From the desk of Kara Burrows,

July ’08 World Racer:

 

It’s time for an update. God knew what he was doing when he had me hang back and join the July ‘08 World Race team. Even though, I knew in my heart he was looking out for me, it didn’t feel like it at first. I spent the first couple of weeks trying to convince myself I was totally okay with the decision for me to stay.  I was wrestling with whether I could really trust God.  I always say that I do, but to actual have to do it is a different story.  My first step in trusting God would be to see if he would love me no matter what I did.  Novel concept, I know.  Usually, I run around trying to figure everything out on my own. The thought never occurred to me that if I stopped trying to be a Super Christian, I might have a shot at an intimate relationship with God.  I spent all of Christmas break on vacation from expectations.  The expectations I put on myself our tremendous.  Expectations to be a good Christian, to be a servant, to be a diligent disciple, to be the best World Racer, to be a free spirit, to be a great friend, daughter, granddaughter. The list goes on and on. One morning I was feeling totally overwhelmed with all the things I was expected to be when a small voice said, ” Do you think God will still love you if you don’t meet all these expectations?”  My first thought was “I hope so but I’m not really sure.” It is a scary thing to stop doing all the things you think will make someone love you.  However, these fears are no match for God. To freefall into God’s incredible arms of grace and love is one of the greatest risks I have taken in life.  I thank God all the time for his timing and goodness.  God is definitely better at running my life than I could ever hope to be.  I know that he has been preparing my heart, mind and soul for our new adventure. 

 

Support

 

God is faithful, as are all of you, my faithful supporters.  Drum roll, please!  I am currently at 78% of my goal of $13,800. There are no words to adequately express, how humbled and grateful I am for all the support I have received from my village. Thanks to all of you I have cried, screamed and danced as I saw the money pouring into my account. Even more amazing is the fact that all 78% is cash. Money waiting to go and be used to serve God’s kingdom.  Anyone who would like to give support you can visit my blog at www.karaburrows.theworldrace.org. Click on Support Me! and give whatever you feel the Lord leading. I thank you in advance for giving generously to help me serve God around the world.

 

Update from the Field

 

For those who have not had a chance to visit the World Race homepage and blogs: www.theworldrace.org(hint, hint) here are a few excerpts from the January 08 Teams.

 

“I got to play with Marisol and her sister Rosario for an hour or more.  I learned how to tell her she is beautiful in Spanish, and the first time I told her she hid her face from me, and her other sister Patty said no, ugly.  This is why I think she must have a really low self-esteem.  I just kept telling her over and over that she is beautiful and that I love her and eventually she was telling me that she loves me and she was saying “si” when I said she was beautiful.  The most heart-warming part was when she sang along to Jesus loves me.  She and Rosario and I just kept singing it, and then she let me have her sing for Tammy and then David.  She knows the words and sang them out loud.  This from the girl who 3 weeks ago would run away when you looked at her.  It was just such an awesome and beautiful day.”

 

Laura Johnston                 January 2008 World Race Team                     www.laurajohnston.theworldrace.org

“But then the unexpected happened: we got smacked in the face with God’s presence. It’s not like you can really prepare for anything like this – it just happens. During prayer, Matt was the first to fall into the Lord’s freedom followed by almost everybody else. God spent about three hours ministering to a lot of us, freeing us and/or starting the process of freedom in our hearts. I’ve never experienced God’s presence like this before, but it was intense – for lack of a better term.”  

Matthew Snyder                  January 2008 World Race Team                    www.matthewsnyder.theworldrace.org

“Day one. We showed up at the refuge area where 3,000 people have lost their homes, living in places the size of bathrooms and forced to live on 9 kilos of rice and one can of tuna for a month. They are without all human necessities: bathrooms, safety, privacy. Fleas and insects continually infest their homes. The government has done nothing to help their situation although millions of dollars have been donated to help them. These people are seeing nothing and have no hope of ever having a place to call home again. In fact the woman who owns the land of the refuge camp is trying to kick them all out. It is heart-wrenching and devastating. They are forgotten, discouraged, and in need of anything. They are the ones Jesus came for.”

Caroline Crawford                January 2008 World Race Team            www.carolinecrawford.theworldrace.org

For more incredible stories of how God is moving all over the world, please visit www.theworldrace.org and click on  “Teams” you will find an awesome source for seeing God’s goodness through the journeys of the World Racers.

Things on my “to-do-list”:

 

Camping with my teammates at Paris State Park in Greenville, SC on Feb 29- Mar 2.

 

Exercise- I found out that I have to be able to hike 5 miles with my pack for Training Camp in Atlanta.

 

Finish reading my book list, which includes: Waking the Dead, Intercessory Prayer, The Invisible War, Power Healing, and Walking on Water.  Feel free to e-mail me any other good selections

 

Buy Health Insurance for my trip. My research puts the cost between $500 and $1000 for the entire year.

 

Finish my vaccinations- Typhoid, Hepatitis A, and a few othersI think

 

How you can pray for me:

 

I am trying to focus my time and energy on being with God.  Allowing him to complete the work he began in me.  My relationship with God has always been one most characterized as a father and daughter.  Spending time with God, laughing and crying, singing and dancing, sitting and breathing has always come more naturally than studying and discipline.  Discipline is now something I am ready to wrestle with and find my foundation.  These are some of the scriptures I am currently sitting with and trying to breathe in every week. Please anytime you think of me pray one these scriptures or others that God leads you to.  The prayers you raise up will be my comfort, joy, safety, encouragement, health, and my connection to each of you.

 I John 4:16 a   “God is love.”

     Psalm 23   “He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

           Psalm 34“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”

               Psalm 37  “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.”

                   Isaiah 55“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

                       Matthew 11:28-30“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened.”

                          Ezekiel 36: 26-27“I will give you a new heart and put  a new spirit within  you;”                            

                                                                                   

Contact Me:

 

The best way to contact me is through e-mail: [email protected].  Once I leave for wherever it is I am going first, my e-mail and blog will be the only means of communicating.  If you want to receive e-mail updates, it would be a tremendous help for you to send me an e-mail.  Then I can add you to my list and send you reports. Also, on my blog: www.karaburrows.theworldrace.org, you can click on Update Alerts and input your e-mail.  Every time I post something new, your e-mail will alert you.  Pretty cool! Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement. I could not go on this adventure without my incredible village. Thank you again. Much love.