Month 1- Guatemala
Lake Atitlan. I remember sitting there in the morning watching the fishermen on the lake and being in awe of the view in front of me. I remember feeling shocked by the amazing adventure God had given me. I felt so loved that he had chosen me to be able to go and see these incredible places.
Month 2- Nicaragua
Sitting in my room with Jess and hearing her testimony. I felt so privileged to be the first to hear her story and be able to encourage her to share it with others. It was such a special moment and I felt the Lord showing me through Jess how powerful listening can be. I felt his love for me through her trust. Plus this started a beautiful special friendship that I absolutely love with this girl!
Month 3- Panama
Christmas Day I felt the Lord’s love not just for me but for all. I had been praying that the Lord pack the church. That people would come who needed to know about the birth of Jesus and why it is important. On Christmas Day, typically I would spend it with my family and friends, but this year I was able to spend it with a room full of mostly Hindus and Muslims. Some of which were hearing the gospel for the very first time. This small church that only had 10-12 people on any given day was packed, standing room only, with 60-70 people on Christmas Day. The Lord not only answered my prayers but he also brought in so many people who he wanted to reach out to that day. This Christmas was my favorite Christmas ever!
Month 4- Lesotho
I saw God’s love for me through a young boy named Teboho. Teboho was kind hearted, caring, smart, and funny. I saw God’s love for me through the love of this child. My heart breaks still with the fact that I may never see him again. This was one of the hardest goodbyes I had to say this year.
Month 5- Swaziland
God’s love showed up on Valentines day fittingly enough. We had gone out to pass out invitations to a event at the church to the women working the streets. I was completely surprised when two women agreed to get in the van with us and talk for a while instead of staying on the street and trying to get customers. I remember one of the women looking at me and asking why we were taking to them. Why did we care? I remember feeling the love the Lord had for me fill up my spirit as I spoke to her about how all I want is for her to know that love too. That she is so special and worth so much more than she knows. It was one of the most special moments of being able to share the love of Christ I have experienced this year.
*Bonus- I also remember feeling the Lord’s love for me through one of the girls at the ministry we were helping with. I remember bonding with her over music. One day while we were sitting outside under a tree, she was playing guitar and she shared with me a little bit of her story. It was such a powerful moment. She seemed to be feeling defeated and I was able to encourage her and remind her of the Lord’s promises to her. I was able to remind her of her identity in the Lord. We moved on and didn’t say much about that moment after that day. Then the last day, the girls performed a talent show for us and she told me she would play the guitar for me. I had no clue that she was going to play an original song she had written and that part of it was about me and that moment under the tree. I cried as she sang about how she knew the Lord had used me to speak to her that day. Its another moment I treasure deeply.
Month 6- South Africa
It was standing in the condo on the very first day. This was one of the most powerful moments for me. I was standing on our balcony staring into the waves crashing on the shore and I just felt the love of God like I had never felt it before. I saw the amazing condo that we got to live in. I saw the ocean view from the nice bed I got to sleep in all month. I saw the waves crashing into the shore. I saw all the blessings he was giving me and I was overwhelmed. I remember finally understanding how much He loves me. That he took me half-way across the world to show me how much His love for me is. In that moment, standing there staring out into the waters, I feel like I finally understood what real love is. I felt like I had been shown His love in the most extravagant way so that I could fully understand that His love cannot compare to any other love. I felt that this day, in this moment.
Month 7- Malaysia
This month I saw God’s love for me in the way he created an opportunity for me to paint a mural. I had been wanting so badly to find a way to bring my talents into ministry, and the Lord made a way. I remember being so passionate about the mural and fighting to make it great. I felt like it was a gift from the Lord and I was going to cherish it. Then the Lord solidified that in my heart when we were allowed to pray for Tommi and Angie at the end of our time with them. He showed me how He was using that mural to do a work in their heart and I was thankful he let me see that.
Month 8- Thailand
I was in the back of a Sungteow heading out of Chiang Mai to visit a church. I was riding through the countryside by myself and I felt so free. Like the Lord wanted to take me on this sweet adventure with Him. I felt so loved looking out over the fields. He could have taken anyone but He chose to take me. ( I don’t have a picture of this moment. Instead, look at this cute pic of an elephant from the elephant sanctuary we visited this month.)
Month 9- Cambodia
It was the day I went riding through the Cambodian countryside. There was no sound except for the sound of the wind and my own inner voice. It was like the Lord wanted to give me this gift of solitude in the middle of a hectic month. I had been so busy that I felt like I was about to burn out. That is when the Lord provided this amazing free opportunity to tour the countryside. It was out there that I was reminded of how much God loves me and wants to give me good gifts.
Month 10- Indonesia
I saw God’s love for me the moment I was told I was going to the refugee community. It was made strong upon arriving and being able to listen to peoples stories. One question a man asked that stuck with me was, “If I am Muslim, why do other Muslims not come help us?” “Why do only Christians come?” We come because God loves them enough to send us. He loved me enough to allow me to be his ambassador. I remembered again the gift this race was to me and to others.
Month 11- Philippines
It was upon entering Batad and seeing the view of the rice terraces outside my bedroom window that again I was floored by the gift God had given me. I stood in awe of His creation and the fact He brought me all the way across the world to sit with me here and look back at this last year of my life with Him. I felt so undeserving of His goodness but so glad He chose me to receive it anyway.
The World Race has been a lot of things. It has changed me, broken me down, built me up, and shown me what true love really is. Throughout this year, I have seen many different people, places, and things. I have learned so many things that I can’t wait to share with people, but the most important thing is I learned how God loves me. He loves me with big gestures and small moments. He gives me rest when I truly need it and he pushes me past where I think I am capable of going. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to take this walk with Christ this year and truly experience the depth of His love for me. I will continue to look for the ways God shows me His love throughout the rest of my life. I challenge you to take a look back and see where the Lord has shown His love to you lately. When was the last time you stood in awe of how much He loves you?
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
-Psalm 23:6
