My last month on The World Race. Wow, that’s really weird to say. I have been traveling the world for 11 months where change and flexibility were expected. Where rice and beans were served. Where cold showers and hot days became a norm. The list could go on and on about how different my life looks on the field, but I don’t want to focus on that right now.
I wanted to tell you about my month in Belize and how it was the perfect way to end my Race. God always knows exactly what we need and He hit it out of the ballpark for Month 11. We lived with Pastor Betson and his wife Carolyn in a beautiful Victorian style house that is perched right on the Caribbean Sea. We got our own bed, we had a toilet that we could flush toilet paper down, we had a full kitchen, and we got 10 hugs a day and were told we were special every time Pastor saw us.
Pastor Betson is filled with joy, passion, energy, love, kindness, and is the epitome of a pastor. He is constantly going. All the time. I really don’t know how he does it and he always told us he gets his strength from the Lord. I believe it because there is no way any person could do all that he does without Jesus. Carolyn, Pastor’s wife, is the Principal of the school they started and works very long days for those children. She has suffered with lupus and fibromyalgia for many years and knows the Lord will heal her soon. These two are a power couple and know who their Father is and they are an inspiration to everyone they meet.
We worked at Unity Presbyterian Primary School, the school the Betson’s started, and I was partnered with an excellent 5th grade teacher. I have worked in schools all over the world and this one blew me away. The kids craved love and knowledge, which is every teacher’s dream in the US. Every single day we would walk into the school and be smothered in hugs. Every single day we were able to pour into those kids and show them our Father’s love. Every single day we left that school with a smile on our face.
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings we were able to help cook and feed the homeless people in Belize City. This was my first time working with a feeding program and I LOVED it! I was able to pray over them, love on them, and just listen to their stories. Every time we would walk around the city, all of our friends would come running over for a hug or just to say hi. It was a really awesome relationship to see flourish during the month and I’m excited to work with more of the homeless when I return home.
During my last month of The World Race, God showed me the power of prayer and the power of small acts of kindness. I wanted to share a couple short stories as examples.
One day we were riding in Pastor’s blue bus and the bus decided to stop working. We started praying and boom, the bus ran perfectly fine.
Another day we were riding in the bus again and the bus shut off while Pastor was trying to brake and we missed hitting a pole by about 1 cm. Thank You Jesus, thank you for favor.
Every day Pastor reaffirmed how proud he was of me. This meant so much and I knew those words were from Jesus.
The last day we were at school, every single child made us a card and they put on a surprise going away party for us. We got a hug from each and every one of the 175 kids! My heart was so happy.
So to say I ended the Race on a high note is an understatement. God knew exactly what we needed to end the race well and He gave it to us as a double portion. God, you are so good!
Join me in prayer.
Father,
Thank You. Thank you for allowing me to experience You. Thank You for always knowing exactly what I need and for giving me a double portion. Thank You for giving me eyes to see and ears to hear You. Thank You for answering prayers and Thank You for this life. I love you so much.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen!
