I am a parent of a Racer. I joined my Racer and her team in Romania for Adventures In Missions, Parent Vision Trip. It is the first time I have traveled internationally, as well as my first time on a mission trip. It has been nearly 30 years since I had even been in the air. This is my overview, and recap of what I experienced as I was swept into the flow of the World Race with my Racer, and her Squad.
As I joined my Racer God had impressed this picture on my heart; There is an event of “group jump roping” and I was being lead to join in the jumping. It was clear I was going there to jump. I was not going to twirl the rope, set the pace, decide the game or the flow of the jumpers. I was to jump. This was good and clear. So as I was jumping and following the Lead of the events that filled each day, and then God gave me another picture during worship while there that was very clear to me. But I could not put it into words until now.
You see The World Race Squad I saw is a very unique community. It is a body that is very peculiar, it has a unique feel within it, and its appearance is unlike any “church” I have seen or been a part. It is a body that has an aroma of Christ that is unearthy, (maybe not a word but appropriate here). The aroma, was somehow raw, real, “unearthy” and unlike any I am familiar.
So this picture was given to me, during that worship time while there.
Putting it into words now… but first a question.
Have you ever seen a National Geographic show on whales? Well if you have, the show would include krill. Ocean Krill individually are about as big as a 7 year old child’s thumb. Krill travel in millions within their school. It is fascinating to watch them via sea cam, flow through the water like a flock of birds. They go deep in one fluid motion. They travel to the surface in the next wave of motion, they go left through obstacles of reef and right around danger avoiding shadows of the deep to maintain their fluid flow. They move quickly and swiftly in an ocean dance that is phenomenal to witness! It is a beautiful parade of hues that appear sometimes transparent. Their purpose is to nourish other sea life. They are beautifully lead through the water by an invisible Leader. They travel, close by one another’s side. They dip and dive for the good of the whole. They do not dispute or change what the invisible Leader has for them in exchange for their own agenda. They stay together and travel effectively on their journey. I could detect this Leader, our Creator God amongst the Racers. His fragrance unearthy.
This is a depiction of the Racers, their Teams, and their Squad, in their community. It was an amazing experience to be taken in and swept along on their journey lead by their invisible, yet strongly detectable Leader (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), as we joined them. I will be forever grateful for this experience and yet I cannot help to believe, see, hope and trust that this is what “Church” really is meant to hold for each of us in The Body of Christ.
So now how to bring this home? To the here and now? We need fellowship with one another that is consistent, real, transparent, centered on Him not self and each of us listening to Him accurately, and loving one another well. Starts with me! I so desire, long to carry this vision with me into my walk each day to others!
Thank you World Racers for loving me well, while I walked with you. Thank you for showing me a glimpse of your “Church Body” and your connections. So beautiful, to witness, and experience! I love each of you and the Part of the Father you carry making Him known to all others, who have eyes to see ears to hear and a nose for the unearthy. I know you will not leave this behind. I know you will carry this… Him, His heart and plan with you all your days, as will I.
In His Grip, Rhonda Friend your friend
