Dear Men of I Squad,
You don't know me. My name is Melanie and I am on team Radiant on N Squad. My team just arrived at Jeremiah's Hope campsite in Kolentsi, Ukraine, exactly one day after you guys left here. It was really cool on a lot of levels to know that there was another World Race team right before us. Literally, right before.
I know that on the race, Adventures has many contacts around the world that they use often to plug racers in with. It's not uncommon for a ministry site to have worked with a lot of racers. But this was totally different because it felt even more real, since you were there just the day before. We got to see everything that you had just done for this place.
In all of this, I realized that I need to thank you. I have a couple things that I would like for you to know.
First, thanks for all the clothes that you left behind. Bet you didn't think six girls would be so thankful for a bunch of mens clothing, but we were stoked! We used a bunch of them to paint in so that we didn't have to ruin any of our clothes and then re-pack them. Some of the clothes, we even really liked, so we are going to keep. Thanks to whoever owned the gray and black striped long sleeve shirt. It's mine now. And Julie loves the red flannel that was left here. Jacquelyn is so happy about her new pair of high top converses'! We thought you'd appreciate some photos of us happily sporting your cool man clothes.
You don't know me. My name is Melanie and I am on team Radiant on N Squad. My team just arrived at Jeremiah's Hope campsite in Kolentsi, Ukraine, exactly one day after you guys left here. It was really cool on a lot of levels to know that there was another World Race team right before us. Literally, right before.
I know that on the race, Adventures has many contacts around the world that they use often to plug racers in with. It's not uncommon for a ministry site to have worked with a lot of racers. But this was totally different because it felt even more real, since you were there just the day before. We got to see everything that you had just done for this place.
In all of this, I realized that I need to thank you. I have a couple things that I would like for you to know.
First, thanks for all the clothes that you left behind. Bet you didn't think six girls would be so thankful for a bunch of mens clothing, but we were stoked! We used a bunch of them to paint in so that we didn't have to ruin any of our clothes and then re-pack them. Some of the clothes, we even really liked, so we are going to keep. Thanks to whoever owned the gray and black striped long sleeve shirt. It's mine now. And Julie loves the red flannel that was left here. Jacquelyn is so happy about her new pair of high top converses'! We thought you'd appreciate some photos of us happily sporting your cool man clothes.
Now, for more serious talk. Knowing that you were just here and seeing the work that you have done and hearing about the awesome things that you did really got me thinking. Those thoughts led to an important lesson that I think a lot of world racers (and a lot of missionaries) forget. We have to remember that we are planting a lot of seeds and that we may not see the fruit or growth, but that we are making an impact.
If you're anything like me, with human thoughts and flesh nature, you may get discouraged by not seeing immediate fruit from your hard work. I want to encourage you (speaking to myself as well) and all other racers and missionaries that feel this way that it's never wasted. We sat on the impressive benches that you made as we watched a movie the other night. We organized a couple storage closets and put things into the new cabinets and closets that you built form scratch! We enjoyed hearing stories of what great blessings you were to the orphans and hurting boys. It's really wonderful that you were able to pour into them and show them the love of Jesus, because they may never see that from any other guy. Ever.
In Ecuador, my team planted a garden. I remember thinking "I really hope this even grows, I have no idea how to plant things. Hopefully God can use this somehow." We prayed ever the garden. A few months later, one of the interns that is still there messaged us letting us know some crazy good news about the garden. The government saw how big and alive and beautiful the garden was and gave the ministry more land to plant more gardens and have for the children! It was so neat to hear that our garden grew so much and that it opened new doors for a beautiful ministry in Quito, Ecuador.
God is faithful. God tells us to plant the seeds. You men have been so obedient and have encouraged me to continue in obedience.
If you're anything like me, with human thoughts and flesh nature, you may get discouraged by not seeing immediate fruit from your hard work. I want to encourage you (speaking to myself as well) and all other racers and missionaries that feel this way that it's never wasted. We sat on the impressive benches that you made as we watched a movie the other night. We organized a couple storage closets and put things into the new cabinets and closets that you built form scratch! We enjoyed hearing stories of what great blessings you were to the orphans and hurting boys. It's really wonderful that you were able to pour into them and show them the love of Jesus, because they may never see that from any other guy. Ever.
In Ecuador, my team planted a garden. I remember thinking "I really hope this even grows, I have no idea how to plant things. Hopefully God can use this somehow." We prayed ever the garden. A few months later, one of the interns that is still there messaged us letting us know some crazy good news about the garden. The government saw how big and alive and beautiful the garden was and gave the ministry more land to plant more gardens and have for the children! It was so neat to hear that our garden grew so much and that it opened new doors for a beautiful ministry in Quito, Ecuador.
God is faithful. God tells us to plant the seeds. You men have been so obedient and have encouraged me to continue in obedience.
So thank you. Hope you're having a wonderful time in Central America.
Melanie 🙂
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave growth. So neither he who plants and he who waters is anything but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
-1 Corinthians 3:6-9
