Being able to see small snippets of God’s plan unveil before your eyes is such a blessing to witness. Exactly four weeks ago our team was in a car wreck. We had our own plans as to how the month would go, but the Lord decided to change it. After the accident, we were pulled out of ministry, and sent to the lodging site where we were scheduled to have our squad debrief. The squad was not expected to arrive for another ten days, and our team didn’t know what to do. We were recovering from the accident, and had no ministry work to occupy our thoughts. We were in our own little secluded lodge where many backpackers and travelers traveled through. We were technically pulled out of ministry, but little did we know that the ministry would be brought to us.
I met several eccentric people who were simply passing through, and when they inclined their ear, I was able to share some of my story. I loved looking at the mixture of expressions I received when sharing my reason for being an American in a lodge in Malawi, Africa. Sometimes I got the shocked look, other times I got the furrowed brow like I was being judged, but I always enjoyed the receptive caring ones, who gave me the perplexed “well that’s different” type of look.
I got that look from a guy who worked at the lodge. He’s a small guy in stature, but he has one of the biggest hearts I have ever seen. At first our conversations began with the daily greetings, and it gradually escalated into talk about family, present life, and future aspirations. I was myself, and little did I know that I was a mustard seed in the process. In December the teams were given new ministry sites, and our team discovered that we would stay in Malawi only two hours east of where we currently were located. I wasn’t sure if I would see my friend again, but I prayed that I would. Well, he came and visited our team these past two days, and it was a blessing.
On the World Race you speak to so many strangers about everything. Some get your testimony, some get your goofiness, others get the message when they’re open. You never know who will impact. All one can do is speak with faith in the Lord that he will mold your words into what needs to be said to the person in front of you. Well this weekend our team got to hear how we impacted his life. He was honest and open saying, “if you ever wondered as to whether you impacted someone’s life on this race, know that you have on mine.” He spoke so many words of encouragement to us, which being half way through the race, and especially this month was greatly needed. Thank you Lord for your divinity, thank you Lord that you’re the Master craftsman that holds my life in the palm of your hand, thank you Father for using me, Thank you Lord for everything.
