This week was PVT (parent vision trip). It’s was a time where parents are invited to join us and see the work God is doing in and through their children and an opportunity to do ministry alongside of us. Usually during this time they would split us up into two groups those whose parents came and those whose parents did not come, such as myself (only a little bitter mom and dad). Our coaches however wanted the whole squad to be together for PVT this go around embracing multigenerational ministry and community. PVT is racer led so we were responsible for worship and teaching and heading up ministry. Roles were assigned and my roles revolved around prayer!!! I could not be more excited!!! It made me happy to know that when they thought of me and my strength they thought of prayer. I was asked to share a personal testimony of prayer in my life as well as help facilitate that day of ministry which was prayer walking through Tbilisi, Georgia.
I got up to address the group and as I could see by my Fitbit my heart rate was 125, cause I love talking in front of large crowds haha. But God was faithful and got me through it. I shared 2Cor 10:3-4 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. I also shared some lyrics from one of my favorite songs,
All the world starts changing
When the church starts praying
Strongholds start to break
Oh, when we pray
Prison walls start shaking
At the sound of praising
Nothing stays the same
Oh, when we pray
Oh, when we pray, oh
And then we set out to demolish strongholds and shake some walls.
My team for the day was Erin and her dad Scott, and Mom Janet, Mo and her dad Dennis, and mom Glynis, Lennie and myself. We were assigned Peace Bridge as our area. As we were deciding how to go about it I suggested embracing the intergenerational opportunity and pair off one parent with one racer, everyone agreed. Dennis said I think it should be dads and daughters which I absolutely loved!! I was with Janet and Lennie was with Glynis. Janet admitted that she was a little nervous as she has never done this before. As we began to walk we would stop along the side of the bridge. Janet pointed out a statue of a woman with a sword and a cup and shared how she had been told that it meant peace but being ready to fight if necessary with the political situation in Georgia it was pretty appropriate. Janet shared that it broke her heart the fear they live in and how she wanted peace for them. I smiled and said well let’s pray for that. She laughed and said I guess it’s that easy and we prayed. Our next pause down the bridge was in view of this beautiful church she shared some of the history behind it (she had gone a tour a few days prior so I got all the tour knowledge for free). So we prayed over the church in Georgia, that’s Jesus’s name and love would be spread, that even though the country is said to be predominantly Christian <2% are evangelical Christians. Our next stop was in view of the presidential palace and we prayed over the government and its leaders for wisdom and discernment.
We came to the end of the bridge and ventured over to a near by seating area. She shared that at night this place is full of people so we prayed for the presence of the Holy Spirit to be in that place that when people come here they would feel it. It was a sweet time of prayer and as we came to the end of our time I told Janet there is one last thing we need to do to end our time together…. take a selfie!!!!
It was a week of powerful worship, testimonies, ministry, encouragement, and lots of laughs and love. Parents embraced all the racers and treated us like their own. On our last morning together we gave the parents a chance to talk and impart any final words of wisdom and encouragement. There we quite a bit of tears but it was such a sweet time of expressing how proud they are of all of us, encouraging us to maintain these friendships, and to finish strong because how you end one thing is how you enter the next!
Before the parents arrived each racer drew a name out of a bowl that had the name of one parent on it. We were asked to do some listening prayer and write out a little something for them that would be on their bed welcoming them. I prayed and God have me a verse. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. During this time of sharing for the parents the dad whose name I had gotten stood up and pulled that note out of his billfold and thanked whoever had written it because it was exactly the reminder and encouragement he needed!!! God is so good and we all have a role in His plan if we chose. It doesn’t matter your age or place in life no one is too young or too old to share the love of Jesus to someone else!! I would say this first attempt at combining PVT racers and non PVT racers was a success.
