In just a few short hours, we will be grabbing our bags, heading to the Cairo airport, and settling in to wait for our late late overnight flight from Cairo to Nairobi. It’s amazing to realize how far we’ve come in this journey – we’ve gone most of the way around the world, and we’re about to begin our descent into the heart of Africa for our last leg of ministry.
The past eight months have been emotional and stretching. We’ve experienced true joy, dependence on the Lord, and heartbreak as well. I often wonder if I had known ahead of time the true cost of this trip, would I still have chosen to come? As hard as it’s been, I have to say ‘yes’. I believe without a doubt that I was called by the Lord to participate, and that I have been stretched to grow in ways I never would have otherwise. Some people talk about leaping ‘out of their comfort zones’. I say forget that, I say, ‘expand my comfort zone and make it HUGE!’ Let me be more comfortable loving the orphans than I am hanging out on my couch.
It’s hard to know what to expect out of the last couple of months of the world race. At this point, we’re all tired, distracted, and our heads are chock full of the experiences we’ve already seen. But, our hearts are to persevere and finish strong. I want to see, feel, and taste God’s heart for Africa, and I want the final leg of this trip to blow everything else out of the water. But, I can’t make this happen on my own.
Everything we do is a partnership: God, us (on the ground), and you (wherever you may be). We need you to pray. Let me say this again. We NEED NEED NEED you to pray. For us, for the people of Africa, for our finances, for our leadership, for our health and safety, for the success of our ministry, for protection against spiritual attack. Please know that you are no small part of the world race mission when you lift up the missionaries in prayer. It will be one of the greatest joys of my life to come home in November, look you in the eye, and tell you about all the ways God has been answering your prayers.
I want to end with a verse of encouragement:
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
(Galatians 6:9-10)
