I’ve just finished the race and there have been so many moments I have experienced, funny, hard, emotional, heart breaking, ridiculous, awkward, did that seriously just happen to me. All of them have impacted me in some way but I want to share about the 5 most impacting ministry moments on the race. Although ministry is only a piece of the race it has been used to show and shift so many things in me. So here they are……
Tegucigalpa, Honduras- The Dump- Month one and we were really all still babies when it came to the world race. I knew that going to the dump wasn’t going to be pleasant, but I had no idea how difficult it really would be. The smell was the most overwhelming thing I had ever smelt. There were people everywhere with worn, filthy clothes. The hardest part was knowing this is what they did for a living. They came to the dump like we go to a 9-5, so that they could support their families. The most heart breaking part was seeing a six-month-old baby at the dump. That’s when I realized this is real life. We are so blessed to life in North America. I will never forget what I saw, what I smelt, how I walked away from that experience.
San Pedro, Guatemala- The blind man “Lorenzo”- In Guatemala we did “atl” ministry (ask the Lord). So one day we were in town praying for direction when we came across Lorenzo the blind man who made his living through begging. We didn’t have a translator that day, but the Lord did the translating. We started to pray for him, and it got pretty fiery. People were definitely watching us. We put our hands on his eyes and prayed so passionately. We must have stood there at least 20 minutes ministering to him, but half way through I started to sing, “open the eyes of my heart Lord” in Spanish. Tears filled Lorenzo’s eyes. Lorenzo’s physical eyes didn’t open that day, but I know his spiritual ones did.
San Bernardo, Nicaragua-Door to door- This one is pretty broad and can’t be pin pointed directly to one moment, but this month in general was so impacting. We spent our month going door-to-door and just loving and praying for people in the community. To be honest I was pretty timid and intimidated by this ministry, but I learned to love it and the Lord showed up continually. We were welcomed time after time into people’s homes. They pulled up chairs for us, served us drinks, and always welcomed our words of encouragement. Some people had questions, some were moved to tears, some let the truth sink in and other's hearts weren’t quite ready for the words spoken. I learned that what works overseas would never work at home (going door to door), but the Lord used it. I still think of all the homes we visited and how the Lord always spoke through us. He is faithful
Patong, Thailand- Bangla Road- I had no idea what it would be like going to bars to do ministry for our “womanistry month” on the race. (The squad divides into men and women and we work separate) I didn’t think I could relate to Thai bar girls, what did I have to give them? The Lord said love, so that ‘s what I gave that month. The Lord opened my eyes to how hurt and broken the world really is, and that was only one road, in one city, in one country. People are searching to be loved, searching for something more than a temporary fix. Building relationships with the bar girls was much easier then I expected it to be and we even got to have two dates with girls outside of the bar. (That is the goal of SHE ministries) I saw darkness on that road, but I also saw the hope of Christ. The Lord is alive and at work on Bangla Road.
Kampong Cham, Cambodia- 42 Village- This was hands down one of my favorite places we did ministry on the race. I would dare to say it was my most impacting ministry experience. The first day we arrived I had no idea what to expect. The most beautiful Cambodian girl greeted me when we walked up and I knew I was going to love it. What I saw was heartbreaking. More than half of the children had no clothes, their faces so dirty, any clothes that were being worn were torn, and filthy. Kids were taking care of kids. The several times we visited we gave baths, and cleaned wounds. We also did a small amount of teaching, but the main thing we did was just play and love these precious children. 42 Village showed me the most beautiful picture of the Father’s love for His children. I haven’t loved strangers so deeply in my life. There is something so beautiful about loving the ones the world calls unlovely. I will never forget those faces.
