I’ve been procrastinating writing these final blogs. I think it’s because it brings a sense of finality. I am mourning the ending of a season, but I am also rejoicing for where the Lord is leading me. As this sense of finality and closing of a season of my life comes, I want to take time to reflect and thank God for all of the opportunities He gave me this past year.
As I begin to reflect on the craziest year of my life so far, there is an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I am thankful for the deeper sense of His love that He has walked me into. I am thankful for all of the people and places that have forever changed my life. I am thankful for each of you beautiful people reading this blog. Your emotional, prayerful, and financial support got me through this past year.
Throughout the year, I posted recap videos, but I didn’t blog much about the ministries and the day-to-day. So, here’s what the past eleven months have looked like, as best I could put it into words…
Month 1 – Buikwe, Uganda
Host and ministry: Our host was Pastor Charles and we lived in Lubanyi, Buikwe. We lived in the village in a small community. We worked with a local school that was a bout a twenty minute walk away. We taught English and shared Bible stories. In the evenings, we did home visits and would invite people to our house for church. By the second week, we had over 20 people showing up at our house twice a week for fellowship. We got to share the gospel with them and pray over people.
Off days: On one of our off day, we visited Jinja, where we rafted the Nile and on another off day, we traveled to Kampala and explored the city.
Major lesson: This month, I learned a lot about simply being present. Being in the village, internet was not existent and there was always kids running around in our front yard and peeking in our windows. If we weren’t out playing with them, we were inside connecting with one another and connecting with our host.
Month 2 – Kigali, Rwanda
Host and Ministry: Our host was Pastor Robert and we lived in the capital city. Our ministry was mainly home visits and church on Sundays. We would take a bus and then trek to reach the community surrounding Pastor’s church. Home visits consisted of sharing testimonies of what the Lord has done in our life, hearing some of their stories, and then praying over people. There was also a church just a five minute walk from our house and we spent a lot of time there worshipping with them.
Off days: On our off days, we explored the city. We would often meet up with other teams to go bowling or watch a movie. We also hosted a worship night at a local bakery.
Major lesson: This month, I learned a lot about overcoming fear. There were a lot of circumstances in Rwanda where fear arose and we were also preparing to head into Kenya, a notoriously dangerous country that the World Race had been pulled out of for a couple of years. The Lord gave me overwhelming peace as I faced each of these challenges and I walked away with a deeper understanding of His guiding hand of protection in my life.
Month 3 – Nyahururu, Kenya
Host and ministry: Our host was Pastor Philip and we lived with him and his beautiful family. We worked with a local feeding program at a school that was about a 45 minute walk away. This was the first month that I got to see the same people each day for ministry and it was such a joy to love on the staff and kids. We helped prepare food and played with the kids as they waited for food. On Sundays, we visited local high school and had the incredible opportunity to share the Gospel.
Off days: We had Thanksgiving with an incredible group of missionaries. On our off days, we visited Thomson Falls (only a ten minute walk from our house), the hippo pond, and went on a safari. Kenya was a month of great adventure.
Major Lesson: This month, the Lord taught me a lot about loving those He places in front of you. Halfway through the month, our host’s father passed away and he and his family became ministry for us in a lot of ways. The Lord gave us the opportunity to love on and serve him and his family as they walk through a hard season.
Month 4 – Guntur, India
Host and ministry: Our host was Pastor Timothy and we lived in Guntur. We did “village ministry” this month. So, every evening, we visited a different village. When we first arrived in a village, we would walk around and visit people in their homes to pray over them and invite them to the service that evening. We then, returned to the village center where we would worship together and preach.
Off days: On our off days, we would just relax and try to escape the heat. There wasn’t much to do in the small town we lived in, but made friends with the owners of a local coffee shop and visited them often.
Major lesson: This month, I learned a deeper level of dependence on the Lord. It was probably the hardest month of the Race and everything was just incredibly challenging this month. The Lord put my into a position of brokenness where I couldn’t make it through a day without seeking Him in every moment. It was a tough place to be, but it’s in those seasons where we often learn the most.
