We are back in Hyderabad! I am actually very happy to be back here. This city is so cool! It was bittersweet leaving the villages. But I think we left on a good note.
?There is a lot to process after this last month. I don’t think I’ve actually given myself enough time to process it all. And I’m really trying to do that before we get to Nepal and start all over.
The Lord has done so much in me and through me, and growth has been so real in this month alone. I keep thinking that if He is growing me this much in the first month, it is going to be crazy what my life is going to look like come month 11. He is really pulling on my heart.
As I reflect on this month, I think of the words the Lord has given to either me, or other people for me. These words include:
LOVE
FREEDOM
BOLDNESS
REST
FIGHT
AUTHORITY
The BODY of Christ (and what that looks like)
INTIMACY
STRENGTH
He has been showing me how much He loves me. And He is trying to pull me into a much more intimate relationship with Him. My goal for this year on the World Race since I got home from Training Camp was to grow into relationship with the Lord like I’ve never experienced before. I want to really push into intimacy with Him.
I think about my best friend Britt, who I have known since we were about 6 years old. I know her so well. I know her mannerisms, I know her humor, I know what she likes, what she dislikes. I know her better than I know anyone. And God is telling me “Keeley, I want you to know me like you know Britt.” That is something huge that I want to grow in.
We went to a more westernized church today in Hyderabad this morning, and I was filled with emotion and tears and joy to be back in church where we could worship loudly in English and just praise BOLDLY. And thats exactly what we did.
Worship is such a huge way I connect with God. I love being able to shout and sing my praises and love to my Father and raise my hands and dance and just feel Him with me. It’s a feeling I cannot explain. The worship at this church was AMAZING. We sang the song Oh Come to the Alter. I love this song. In the lyrics it says, “Are you hurting and broken within/ overwhelmed by the weight of your sin/ Jesus is calling/ have you come to the end of yourself/ do you thirst for a drink from the well/ Jesus is calling/ Oh come to the alter/ the Fathers arms are open wide/ forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.”
The Lord has revealed so much to me in this month, I have almost felt like a bucket of information has been poured into my brain and I’m having to really process, deal with and let go of things that I think I kind of pushed to the side so that I wouldn’t have to deal with it. But in the whole process of the Race, we are to let go of our baggage so that we can better serve God’s Kingdom, pour into His children, and grow in intimacy with Him. It’s time to let go of my baggage and realize that I am forgiven and I am loved. This song this morning wrecked me. I’ve heard it before, but the words spoke so evidently to my soul. With my arms raised, and my eyes closed singing this song, God gave me a picture of Jesus with His arms wide open to me, with a beautiful smile on His face, and I am running to Him. It’s overwhelming. He loves me so well.
Too often I internalize things. God is teaching me that when things are painful or hard, instead of processing them, or surrendering them to the Lord, I push them to the very back of my mind. I stop thinking about them so the pain goes away and I can move forward. The Lord has brought all of this stuff up that I thought I got over but really have been holding onto, and He’s telling me to walk with Him through it so I can actually let it go. He’s telling me to let all of that stuff go so that I’m better able to grow in intimacy with Him. Guys, I love my Father.
I think once I get through more of this reflecting and processing stage, I will be better able to write a blog really encompassing all of the things going on. This blog wasn’t even going to be about what it is now about. But my fingers just kept typing, so I think it was something I was supposed to share.
Thank you to all of you who have been keeping in contact with me and sending me love and encouragement. It is always so great when I get wifi to have messages from loved ones.
Prayer update:
-Thank you all so much for your prayers about my sleeping. The last couple times I have talked to my mom she said that some of you were really praying for my sleep. God has been fulfilling those prayers! I got a full night’s sleep last night, and the last two nights in the village before coming back here I got more sleep than I have gotten in a long time. So thank you so much for your prayers!!
Prayer requests:
-We are off to Nepal on TUESDAY. I think in my last blog I said we were leaving Sunday (today). We’re leaving on Tuesday. We fly into Kathmandu. Please be praying for safe travels for all of our squad.
-Please be praying for my team. We have a SOLID team, and I am sooooo beyond blessed to be on a team with these 6 strong and bold women. Please just be praying for continued and deeper community with them. Pray that we can continue to pour into one another, and encourage and love on one another.
I PROMISE my next blog will have a lot of pictures. It has been a struggle because sometimes with wifi. It’s really weak right now so nothing will upload. But I promise I’ll make a blog post with a bunch of pictures as soon as possible!!
I love you guys so much. I don’t know what I’d do without your love, encouragement and support.
Love and peace,
Keeley
