Some people hear the word community and know exactly what I’m talking about. Others hear it and may not know exactly what it is. I was the second half of that sentence going into the Race. I went in optimistic and figured hey I have two sisters whom I’ve shared rooms with and a brother how hard could community living be? I knew there would be normal challenges and beautiful moments because that’s the beauty of life.
As God was doing big things for me and my team ministry wise. He was also doing big things in my team heart wise. But I’m not going to sugar coat anything we struggled the first two months with trying to create team unity and fighting against division within the team. Don’t get me wrong we had lots and lots of great laughs as a team. But a part of that was a deflection of keeping laughter at a high and vulnerability at a low. As my squad leader Myles put it the first few months everyone’s mess is bumping into others mess and it just gets messy. He also said no matter how messy it gets always take the time to clean your side of the street. Don’t worry about someone’s else’s side of the street. Sometimes in life you meet people you just easily get along with. That’s great! Then there’s the opposite of that the people you meet and for some reason have a hard time getting along with. That feeling is usually a trigger which is something or someone from your past that caused you hurt or pain. Most people brush it off as I just don’t like that person and don’t have to be friends with them. Instead of looking in themselves for the root of the problem. But that’s not how the Lord created us. He created us to love one another even though the hard times. To call us higher even if we have differences. You see we have an enemy that most people don’t like to talk about because they don’t believe the Devil exists. But he sure does and likes to create division and chaos. Believe me I’m not giving him credit but simply acknowledging the truth of the matter. But you also see our God is much bigger than him and his schemes. The Lord wants unity, forgiveness and love amongst one another.
The Lord saw the Devils schemes and changed our plans while in Peru. We lived in a remote village with not much to do and no wifi. And nothing but time. Through lots of prayer, intentionality and the support of our leaders holding us accountable in creating unity. My team pushed through that challenging time and created unity. So I now have a better understanding of the word community.. it’s family. Like most families you love one another even through the hard times, differences and of course great times that’s what community is to me on the Race. This month will be our last month together before team changes the beginning of December. I ask for continued prayers for my team. Prayers for continued intentionality, unity and endurance to push through the challenging times.
Love, Monica
“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
1 Corinthians 1:10 | NIV