Month 5 – Rusuwa and Urlabari, Nepal
Host and ministry: We spent the first week in Rusuwa with Pastor Dil and his family. We lived in an IDP camp for people who lost their homes in the earthquake the year prior. We did a lot of VBS-style ministry with the kids and just connected with the local community. We spent the next two weeks with Reuben. He runs an orphanage in Urlabari and has built a school in a remote village. We spent a few days doing manual labor at the orphanage and playing with the kids, then we hiked to the remote village where his parents live to work on the school. The village is so remote that no vehicle has ever reached it and it took us hours of hiking to reach it. We spent a week up there, camping out, and working on the foundation of the addition to the school. On the trek back, we had to cross a frigid river 12 times. It was quite the adventure
Off days: Each off day looked different this month. When we were in Rusuwa, we went to a bull fight (which was interesting, to say the least). On our last weekend, in the country, I went paragliding over the foothills of the Himalayas. And on other off days, we explored the areas we were in.
Major lesson: This month, I learned a lot about pushing myself and trusting the Lord. Many times, I found myself in situations where I didn’t think I had the strength to continue (both in hiking and in manual labor on the school), but I cried out to the Lord and He provided the strength for the next step. I learned that God wants to help us to continue in life not only spiritually and emotionally, but also physically. He provides.
Month 6 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Host and ministry: Our host this month was Pastor Jack. During the week, we taught English at a school about an hour out from the city. We lived at the school and got to love on the kids and the teachers. On the weekends, we returned to the capital city. We played soccer with the youth group on Saturday and on Sunday, we worshipped with Pastor Jack and his congregation. Our host family was incredible and some of my favorite memories are laughing with them.
Off days: On our off days, we explored Phnom Penh. We visited the royal palace and local markets.
Major lesson: Cambodia was a month of a ton of personal growth and I learned a lot about healthy boundaries. We had an incredible squad leader, Kappy, with us this month and she called me higher more than anyone I’ve ever met before. I also, began reading Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. It’s such a good book. Check it out!
Month 7 – Bangkok, Thailand
Host and ministry: This month, we worked with refugees. They were mostly from Vietnam, but there was a family from South Sudan as well. All of them had to flee their country because of religious persecution. They now live in terrible conditions and they are not allowed to work because refugee status isn’t recognized in Thailand. We lived in a community center along with a Vietnamese family. The center is the one place all of these people are welcomed. The center provides free English classes and a place for them to join together in community.
Off days: On our off days, we explored Bangkok and tried our best to escape the heat. At the end of the month, we had a debrief (leadership from the States flies out and we worship together and just recharge) in Phuket and we had the amazing opportunity to spend a day exploring Phi Phi islands.
Major lesson: Thailand was a challenging month for me. I threw my back out right before we left Cambodia and I spent most of the month on bed rest and chasing doctors all over town to try to find relief from the pain. I learned that I am naturally very physical in the way I love people. I love to throw the kids around and get down and wrestle with them and I love to physically serve those around me, but for a month, that was all taken away. The Lord showed me news ways to love and serve those around me. This month looked like a lot of prayer, time with the Lord, and loving those around me by simply being a presence. It also meant learning to let those around me love and serve me and asking for thing when I needed help. It was a hard month, but I learned so much through it. And at the end of the month, I found a chiropractor in Phuket and he snapped me back into place.
Month 8 – Gua Musang, Malaysia
Host and ministry: Our host was Pastor Kumar and his incredible family. They run an English learning center in a small town carved out of the jungle. We taught English during the week, attended their home church, and loved on the community and our host family. We lived in an Islamic state, so we couldn’t speak the name of Jesus and had to be very careful of what we said in public. We lived in an apartment above the English center and we got to spend a lot of time bonding as a team. I slept on the roof this month and spent a lot of time up there with the Lord admiring the surrounding mountains and jungle. Our host family was also amazing and spending time with them was always such a blessing.
Off days: On our off days, we explored Gua Musang. The area we lived in is known for its caves and so we explored those. And at the end of the month, we spent a couple days in Kuala Lumpur. We explored the city and even got to spend one day hanging out with elephants.
Major lesson: This month, I learned a lot about sharing the Gospel without words and simply through actions. Living in a state where we couldn’t openly talk about our faith was challenging, but I learned more about what it means to simply love those around me and trust that the Lord is doing work that I may never see or understand.
