4:30am – Wake up and prepare breakfast for my team of 6 (Paramaribo, Suriname)
5:00am – Eat breakfast and do a last minute room check
5:15am – Bus arrives with the other girls’ team of 8
5:20am – Pile 13 girls into one bus with all of our packs
5:30am – Watch an epic sunrise
6:30am – Arrive in Albina, Suriname to cross the border and get our passports stamped
7:00am – Pile 13 girls plus packs into a motorized canoe… Not over the weight limit at all 😉
7:30am – Arrive in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, French Guiana at a police station to get passports stamped
8:00am – Pile 13 girls plus packs into an air conditioned bus. Praises!
10:00am- Arrive in Sinnamary at Maison de la Reserve only to find out that they are closed and we now have no place to stay
10:05am- Decide we are going to the town where our bus driver is from (Kourou, French Guiana)
11:00am- Arrive in Kourou only to find out the places that we looked up to stay at are also closed
11:30am- Get dropped off at the beaches of Kourou with no place to stay and no point of contact. Bus driver says it’s safe to put your hammocks up in the trees.
11:35am- Realize I am turning into that person who flies by the seat of their pants
11:40am- Two options: 1) Walk by faith or 2) Freak out that the 13 of us have no place to stay tonight in a town that doesn’t have many options, everything is closed, and our budget is about $30 for lodging for 6 people
6:30pm – Sun is setting and my teammates and I arrive at the Clair family house who provide us with dinner and a place to rest our heads… for the next 3 nights.
Between the hours of 11:40am and 6:30pm, there were many events that unfolded. Tensions rose between us due to the circumstances at hand. Decisions were made as to what was to be carried out. Praying and processing was a must and connections were made by the grace of God.
Throughout this time, I had a choice to walk by faith or walk in fear and let the circumstance rob me of the joy I could be experiencing.
I chose joy, regardless of the outcome for the day. I decided to swim in the Atlantic with my soul sister Alli, trust in my squadmates who were walking out in faith as well, and let God show up and show out.
Good grief did God show up and show out. These past 3 days I have seen God show up more than I ever could have imagined. He provided us a family who opened their hearts and home to us. He allowed us to experience the culture and people of French Guiana. He redefined what ministry is by showing me how family is an integral part to ministry. He provided meals for us and a place to stay free of charge. He showed me how even with language barriers kindness and compassion still shine through. He showed me how His plans are well thought out and orchestrated to a T. He showed me how to walk out what I have been praying about.
Note: Do not ask God to guide your footsteps if you’re not willing to move your feet.
This week, God gave me the opportunity to walk out my trust and faith in Him. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corithians 5:7). I have come to learn that faith isn’t a feeling, it is a choice to trust God even when the road ahead seems uncertain. Faith is having the courage to let God have control. Letting God have control allows me be a woman who overcomes obstacles by tackling them in faith instead of tiptoeing around them in fear.
Looking forward to continuing walking it out.
Cheers,
Kels
