Back in March, Team Dependent by Faith was in Leon Nicaragua. One amazing opportunity we as a team took was taking Salsa dancing lessons.
Let me give you, the background of my past with dancing: When I was three years old until I was about eleven, I took dance classes and really enjoyed taking them. When I was eleven, my passion for dancing dissipated, and I stopped taking dancing lessons all together.
Fast forward to January 2014: On my 28th birthday, at about 5:00 in the morning, in Puerto Barrios Guatemala, I got out from my safe spot in the kitchen, walked outside, and just started to DANCE in the pouring rain. As I leapt, twirled, and galloped, I also lipsynced worship songs, ( since other people were sleeping outside and I didn’t want to wake them up) and for the first time in almost 20 years, danced with such passion and a loving vigor that my love for dancing erupted again, stronger than ever.
Since then, I’ve been dancing, and HAVING FUN! I truly believe that my love for dancing came back because the Lord redeemed my love for dancing. Now, I’m dancing for Jesus, worshipping Him with my body (and my sweet dance moves!) I’m not dancing for a recital, I’m not dancing to impress anyone, I’m just dancing for my Savior.
Back to March 2014 with Team DBF in Nicaragua: Since I received this major gift from the Lord, He wanted to bless me even more. During the first class, the Lord showed me that I could do things I never thought I would or could do: taking Salsa lessons, dancing with a partner, and learn many moves (in Spanish, no less!)
The next week, I had some personal challenges which kept me from partaking in the two classes that week. Thankfully, I jumped back in the week after that, and truly enjoyed practicing the moves I’d learned, learning new moves, and getting spun around by partner after partner.
Shortly after the second week of classes ended, my team and I learned that at the end of the course, we could take an optional pass/fail test to see if we could pass the ‘basic’ level, and advance to the ‘intermediate’ level. That night, one of my teammates asked me, “Are you going to take the test?” and before I knew what was coming out of my mouth, I said, “Honestly, just enjoying the class, dancing with multiple partners, and learning it in Spanish is already enough for me. I feel like I already passed the test.” And I meant it. Just having fun on the dance floor, just getting twirled around, even if I didn’t get the moves right (which I often didn’t) was enough for me, and that’s what I chose to focus on, not on the test.
So, the last day of the class finally came. All of my teammates excitedly took the exam, and every single one of them passed. I got just as much satisfaction from watching them and cheering them on as I would have taking and passing the test myself. I really don’t have any regret about not taking the test, because, like I mentioned before, I do believe I had already passed. Just being blessed with a renewed love of dancing, dancing for my Savior is enough for me.
What is something you currently think you’d never do?
Or that you can’t do?
Is it taking dancing lessons?
Is it learning another language?
Is it writing a short story?
Seriously, take a minute to think about it, and then, I challenge you to take the first step and JUST DO IT!
Sign up for those lessons!
Download an app and start to learn that language!
FINALLY grab a pen, a notebook, and that flyer with the advertisement for the short- story workshop that’s been on your fridge for weeks and GO to the bookstore or coffee shop and start writing!
If you’re clueless to start, ask God for help! You can say, “Lord, I have a desire to do/ start to do (XYZ) but I’m clueless how to start. Please help me Lord, please show me what to do! Show me how to take the first step!” And then believe He’ll show you (because He will.)
I love you, dear reader. You mean a lot to me, in fact more than I can express in this blog. I do sincerely pray that God will guide you and assist you to discover ( or rediscover) your passions, and that you enjoy the entire journey.
Until next time, I’m going to dance!
I’m extremely grateful to my prayer and financial supporters. I am still flabbergasted at how people have been responding to the stirring in their hearts to see the kingdom of God expanded through the World Race, and through my World Race journey in particular.
To fill you in, I’m only a mere $4,681 away from being fully funded! I need to meet this next deadline by July 1, 2014. I know, like I know, like I know, like I KNOW that my God is HUGE, and that He has made a promise to me to give me all 11 months of the Race. Would you consider making a monthly or one- time donation to keep me on the Race? To support me financially, please CLICK HERE. Thank you so much, and may God continue to bless you!
