I have written a lot in this blog about what we did for ministry on the Race in each country. However, in addition to the World Race being a mission trip serving those around the world, it is also a discipleship program. So I wanted to write a little about this side of the Race with a wrap-up blog of what God taught me country by country.
At the beginning of the World Race I was so worried that I would end the Race without having grown significantly personally or in my walk with Christ. I remember sharing this worry with my squad leader at the time and he even assured me that if I was seeking Christ, then I was no doubt going to grow. Looking back at this now, I want to laugh at myself because the amount of things that God has shown me and taught me in these eleven months is too much for just one blog. So here are just a few of the lessons I learned while abroad:
UKRAINE and ROMANIA:
- I often relate to God more as the loving Father, but I lacked fear of the Lord. So I prayed to God that He would open my eyes to this side of His character. And in these two months He answered this prayer and I grew in my sense of awe of who God is. The song “Wonder” by Bethel was on repeat on my phone.
- I also learned more about setting rhythms with my time with God and I learned more about living in community – in Ukraine I lived with eight other people and in Romania I lived with 29 people!)
BULGARIA:
- I learned more about resting and abiding in God. Matthew 11:28-30 was a passage I learned a lot from this month.
- I also grew in learning to listen to God’s voice and praying bold prayers to God with the expectation that He would respond. One day at a coffee shop I prayed that He would do something to show me that He sees me. Not five minutes later a couple from Ohio (where I am from!!) came up and asked what I was doing and if they could pray for me. God is so faithful!
VIETNAM:
- This month was busy ministry-wise, so I would wake up at 5:30 AM so I could spend time with the Lord. It was REALLY hard to do this some days! But I would go to the rooftop, watch the sunrise, and dance and sing with God. I found so much JOY in this time and felt unreserved with God.
- Other times in the mornings I would read a passage in the Bible and just sit with Him without expecting anything. God taught me a lot about thankfulness in this time.
CAMBODIA:
- If I am being honest, I did not really want to spend personal quiet time with God this month. It felt more like a check-list, rather than spending time with a friend. I asked God to change my attitude toward this and by the end of the month He answered this prayer!
- This month I also learned to be intentional with relationships, such as with my teammates and with locals we worked with. I love when friends are intentional with me and I want to be that friend for others.
THAILAND:
- I had more conversations with God this month. I also would pray for a word for each day and see how he showed up. I learned more about how God’s word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12).
- God also did a lot in me personally – I feel like He taught me to be more confident in whom I am in Him and He set me free from some of my past wounds. (I would love to share more of this story if you’re curious.)
MYANMAR:
- We taught English in the morning and evenings, but had the rest of the day off. So this month, I learned to do ministry outside of scheduled ministry and to be more Spirit-led. This often looked like talking with the hotel staff we were staying with or playing a local game called chinlone (Google it – it’s pretty cool!) with the kids on the street. I got to show God’s love in simple ways.
- I learned to be more interruptible with my time – I could have easily used my free time to nap or watch movies, but I often felt like God was prompting me to use my time to show His love to those kiddos mentioned above.
COLOMBIA:
- Ministry this month was very busy and we were all pretty exhausted. So this month God showed me how to choose my teammates even when it was tough. We are meant to do life with community and encourage one another when it is hard.
- Because I was tired, I also really had to intentionally press into God even when I didn’t feel like it. I learned that when we press in, God will always show up. Ephesians 3:20.
ECUADOR:
- I just really enjoyed this month. I loved the country, our ministry, and our hosts. I learned more about God’s good gifts. He is a good, good Father. Matthew 7:7-11 is a good verse to sum up this month.
- This is a story too long for this blog, but if you want to learn more about the story with Hosea 2:14-15, I’d love to share it with you. Bottom line – God is oh so good!
PERU:
- This month I learned more about hospitality, as our hosts poured into us by doing devotionals and praying with us, as well as inviting us over to their house for meals. I felt both loved and seen. Our host (the wife of the pastor) was such a strong woman of God and prayed fervently for those around her. She inspires me to be a woman of God, who is eager to pray for others.
- The community in the church we served at this month made me realize how much I value community and really desire this sense of belonging in a church. When I move to Indiana, this is something I want to seek out.
BOLIVIA:
- A word that has been spoken over me throughout the Race is STEADFAST. This month I desired to be steadfast in seeking out the Lord to finish the Race well. In doing this, I learned more about God’s steadfast love and faithfulness for us. He is constant and is always faithful to us.
- I learned more about rest, as well. This month was also busy and I needed a deeper rest found in Him (Matthew 11:28-30). I learned more about seeking this out daily, not just when I feel like my tank is empty.
Those are just a few of the numerous lessons that God taught me on the Race and I pray they are an encouragement to you in some way. Thank you for following along with this World Race journey and for all of your support and prayers.
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your Name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness.”
– Psalm 115:1
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
– Matthew 5:16
I also did not write a blog post of our ministry in Peru or Bolivia (sorry!!) so here are some pictures from the month!
PERU:
This month we worked with a Calvary Chapel church, an orphanage, and did kids ministry in the country.
Our Texan hosts in Cusco, Peru
Kids ministry in the country
Josh got denied for a high five!
Painting the children’s room at church
Summer painting at the church
We painted a mural on the church wall and
used a projector to cast the image on the wall
The projected image on the church building
Controlling the projector while my teammates painted
We got to invite some friends over and
watch Emperor’s New Groove while in Cusco!
BOLIVIA:
This month we worked with an organization called Cru, which was the organization I was involved with in college. When partnering with Cru in Bolivia, we helped share the Gospel with students on universities and in high schools.
Bus buddies on the way to Bolivia!
La Paz, Bolivia!
We switched teams the last month and
these are the gals I got to do life with!
Brunch with the team for Regan’s birthday!
We got to play a game called Solarium to share the Gospel
with students on campus.
Some of the students we got to share the Gospel with!
Meeting up with some students at Starbucks!
My teammate, Amanda, teaching on inner healing
through the lens of the Gospel.
A Cru meeting with some locals and students
Our last Cru meeting, where my teammate, Regan, shared a message.
These are just a few highlights from the last two months, but if you have any questions I would love to answer them! And if you would like to talk more about the Race, I would love to meet up with you and talk more! Again, thank you for following along this journey and for the continued prayers…it means more than you know!
