“Look at the nations and watch– and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” -Habakkuk 1:5
I started this Race with little expectations. I knew I wanted to travel. I knew I wanted to help people. I knew I wanted to grow closer to the Lord. And I knew I wanted more out of life.
So, on July 2014 I packed my 60L backpack and filled it with only the necessities (ok, maybe a little more…I don’t really need 9 headbands). Nonetheless, I decided to leave quite a few comforts at home and say goodbye to my family and friends for 11 months. Now, I am 6 months in, and I want to tell you just a little of what I have seen, experienced, and learned…
Month 1: Bolivia
My team was placed in Uuyni, Bolivia this month. Let me paint the picture of Uuyni. In July this desert town would reach lows of 12 degrees Celsius, but leave your skin with sunburns if you didn’t regularly apply sunscreen. Stray dogs roamed the dirt streets, and our team had to walk a minimum of a mile just to take a shower. Having only been out of the States once for my senior cruise, my understanding of poverty was limited to none. I couldn’t quite understand how these people lived, but then I got a taste of my first church service in Uuyni. The people praised the Lord for hours. An elderly woman named Gabriella stood in the front, dancing in circle with her hands raised towards Heaven. The people were truly joyful for their lives and excited to share their world with us. I learned pretty quickly that joy is not determined by circumstances or how much/ how little you have. It’s a choice. So that month I was challenged to find it every day, in the little moments.
Month 2: Peru
In Bolivia, I really struggled finding my place in ministry. In Peru, I mentioned that I was a halfway talented artist, and the next thing you know I had a paintbrush in my hand and was climbing a scaffolding with my teammate Rocky to paint the school we were living at. I realized in Peru just how much I love to create, and how I don’t need to keep that just to myself, but I can share it to help further the Lord’s kingdom.
Month 3: Ecuador
In Ecuador, we lived and worked in an orphanage. It was there that I met a little boy name J (I can’t give his full name), who completely stole my heart. He had cerebral palsy, couldn’t speak and was confined to a wheelchair for most of the day. We made a connection the first week we were there, when I taught him how to fist bump and EXPLODE! It became our regular, everyday greeting.
I learned quickly that J was SO smart! He loved to learn and would spend an hour (more if we let him) on his iPad each day doing interactive learning games. You could ask him questions and he would answer. I even told him one day via iPad, “I like you.” He busted out with laughter as he pushed the same buttons back to me.
The Lord softened my heart to kids that month, especially J, and it broke my heart when I left. I wouldn’t change this month for the world. I know I impacted J’s life, but even more, he impacted mine.
Month 4: Colombia
This month we got to work with a ministry in the mountains of Bogota, Colombia. We went into schools almost every day and out on the streets several times a week to minister to the youth. It’s at that impressionable age that many look to find meaning in their life through sources like drugs, alcohol or prostitution. Most kids there come from really horrible home lives. I can’t tell you how many times kids would come up to us in their schools asking for prayers over situations I could only imagine (abuse, parents that were addicts, sickness, death, gangs, etc.). Our job was just to instill the hope that God had so much more in store for their lives. It was a physically and emotionally exhausting month, but I saw the Lord work in powerful ways on that mountain top.
Month 5: Japan
In Japan we did a hodgepodge of ministry. One that stands out the most though is a woman’s Bible Study we got to take part in once a week. Our first week there we talked about being bound to the law, not just in a biblical since, but also in every day life. In Japan, most moms that we worked with often tried their hardest to be good at everything (Stepford-like if you will), and the children had such a performance based mentality (in school, at home, everywhere)! In Bible Study that day, one of our squad-mates shared a story about having to defy her parent’s expectations for her life to pursue something she really wanted, the World Race. One of the mom’s broke down in tears. She had realized that she did the same thing. She put high expectations on her children to perform to the best of their ability, and was suffocating their dreams. She became a Christian the next week. It was a beautiful testament to how much our stories can impact even people on the other side of the world for Jesus.
Just like the verse of Habakkuk, when I open my eyes and look around I can truly see the Lord doing amazing things. I’m convinced He has more to show and teach me, and areas where He is going to use my hands and feet to further His Kingdom, but I cannot do that without the help of donors.
I have until January 1st to raise the remaining $2000 I have left to stay on this Race.
I want to ask each person reading this blog to please donate $25 to keep me moving forward on this journey. It would be the greatest Christmas present you could give me! Thank you and I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!
XOXO, Meg
