you want more pictures, or video, or words. I want to keep you updated and I want you to not be bored with this, so I would LOVE your input.
