Hey there!
Well, its been a little while since I have updated all of you on what is happening out here on this crazy adventure of mine. Allow me to show you what is going on.
We are currently on our LAST MONTH on the race! I never thought I would get to this point. I kind of thought I would always be here doing this. Crazy that it is almost over.
Something I have learned over the course of this year is about sorrow and tears. I started off as a person who almost never cries. Nothing phased me in that way. Most things roll off my back and down hurt me too much. But as I travel more I have been broken in so many different ways.
I would like to share a few of those places and situations that broke me.
My very first brake down was in Honduras. Let's paint the scene a little. It's our second month on the race. I have spent around 35 days with these people, maybe less. I am missing home and it is about 5 days after the anniversary of my moms death. And my team and I are at a hospital praying for people (in spanish). We meet this young man and his father in the waiting area outside of the hospital. He asked us to pray for his mom. The next thing I know we are in the dying moms ward of this hospital praying for countless women and their families as they are sick and some are dying. I walk out of the room to get some space and my team leader at the time, Zack, comes and puts his hand on my shoulder asking if I'm okay. The moment he touched me, I started sobbing. I lose it. In the middle of this crazy busy, foreign hospital hysterically crying. This was my first real "bonding" experience with my first team. Fun right?
My next big cry was in the United States. It started the minute we touched down in LA and lasted until we took off. I should mention we were there for 9-12 hours. It started when I had a bed time story read to me over the phone from my cousins little girl in New York. And Lasted through supper (at the Cheesecake Factory, of all places). I was so over whelmed with being there, that I couldn't stop crying.
The Last time I will tell you about is in Zambia. We attended this amazing church that loved us well. They allowed us to join their church as if we were a part of their congregation. We had the opportunity to be a part of a church and do ministry with them. Not just for them. It was so nice. All along this journey we have gone to churches and helped with this or that but this last time, we were a part of their lives and community. When I was saying goodbye to these wonderful people I was struck with how much it felt like I was saying goodbye to my church family again.
Here is what I have learned about brokenness:
1. It is OKAY to be broken.
2. God will always help you. Lean on Him first!
3. You have people around you to support you when you need them.
4. Sometimes you need to cry to know how you truly feel. Let it out and be opened.
