It’s true, I’ve fallen in love on the World Race. It was a love at almost first sight, and I recognized it as something significant in the moment of our first meeting but as I write this I’m still unsure of what it means for my future, but I know that it is intertwined with what’s to come for me. Actually, I confess that I’ve been praying for something like this to happen to me on the race, I’ve been praying to fall in love, I just wasn’t really prepared for all that it would entail. Now here I am in the middle of an 11 month race and confused but peaceful about what my heart is feeling…
The first time I encountered Thailand I knew I crossed a threshold from which I couldn’t return, I felt something I haven’t felt in all my travels around the world: home. Literally the moment I stepped out of the airport in Bangkok, until the moment I crossed the border to Cambodia I felt a peace that I associate with home. This is significant, I knew it the whole time I was there, but God gave me grace to just enjoy my time there for what it was and nothing more or less, and while I struggled at first not being in only one ministry for the month, God gave me a peace that says “relax and enjoy this moment, you’ll be back, this isn’t it”. Strange.
I don’t usually do this, but I feel its necessary for you to understand where I’m coming from, this is an except from my journal entry from the last day in Thailand;
“Here it is, the last day in this my newly beloved country. My expereince in Thailand has been interesting and confusing and a blur at best. It feels like we just arrived a week ago and honestly I haven’t had much of a chance to process all that is happening in my head and in my heart on so many levels. Funny thing is that I have a strange peace about it like I’m not supposed to understand yet all that is in my heart and mind. Last night as we were shopping in the chinese market and night bazaar I didn’t have that panicky feeling of “I probably won’t be back here so I’d better buy anything that I like now”, but rather a “maybe next time” mentality. I think I’m coming back to Thailand and I can’t help shake the feeling that I’m going to live here or a time. Oh gosh I’m in deep, I love Thailand.”
Anyway I’m praying about what this all means for me but trust God’s timing and feel so blessed that it isn’t a distraction from my race and what God has called me to for these next 6 months. I’m just as excited for the next 6 countries as I was before and am grateful. I would love any prayer as I seek the Lord on this and will keep you posted on what happens!
