Praise God – all of my support has been raised in cash and in pledges!! Thank you to each of my supporters for your sacrificial giving and not only supporting my ministry, but investing in the work of God around the world. I’m humbled beyond belief at how God provides for our needs. All of my support was raised within 10 weeks. By your support, you have become my ministry partner as you have joined hands with me to communicate the love of Jesus Christ to people in this world who otherwise may never hear. God is good and I’m forever grateful for you, my supporters, faithful prayer warriors and encouragers for believing in me and believing in what God will do in and through me. Not only has your support allowed me to get on a plane on Sept 28th, but your encouragement, prayers, emails, and all the many ways you’ve helped me as filled me up and blessed me in so many ways.
Some of my teammates are still raising their support, so if you feel led to give to their needs in order to keep our family together, please visit one of their blogs:
Lindsay Heston is on Team Karisfollow us around the world as we learn more about what it means to live out our faith.
Click here to read blogs from any of my October 2008 squadmates.
Click here to read blogs from any World Racers currently on the field.
The definition of “surreal” pretty much sums up how I felt on Sunday, Sept 21 as I pulled away from home. The last few weeks leading up to my leaving has been filled with busy last minute errands, closing down my life in VA, wrapping up loose ends, finishing my job, packing up life as I know it, selling or giving away my belongings, spending as much time with friends as possible, family nights, small group, farewell parties, and feeling like my head was spinning the entire time.
But pulling away from my friends in VA, the most amazing people to me, was the hardest. I’ve changed “goodbye” to saying “I’ll see you later” to somehow ease the length of time I’ll be away. These amazing friends have become my family and have helped, supported and loved me in so many ways. They have made me a better person and have enriched my life and challenged my walk with Christ in so many ways. To my family of friends… Thank you for your love! I will miss you all very much! This part of the process was tough and forced me to remember why I committed to the World Race to begin with.
I had to remind myself of the truth of Matthew 16:25 …
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
And of Philippians 3:7-10…
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection…”
I’m humbled that God wants to give me this gift, this opportunity to journey with him around the world. To leave all that’s familiar, everything that distracts and grabs at my attention, all that is expected, known and familiar to live in the unexpected and unknown for 11 months. Sure, there will be times of discomfort and pain and it may cause me to question why I even signed up for this Race to begin with. But the chance to leave normalcy for even a bit of time in order to live each day with the only expectancy that God will be my strength, my portion, and my reliance. To leave a life that is filled with routine and feeling half asleep all the while. The only sure comfort I will have is the constancy of knowing that the Spirit of God will be there, will be my rock and will provide and equip me. It’s stretching. It’s scary. It’s uncomfortable. But there’s a sense of “life” in there. To follow him day by day. To feed the hungry, clothe the naked, love the lonely, heal the sick, and further his kingdom in and by His strength. It’s a chance to be awaken and rub the sleep from my eyes, and see what being fully alive is really like when Christ is leading my every step.
2 Days Left
I’m spending my last week with my family and writing this blog in the car on my way to upstate NY. All I can say is WHAT?! 2 DAYS!?! How did this happen so fast!? I can’t believe that I’ll be flying out of the country in 2 days. This is unreal to me and I honestly don’t even know what to say or how to put it in words. But I’m anticipating getting to be with my new family – a bunch of other crazies for Christ who I’ll be traveling with and experiencing all the newness with this next year.
