This is a letter to my future month eight self, when the Race is really close to over and I’m probably losing a little steam to continue.
Hey Kyleigh,
I can’t wait to meet you. I can’t wait to see how far you’ve grown, cause girl, I’ve felt the pain of the stretching in months one and two so by month eight I can’t even imagine the growth pains you’ve gone through, but dang girl. You’re looking more like Jesus every day. Don’t let that go to your big head though, it is not of you and you know it. Your Savior is just really really gracious to you and He is lovingly pointing out areas that don’t look like Him that He’s stripping away from you. So keep digging into the growth. Even at month eight, you have so much more to learn. Don’t ever get to the point where you pridefully think you’ve got this whole thing figured out, because you don’t. There’s always more to learn.
The main point of this letter, though, is to tell you that you’re gonna miss this. Right now, you’re in Swaziland and you’re tired. It’s been a long hard eight months. But in two more, you’ll be back home and you’re gonna miss this. You’re gonna miss being surrounded by fifty of your best friends every single day. You’re gonna miss the chance to go outside and play with the kids at ministry, chasing them and tickling them and letting them chase you… I know you’re tired, Kyleigh, because as I write this its only month two and even I’m a little tired, but you have time to rest for the rest of your life. Live in each moment, Kyleigh. Don’t go home in two months with regrets about the kids that you didn’t play with because you just weren’t feeling it that day. Don’t look back on Swaziland in two months from the comfort of your own bed, and regret even a second because you didn’t give you’re all. Give everything. Feel it all. Feel the joy you get from the arms of that kid around you. Feel the sadness at the thought of the countries and people you’ve already left. Feel the excitement for what you’ve seen God do. Feel the love of the Lord as you look up at the sky and can see stars for miles. Feel it all. Because Kyleigh, I can promise you, you’re gonna miss this.
It’s the end of month two right now, and dude, there are tears in my eyes at the thought of leaving Guatemala in 5 weeks. I’m not ready. I still have so much left to give here. There are still too many soccer games to play with Axel and Julio, too many suckers to buy for Fernando and Angél. There’s still too many hugs to give Carlos and Josúe. There are still too many women to lovingly look into their eyes and tell them Jesus sees them. There are still too many people we haven’t reached yet. There isn’t enough time, so there definitely isn’t enough time to not give it your all everywhere you are. Kyleigh, I’m begging you, do not have regrets from this race. Tell the Lord yes to whatever He’s asking you. Be uncomfortable so He can have more room to move. Be intentional about remembering the reason you’re here. Be intentional to pour into your team EVERY SINGLE DAY, even though it is month eight. Be so so careful to not get stagnant in growth and content with your stagnancy.
I know you have to be missing the staff at the base in Guatemala. The way they were so intentional to pour into you every single day. The way they taught you to ask the Lord about literally everything. I bet you’re missing this. They have been so influential so far for you. You learned alot under them. Remember to be thankful for them even now that you aren’t there. You experienced a lot of growth in Guatemala because of them.
Ky, I’m proud of you. I’m proud of how far you’ve come. But don’t you dare get comfortable. You have so much farther to go. Keep seeking the Lord. Don’t ever stop. Not even when you get home, cause Kyleigh Renee, I promise you when you’re home, you’re gonna miss this.
