We climbed to the top of the hill, towards the radio tower, in the dark of the night. Since I lost my headlamp the first week on the race, I trusted the lights of those around me. I took small steps, careful not to fall flat on my face in front of the eight of my new Bulgarian guy friends and Greg.
I am not going to lie. It was a rough week for me. I was feeling very poor about myself. My self esteem was very low, wondering how God viewed me. Thankfully, God has a wonderful way of wooing you. When you are feeling at your lowest, least loved, He shows up in extravagant ways.
We got to the radio tower, and it was the most breath-taking view. When I looked up to the sky, the stars were crystal clear. God's goodness was so real in that sky; His mighty power to create the universe was obvious. I looked down at the glowing city lights, and I felt like I was in a live version Van Gogh's Starry Night. There was a sense of peace that radiated from the city below.
But God did more than create a beautiful landscape to show me love. He placed me with a group of amazing men who respected me. The helped me realize how much value I carry, with no outside intentions. They just wanted me to feel loved and protected and were there make sure I was safe.
While at this camp, it was our job to set a good example of what a Christian looks like, but honestly, I learned so much from the Bulgarian men I worked with. They were true men of God and it was an amazing reminder of how much God is in love with me.
(Photo taken by Ivo Ivanov)
