11 months ago I began a journey (a Race) with 60 incredible
men and women of God. When we stepped up to the start line, all we had in
common was a desire to sprint to the Father.
Little did I know that these unfamiliar faces standing beside me would
be the ones giving me (and each other) strength, hope, and life to make it to
the finish line!
The first part of The Race with these people was a bit rocky
to say the least. Our muscles were tight, our shoes needed to be broken in, and
Im pretty sure that I tripped over my own feet more than Id care to admit. There
were unexpected mountains and endless obstacles. This time seemed to be harder
than the first race that I ran a few years ago. I thought that I had the rhythm
of the run down, but instead the Lord took me through the fire once again. He
drew out my pride, He showed me my areas of weakness, He gently pointed out
where I was lacking. He quickly reminded me that I cant make it on my own; I
needed the community that He so generously provided me with… During this
time, the squad and I were never alone. We had each other to lean on to make it
through the trials. We laughed and cried together, sprinted towards God and sat
on the sidelines together, rejoiced and mourned together. It was everything yet
nothing that we had trained for.
Lt: Ministry in the Philippines. Rt: Laughing on the beach in Thailand)
After 5 months, the course divided. I said my tearful
goodbyes to the rest of the squad before I took a side route to Guatemala to
continue with long-term missions. Though my time with them was over and our
courses went different directions, we still had that same desire; we longed to
see the Fathers face at the finish line. Even though we were on different
paths and our courses looked a little bit different, that desire to reach the
Father kept us unified together in Spirit. Over the next 6 months, the Race
carried on for the rest of the squad. God kept doing His work in them and I
continued to intercede and encourage them from a distance.
I was honored for our paths to cross again and to be able to
finish the Race with these awe-inspiring children of God in Cape Town. I no
longer had to suffer through reading a million blogs (even though I hate
reading, I did it) or waiting patiently on an email response to find out how
they were doing. Instead, I was able to hear the stories of Gods work in them
and finish the Race right beside them. I got to pray over them and speak life
to them as we took our last steps across the finish line.
For some of them it took everything they had to put one foot
in front of the other, while others sprinted across the finish line and then
went back to help others. But no matter the time it took, they/we did it!!
The Race was not easy. There were times that we encountered
hardships that brought us to our knees, crying out to God, ready to give up.
But in the end we made it. The mountains that seemed impossible to climb were
summited, and the trials that seemed impossible to overcome were conquered!
When
you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they
shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be
burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Is 43:2
And so here I sit at the finish line, blown away by all God
has done the past 11 months in L squad. These people are not the same people
they were when they stepped up to the start line. Their muscles are looser,
their shoes are broken in, and they have found their rhythm amongst all the
other racers. They are stronger, wiser, and more prepared for the next season
(or should I say race). They/we did it!!! And it had nothing to do with me or
my co leader or AIM. It had everything to do with GOD. He gave us the strength
to keep going when we were ready to give up. He gave us a Word to cling to from
one step to another. He helped us finish strong!
Below are a few pictures from an actual Trail Run in Cape
Town the very last day on THE RACE! I have to admit it was a treacherous course
but we all finished strong!
