Z Squad made it to Africa! We live right on the beach here in Lomè, Togo so it’s almost like I’m back home. Today a few girls from my team and I started off our Sabbath at the beach. I got to work out then just sit in the sand for a few hours. I pictured myself back home in Florida. Although I may not want to go home quite yet, it was nice to be reminded of home and being back at one of my favorite beach spots.
Sitting on the beach today, I talking with God about what he’s been teaching me. He’s been teaching me about how to surrender all control to Him because in so many situations on the Race, I have had to solely rely on Him. A few examples: I am living with 14 other people and all of our stuff in a 3 bedroom home (don’t think that needs anymore of an explanation). Also, our ministry scheduled is never what we expect, so words I have learned to live by are “we will see what God does.”
Back to the beach… I saw a boat with a bunch of men in it. All of them were rowing (very aggressively) and one was sitting in the middle with a bucket in his hands scooping water out just as fast as the men were rowing. God told me that I am the man in the middle of the boat. Over and over I am continuously taking my bucket trying to empty the boat that keeps filling with water. No matter how fast I scoop out the water, the boat keeps filling. No matter what I do, I can’t control the amount of water in the boat. The boat is going to fill with water and I can’t do anything to change that. So instead of trying so hard to control things that are ultimately out of my hands, God says why not surrender? He wants us to stand in front of Him with open hands and an open heart, ready to receive what He has for us. The thing about life on the Race is that God gives you so many opportunities to show you how His ways are better. He does this in life off the Race too, but I have just gotten a little better at realizing it. Living with people who are different than you, going to countries with language barriers, doing ministry with schedules that fluctuate or are non existent, and constantly being out of your comfort zone. The World Race is not just about traveling, meeting new people, living amongst new cultures and spreading the Gospel. Yes these things are true about being on the World Race, but you are constantly given opportunities to grow and are put in situations that will test you. So although I may be like that man in the middle of the boat, I know God is telling me to put down the bucket and trust the process of stretching, growing, changing, and not being in control.
Until all have heard
Kristen
