I have been home for just over 2 weeks now from the World Race. “Re-Entry” has ‘hit’ and I still really do have moments where I wish I was, not back on the race, but with squad-mates and working alongside the contacts I was able to meet. My home church asked me if I was interested in sharing about my race, month 10 of my race. I was able to put together this video while on field. I figured I would share it here with you, my supporters and current/future racers as well. I have also included the write up I did for my church as well.
Enjoy!
“In his book, “Irresistible Revolution” Shane Claiborne writes, “Over and over when I ask God why all of these injustices are allowed to exist all over the world, I can feel the Sprit whisper to me, ‘you tell me why we allow this to happen. You are my body, My hands, My feet”.
The last time I was standing in this spot, I made a claim. I said that I expected God to show up in miraculous ways in the journey that laid ahead. That was a year ago. Today, I stand before you with the journey around the world, now completed. Going into the race, I expected God to show me His power, in a new way. I expected Him to completely blow my mind and to come back and tell stories of His Greatness.
To be brutally honest, God DID NOT show up the way I ‘expected’ Him too. There was no mighty voice from Heaven that spoke. There was no growing back of limbs or seeing the lame walking again. I did not experience people being raised from the dead or the blind receiving their sight again. In my mind, I began to question just ‘how Big’ of a God I was serving…
Well Church, we know that God’s plans are far greater than ours and surprise, God DID indeed show up in His own way and His own time. He was that constant, still small voice that appeared in a whisper. Not only did I feel Him move throughout MY life over this past year, but I was honoured enough, to witness His Glory around the World. I met people, who have dedicated their lives, to living out the gospel and literally giving away EVERYTHING they owned, all in the name of following Jesus. I’ve worked with different mission outreaches across this globe, truly living out the Great Commission in Matthew 28. I’ve heard testimony after testimony of how GOD provides for, and cares for His people. Through my squad-mates, I saw Him bring physical healing as they battled mysterious illnesses ravaging through their bodies. I witnessed God breaking through years of personal walls being built up, as He spoke a daily Truth, into the lives of us, His Children. This is only the TIP of the experiences that God allowed me to have.
Truth be told, I am still processing and I know I will continue to for quite a while. Yet I want you to know church, that regardless of what you are going through, or have gone through this past year, please know that GOD IS GOOD. God is SO GOOD. Some of you may now be soaring high on the mountain top with Jesus, while others of you may be struggling to keep your head about the endless crashing waves, but Jesus is still there. He really IS that constant small voice of pure love, calling you back to Him. From the hellish darkness of the boxes and bars in Thailand, to the special need children I got to love on for a month in India, I experienced God’s love. From the dancing Filipino youth as they sang, “Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning” to the kids at the lined up for a feeding at a care point in Swaziland- I felt God’s love. Guess what, during my time involved in youth ministry here at this church, God’s presence and love was overwhelming. Our God truly is a God who knows no bounds and isn’t limited by earthy time and space.
I’d love to sit down with each and every one of you and share more of my trip and also hear how God has spoken Truth into your lives, and the life of this church, over this past year. Thank you to each and every one of you who asked my parents about me throughout this year. To those who sent emails and encouraging messages, they helped carry me through daily life. A huge thanks to those who supported me financially, and especially prayerfully this past year. I seriously could not have done this trip, without the support of prayer. Whether you fully believe in the power of prayer or not, believe me when I say that I felt each and every one of those prayers.
Although I am physically the one who went on this journey, please know that I took each and every one of you with me along the way. You truly, have been a blessing in my life and in the lives of those around the world. I’ve put together a recap video that mentions where I was each month, along with what I did. As you look into the eyes of the people and kids in it, regardless of their race or background, pray that you will be able to see them as Jesus sees them. Of being fearfully and wonderfully made. Of being treasured Sons and Daughters of our Lord God Most High.
Thank you.”