Month 9 – Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Host and ministry: This month, our host was Juan and his wife Evelyn. They have a passion for youth and run New Generation Ministries. In the mornings, we went to a local school and taught English. We also got to play fun games and sing songs about Jesus with them. In the afternoons, we did different ministries. Once a week, we had a gathering for youth at Juan’s house. We would sing songs, play games, and share a meal with them. On other days, we did “police ministry.” Once a week, we did a Bible study and English class with them and multiple times during the week, we would play sports with them. It was really fun to just connect with them and love on them. Also, at the end of the month, my parents flew out for Parent Vision Trip. They got to join us in ministry and exploring the area in Antigua for a few days. It was so good to get to connect with them.
Off days: On our off days, we explored Chichi. The town is known for its beautiful market and people come from all around the world to visit the local market. On one off day, we visited Lake Atitlan and got to spend the day on the lake and enjoying the beautiful views.
Major lesson: This month, the Lord began to open my eyes to how I connect with Him. I connect most naturally with the Lord through nature and solitude. That’s why the rooftop in Malaysia was such a blessing to me. The Lord revealed to me that He wanted to expand the capacities in which I connect with Him. He is so limitless and desires to connect with us in so many different ways. Toward the end of the month, I felt like I was really struggling to connect with God and He revealed to me that He wanted to connect with me through studying. (I’ll continue this lesson down below because it goes into month 10).
Month 10 – San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Host and ministry: This month, our host was Pastor Gregorio and his beautiful family. We lived in a small house with him, his wife, four children, and two grandchildren. We lived in the murder capital of the world and so, we were not able to leave the house without our host. We were blessed to have the opportunity to spend a lot of time with the family and by the end of the month, we were a part of their family. We worked with Gregorio’s church and the feeding program they ran. We put on a skit and would sometimes sing songs for the church service and during the feeding program, we just got to be kids and love on the little ones.
Off days: Our off-day options were limited because of safety concerns, but one weekend, we went to a movie. Another weekend, we rented a school bus and loaded up the entire family (which was a full bus by the time extended family and friends arrived) and headed to the beach about two hours away. We spent the day playing in the water, laughing, and eating delicious food. It was so cool to be such a part of their family and it genuinely felt like a family vacation.
Major lesson: This month, the Lord really solidified what He began to teach me in Guatemala. One day, I was sitting in a hammock and I saw two Mormon missionaries walk by. I invited them in and spent about an hour talking with them. I was intrigued by what they believed and spent days researching their religion. As I was studying their beliefs, I began to study some of my own beliefs. I really dove into scripture and examined some of my core beliefs as a follower of Christ. In the past, when I studied, it was always out of obligation, but the Lord just ignited such a passion in me to dive deep. I actually enjoyed the time I spent studying. It was just beautiful to connect with the Father in this new.
Month 11 – Ciudad de Dario, Nicaragua
Host and ministry: This month, our host was Tara and her family. She is an incredible woman of God with a beautiful testimony of how the Lord has guided. We got to partner with her ministry, Light and Salt Ministries. It is a center for at-risk boys in a small town in Nicaragua. They intentionally seek out children with hard home lives and/ or children that don’t come from a Christian home. We were at the center on weekdays. The boys, ages nine to fourteen, would come on weekdays. We would teach English, play sports, and prepare meals. Once a week, we had a “staff training” where we got to teach on subjects of their choosing. We also got to spend a lot of time with our host family and we made beautiful connections with Tara, her husband, and their young daughter.
Off days: On our off days, we explored our town and some of the surrounding towns. I loved riding in the bed of the truck for hours just soaking in the breath-taking scenery of Nicaragua. At the end of the month, we had final debrief and got to spend a week in San Juan del Sur. I got to go rappelling, zip-lining, and we rented scooters one day and drove up and down the coast and in to the mountains exploring. It was so refreshing to connect as a squad, play together, and prepare to come home.
Major lesson: One lesson the Lord taught me this month was the power in letting go of my expectations. As I reflected back on the Race, it was easy to be disappointed in the way certain things went, things that didn’t align with the picture of what I thought the Race would be. It’s so easy for me to be disappointed rather than realize and embrace that God is working. He did incredible things in me and through me during this season. When I release my “perfect picture” of how I want things to be (a.k.a. “my will”) in surrender to His truly perfect will, that’s when abundant life begins.
