Mokhotlong, Lesotho, the place where donkeys and horses litter the streets. Where there is absolutely no flat ground to walk along, seeing as how Mokhotlong is nestled in the mountain side. But this is also the place where God is going to push me. I know this, because He has promised this. From day one, I know Mokhotlong, Lesotho was different. From the 6 hour drive, crammed into a 15 passenger bus, I felt this overwhelming peace. I knew this peace could only come from one place. You see, the last thing that I should have felt was peace, especially after travel days lasting 50 hours. This peace was coming from the Holy Spirit. This was solidified when God sent an awesome full rainbow, with another partial double rainbow on top. God used a rainbow to signify His promise.
I know God has used rainbows to remind me of His promises. I remember the full double rainbow the day of my Grandpa Grusenmeyer’s funeral. I remember that day being very hard spiritually, as well as emotionally, because I knew my Grandpa believed in the Lord, but I never had the courage to talk with him about it. He went to a Catholic church, but I never really knew if he has that personal relationship with the Lord. That was hard, because sometimes I blamed myself for the lack of courage. I knew I lost that chance, that closure of knowing, the day of his funeral. But I looked out my hotel window and saw a double rainbow. I felt God’s arms around me, reassuring me that He’s got this.
Fast forward a couple years, to an impossibly full van of people and day packs driving through the mountains of Lesotho, and a rough month in the background. I was hoping more than anything that Month 6 would be better than the previous month, almost to the point of begging God. But as I watched the sun rise, tired beyond any reason, I felt God’s reassurance. His assurance was solidified by the rainbows. God has something awesome promised for me. He’s called me on the Race to push me outside my comfort zone.
How? I don’t even know all the ways He’s going to push me, but Mokhotlong has lots of options for Him! This month, my team, Set Ablaze, and another team are working with a church here in Mokhotlong, Lesotho. This past week we have done just about anything you think we would do on the Race. We have done maintenance around the pastor’s house, construction on the orphanage, played with kids at the local school, went to and led a youth group, prison ministry where we share the gospel, leading Scripture Union (testimony and encouragement) at the local high school, working at a soup kitchen at the hospital for pregnant woman and people who suffer from AIDS/HIV and worship leading along with preaching at the church. Needless to say, God has plenty of ways to push me.
I have recently started making short videos in my free time about things that have happened on the race, or recap videos of the months. These videos are fun to go back through and my inner perfectionist comes out for fun. But I also have seen myself grown in this tiny aspect, because it’s hard to put so much time and effort into something, and have people watch, critiquing. It challenges that perfectionist in me often, but also challenges my need of approval from people. The pastor has asked us to create a video for them to use. I am challenging myself to create a video, outside of my own personal vlogs/recap videos. This will be the first time other people besides myself will have control of the video, and there is a certain pressure to create something special.
And I have a feeling that I will be sharing my testimony and/or a word of encouragement to a group of students. As much as that terrifies me, I know God’s got my back. He’s my strength, and He’s my encourager. That’s what He’s promised me, He’s going before and after me. What a comfort to know that while I am getting out of my comfort. God’s pretty cool!
