“I once was lost, but now am I found. Was blind but now I see so clearly. Hallelujah Grace like Rain falls down on me. Hallelujah all my sins are washed away”
Today is Sunday, January 19, 2014. To some, it is just another normal day full of daily routine of North American living. For myself, I am finding myself sitting in a hammock, on the shore of a lake in Cambodia. Around me, I hear the water moving into the shore, sounds of my squad mates playing yet another game of “Never have I ever”, team mates enjoying the sounds of their music being played through their iphones. I see the mountains surrounding this place. Yes, God’s Glory and Power is displayed right here in this moment. For a moment, I cannot do anything but simply stop, take a deep breath, close my eyes and give God praise.
“God, thank you for being here. Thank you for carrying me through to this point on the race. Thank you for carrying me through till the end. Lord, I don’t know what my life will hold, come the end of May, when I return home. Jobs, responsibilities, commitments, bills, and ‘normal’ life await me. Yet here in this moment, none of that matters. Only You Jesus. You are the only thing that matters.
Jesus, I know I must stop always ‘looking ahead’ and realize the grace that has been given to me in this moment. Yes, we still have 4 months left, but in reality that’s only 125 days (roughly), a mere 16 weeks. Yes, we still have a whole continent left (Africa), but we also still have 2 months in South East Asia left. It is so easy to look ahead and forget to live in the here and “now”. To be honest, I have sucked at that this month here in Cambodia. I have not put in the effort I should be, connecting with the boys who live on site, or even the kids in my English classes. I have not taken time to give God thanks for bringing me here, for allowing me to meet these people who are helping bring God’s Kingdom to Cambodia. I have not invested into them, the way I know I am called to. Lord Jesus, I am sorry. Forgive me. Move me to change as we head into our last week of ministry here. Let my passion, bring YOU fame.”
*On a different note; ministry in Cambodia has been going good. My team and I are paired with another team. Together, we are teaching 4 different English classes between 8:00 AM and 6:30 PM, along with 2 English classes at a local, public school. Our days begin at 7:15 with a breakfast run into a market for breakfast (consisting of fried bananas, mini oranges, donuts, and fresh bananas), classes 8-10, 10-11 (public), Lunch at 12:30. Classes again from 2-4, 4-5, 5:30-6:30 (split up 50/50 between two teams) and supper at 6:30. Evenings are filled with team time, movie nights, praise and worship evenings and relaxing. We are all usually in bed by 9:15 with lights off by 10:15.*
*On another note, you may have noticed that I am no longer on the same team that I was on for the first 6 months. The end of December 2013 brought the anticipated team changes (potentially a very stressful time for squad leaders and racers alike). Knowing this was coming up, a friend (and WR alumni) asked me during a skype call, “how much do you trust God?” This question, changed my outlook on team changes. I didn’t know at that point, how my new team would look, but I did know it would be different then my previous team.
Needless to say, I have loved getting to know my new team over these last few weeks. Already, walls are coming down, memories are being made and we are learning to work together in ministry. This is also my first co-ed team so that in and of itself, has been a change. Allow me to give you a quick introduction to a team that is ready to rock this world for Jesus. Our team leader is Casey Jones, 22 years old from Atlanta GA, Owen Seibring is 27 and is from Waterloo, Iowa. Katelyn Devoe is 25 and is comes from Antigo, Wisconsin. Zach Miller is 26 and is from South Carolina. Alex Warren is 22 and she comes from North Carolina. Together, the 6 of us make up team ‘Turn the Page’. Get to know them more by clicking on their names on the left. Read their journeys before the race, along with their first 6 months and pray for us as we continue to learn to work as a team while investing into each other’s lives.
