There are some things in life that happen that are unexpected and catch us by surprise. As I write this, I am sitting in a coffee shop in Vietnam where I have just enjoyed a delicious tuna salad and pumpkin soup. I wrote a blog to wrap up Cambodia but there are some details that needed to be worked through before blogging. We spent our last week in Cambodia doing debrief in Siem Reap and during this time, my team endured some changes.
It was a Tuesday evening and I had just returned from a night out visiting with a friend from home. She was there on work and I went to have dinner with her at her hotel. I returned to our hostel about 10:30pm, where I was greeted by a teammate and told to come to her room. When I entered the room, everyone was there and I immediately knew something was up. I had such a sweet night with my friend and I returned to hear something that would make my Race a bit different. My teammate Zac shared that himself and Jakobus would be going home and not going finishing the Race with us. There were quite a few different emotions that came over me but the greatest was love and grace.
Over the next 24 hours, we spent as much time together as a team, as we could. The most valuable time was an hour spent praying over one another in the room of our hostel. They left on the next day but before leaving we had gathered as a squad to send them off with blessings. The hour before this squad gathering, we experienced such intimacy as a team and as a body of One. We spent this hour in a circle holding hands, praying over each other, crying sweet sobs, and speaking words of life over each other. Upon gathering as a squad, we prayed over the fellows to send them off with blessings. Us 5 girls gathered in the stairwell, among the sobs, a teammate pointed out how we had been praying for intimacy. And how sweetly the Lord had provided this for us among sweet brokenness and heartache.
What does this mean for my team? We are now a team of 5 women and continuing on with our Kingdom Journey on the Race. A piece of my heart will ALWAYS with these Godly men and I am so thankful for every second I had the privilege of serving alongside them for 2 months. These men became my brothers and I continue to pray for them daily. Among the many emotions of the situation, the Lord is showing me how to love more like Him and how to extend grace abundantly.
We traveled to Vietnam as a team of 5 women and began to live life in a different way than we had with the men. Living life with men just looks different than with women. Sharing life with women allows for much different intimacy and over the past 2 1/2 weeks I have seen this. Not only has everyday this month looked different but it has felt different. Among the difference my eyes have been opened to the reality of opportunities we have as an all-women’s team. It has been amazing in 2 1/2 weeks how much the Lord has taught me and continues to show me daily. I have been given the unique opportunity to experience being on a co-ed team and a women’s team.
I ask you to continue to be praying for my team, lifting each of us women up as well as the 2 men who are continuing this journey with us in spirit. They both taught me so much in 2 short months and I wouldn’t trade one second I had with either of them. There is a much bigger picture God continues to reveal to me daily, that His plans are much greater than mine. Even through this great brokenness I am reminded daily on my dependence of Him.
The 5 women I continue to serve alongside daily.
"Let love be genuine. Arbor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."
Romans 12:9-10
