hey friends! first of all, i’m sorry it’s been 5ever since i’ve posted a blog!! there’s just so much happening i don’t even know where to start & i’ll fill you in soon i promise! but first i want to tell you about a really really good week i had a few weeks ago…
PVT!!! (parent vision trip)
as best described in the “wr gap year parent guide,” PVT is a chance for parents to minister alongside each other and their racers. SO in the last week of february/first week of march i was blessed with being able to have my parents fly alllll the way to pretoria, south africa and spend a week with me!!
we spent the week doing ministry, daily worship, hearing some really cool testimonies from my fellow squadmates, feeding some baby flamingos, doing a ~wild~ safari, going for lots of walks, and just getting to hangout and talk about everything that has happened in the last six months. Ministry was different everyday, we were able to go into a remote village and hangout with some cute kiddos and give them some food & love, we went to a mall and did some evangelizing and met some really awesome people, and we were able to fill each other up and just share what the Lord has been doing in our lives. And let me just tell you, the day we got to go into the village and just hangout with some kids, I have never seen my mom and dad more alive and thriving than I did that day… it was so cool I cant even explain it!
getting to see our parents was one of the most refreshing renewing things I think our squad has experienced on the race, and we just thank the lord so much for that! to be able to just hug our moms & dads and get to love on them and be loved by them! wow!! The lord answered so many prayers and brought so much healing to every family during this week and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it! But anyways, instead of me just rambling about this week, I want to share with you my parents POV on PVT (haha)!!
at the end of the week i asked them that when they got back they would sit down and take a moment to reflect on the week and then just send me anything they wanted that i could share on my blog & this is what i received!! (it’s really really cool)
from my mom…
“I went open handed and left enlightened, peaceful, loved.
I went to PVT open handed wanting to embrace what God had in store for us… and to be ‘led’ by my racer. The beauty of the week was that Melina showed us how to be led by the Spirit.
Truth: Melina allowed Jesus to work through her in order that I could feel His Presence within her, and it was beautiful. Her undeniable spirit and maturity in Christ is an incredible blessing.
Our moving ministry time spent serving alongside her teammates, eloquently balanced with sweet down-time conversation and fun fellowship with other racer families (including some pretty impressive wildlife on Safari) proved to be life changing. I will not forget the small, yet mighty ministry team enhancing the lives of some people from a small village outside of the city. Their courage and example will forever be etched in my memory. Watching my racer and her squad step into this ministry as we pulled up to a dusty field, and they seamlessly fled the bus and immediately embraced a stream of precious children felt life giving. We fed them along with some of their parents and teachers and spent time playing, singing and praying with some of them. The reality is we received so much from the open arms and joyful smiles of these little ones. I’ve always loved seeing the photos of our squads in action, however there is nothing like understanding the story and hardships behind the photos and witnessing the lives changed by those sharing the gospel and those receiving the gospel. The truth is that many of these children were on fire for the Lord, and we all benefited from the sharing the love of Christ that day.
God’s grace is real and visible in the eyes, on the lips and in the outstretched arms of these beautiful racers serving on the World Race. What a beautiful and everlasting gift to see the love of Christ in others! I see that very gift in my daughter. I look at her, see God’s love and radiance, and I remain so grateful.”
From my dad…
“Deem me a believer:
When sharing Gods Love during Ministry in a small village, with children that have virtually nothing, and seeing the passion and faith in their eyes bringing them joy and comfort. Deem me a believer!
When listening to young adults on this Mission Trip share life experiences during Testimonies, expressing how they’ve been healed due to Gods Love and Redemption. Deem me a believer!
When listening to spiritual songs being sung during Worship that brought tears of joy and fulfillment to everyone in the hall. Deem me a believer!
When witnessing my daughter’s transformation into a more confident, outgoing, young woman who is so willing to share Gods Love and make a difference in this world. Deem me a believer!
Due to trials and tribulations I’ve experienced in life, I lost belief in what Gods Love could do for my soul. I left PVT with a renewed belief in God. Deem me a believer!”
ok!!! so imma just be honest here with you real quick. I’ve always known that my mom is a strong believer with a very strong faith. She is a leader and inspires me every single day to be better and grow closer to the lord. She shows Jesus better than any other person I know.
I’ve never really been sure where my dad stands with his relationship with the Lord. I know he believes, but it’s just never something we’ve talked about. And in the weeks leading up to PVT, my team and I prayed every single day for my family that there would be breakthrough and that my dad would just allow the Lord to show up and provide healing in his heart. And when I woke up the other day to this email from my dad about how he experienced PVT, let me just tell you I cried for the first time I think since I was in costa rica! The Lord is so good! He hears with you call out to him and He answers!
I want to encourage anyone who is struggling with a loved one who doesn’t know the Lord or if they’re just unsure and you don’t know what to do, don’t give up on them! Pray for them & continue to just show them Jesus, because the best way you can bring someone to know Christ is to just show Him to them through every single thing you do! Colossians 4:5-6 says “Be wise in the way you act toward others; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” or in other words “Bring out the best in people” by bringing out Christ in them!
lol I think this got way off track but when have I ever written a blog that actually ended the way I intended? If you made it this far, thank you & I hope you can see how amazing our God is just in the way He is moving in my life right now! & shoutout to my mom and dad for being so cool and coming all the way to south africa and allowing the Lord to just fully work in their lives. I’m so blessed that they are my parents:)
If you want to chat about anything I’ve said or just know more about what I’m doing or tell me about what God is doing in your life, I would love love love to hear from you!!
Thanks friends! love, melina
