I’ve always known patience is not one of my strengths. I do things when I want to and at the speed I want to do them in. The weaknesses of my independent nature are beginning to be prevalent. Prior to launching on this World Race journey, a few things I dwelled on was the 24/7 community atmosphere, the different native foods we would eat, being stretched spiritually and emotionally, and submitting to authority figures on my squad. I didn’t think about the immense amount of patience and humility that is required for this journey … up until now.
We arrived in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala Friday night, and since then, we didn’t have a structured ministry schedule until today (Monday). Saturdays are our “free days,” and Sundays are for one or two church services and possibly some worship in the afternoons. I am used to having an ongoing to-do list and there always being something that needs to be done (emails to write, finances to organize, errands to run, the never-ending cleaning duties, etc.). On The Race, I feel unproductive and lazy; there isn’t the busyness of my American lifestyle (e.g., 12-hour shifts on a busy pediatric oncology unit as a nurse). I have to continually remind myself to not be antsy when we are hanging out after church, waiting in lines for transportation, waiting in between ministry duties, visiting with our ministry contact’s local friends, etc.
I pray this year will be a time of growth in patience, so I may find beauty in The World Race pace.
Waiting for the buses to take us to Bethel Romanian Church in Ft. Lauderdale for Launch preparation
