Going on this race, I think my biggest fear
was that I was going to have off days. I know we are all human and will have
days we are just off, you know, grumpy, need alone time, or feel like we
“deserve” this or that. However, I am here to be selfless and to serve. I don’t
want to waist one day in a bad mood. This time is a gift.
So far, I have had an off day last week
when it was our day of rest and traveled into Quito. I also had one on Sunday
when we went to the market. 
These off days come out of nowhere for me.
Nothing happens really, I just all of a sudden am hit with the feeling of
something bringing me down….or so I thought.
As my team and I talked about when I feel
this way we noticed the first time was when I rode a lot of busses with people
and then when I was surrounded in the market. In both cases I was hit with this
feeling of “bad mood.” I wish I could
describe it to you better, but I barely understand it myself.
My teammates Kaitlyn and Meg said the same
thing to me though,
“Something from the Spirit can be seen in
each person, for the common good. The Spirit gives on person the ability to …
know the difference between good and evil spirits…” – 1 Corinthians 12:7-10
A name for this gift is Spiritual
Discernment. Kaitlyn and I both met a
man here in Conocoto, Ecuador, which we couldn’t shake a bad feeling from. I don’t know much
about this gift, but my prayer is that God would use it for His glory. I pray I
will learn how to tell what I am feeling from the feelings around me. I pray
this gift helps protect my teammates and I. I pray this gift reminds me to pray
for those in need around me on this world race mission.
