Run Wild

Hi friends!!

 

Im officially starting month seven, HOLY MOLY! It’s going by way faster than I ever could have imagined. This blog, was written in Rwanda, month five, and I finally finished it. Like always. So keep that in mind when reading. But…..

 

I was inspired to start a running blog, because as I started running, I realized how many weird and random things happen while running in Africa. I’ll explain some examples in a minute…

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Throughout the month I am living in a small village up in the mountains of Rwanda. I have been running out in the country roads, and there are many people riding bikes to work, children walking to and from school, and many buses driving to the cities or near towns. It is a main road so I passed by many people running everyday. I always got so many hellos, waves, asking if I wanted rides, thumbs up, and an uncountable amount of stares. But there were also some funny stories that happened too. The Lord definitely taught me to have patience in these times too. After not getting to run by myself the entire first four months, this was my time to be alone. To just run and be free in my own thoughts. You know those places you just feel free? Running is one of those for me. Especially when you’re running uphill just trying to survive the run. (You all know what I’m talking about here) 

 

 Everyday I would come home just laughing at everything that happened. And it was so foreign to what would happen at home. But through these times, I was reminded how to have patience, laugh, and soak it all in.

 

So here is a collection of funny moments I have experienced while running in the mountains of Rwanda. I will do my best to explain a good visual…enjoy 🙂

 

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Today a young girl in sandals, a skirt, and carrying a broken purse started running with me. She was walking home with her friends, and just started running with me. She didn’t speak English. But just smiled and ran with me for a whole mile. You could tell she was very tired of running, and just kept saying “WOW” to me. It was quite entertaining, but she eventually stopped and waited for her friends.

Today, as I passed an older man (about 50-ish) wearing jeans and a nice dress shirt started running with me. I asked him if he liked to run and he just gave me a thumbs up. He ran with me for about 5 minutes until he had a phone call he had to take. He was talking and running for awhile with me, then eventually stopped. I thought it was so strange that a random man started running with me.

 

 

Today, a young boy named Dan ran with me for almost twenty minutes. He then wanted to take a picture with me before I turned around and ran back. Here he is. 

 

Today, a young child came up on the left of me out from a yard behind me, and I didn’t notice her until I turned my head to the left. I literally jumped and yelled because she scared me, and she just died laughing. But continued to just run with me…

 

Today I saw a white person in a truck while I was running. Very very rare out here in the village. He just stared as he passed by me while I was running. hahaha

 

Today, the same kid as before, Dan, ran with me again. He recognized me and even knew my name. Of course saying it with an English accent -pay-zj (haha something like that) 

 

Today I saw the president of Rwanda being escorted by a ton of police in vehicles. How cool!! 

 

Here is a couple other random photos of some cute kiddos from my runs…Always yelling “mzungu!” 

 

 

There are countless more stories that I could go on about,

but there ya have it. Very different running in an African village, where literally EVERYONE stares at you. But through it, the Lord was teaching me to have patience, and how to take in the small moments happening around me. I was also taught another important lesson that all seemed to “just click” at the end of the month. It’s funny how it was all put together so perfectly. But I know it’s not just some coincidences being playing out, but by a God who perfects every moment to be knitted together.

 

 

Leaving the village, my squad traveled to the city to meet for the end of the month, and get ready for our next one.

 

My squad leader was sharing a vision she had that really stuck with me. She had a vision of our whole squad just running. There were a ton of horses just wandering around stuck in the corral not really doing much. But once the gate was opened, and one horse ran free, they all followed. And just ran wild. In the open fields. That my squad were the horses, and we need to just run in the freedom Christ has for our lives. 

And when she was telling this, I was like yeah…[there is so much power in running free.] And this is how I feel when Jesus has my heart. That in Him there is so much freedom. 

 

 

 

And this verse describes exactly what my heart was feeling. That running wild the Lords steps direct my path. We will not stumble following Him. 

 

 

 

So, I was actually running around the beautiful city of Kigali, Rwanda, on one of my last days in Africa. It’s mountainous, green, and has so many beautiful parts of the city. The people, the views, the crazy motos (motorcycle taxis) and the many restaurants and places to visit. This is also where the memorial for the genocide is. It’s a very dark place, but has been restored, and there is so much to remind the people how to have joy through all the suffering that took place. To run wild in the Lord. Even in the tough times. And that is just what a lot of this city and country is doing.

 

 

But anyways, As I was running and just physically tired this specific morning, I was reminded to just run, even though I was on some unfamiliar streets. And the Lord ran with me. I was right where I needed to be. He ran by my side, and filled me with endurance as I ran. I honestly felt like I could have ran a marathon. As I eventually stopped, and finished my run, I went to the bottom of this hill where there was a view of almost the entire city. The city sits in a valley, and I just stood in awe. Complete awe of the view. I was grinning ear to ear, but also tearing up with joy. 

 

I was then reminded of the vision my squad leader had shared the day before about running for the Lord. And how once we’re free, we can do anything. And in that exact moment, I truly felt that. My heart was overflowing with so much joy I couldn’t stop staring out into the distance. I stretched out my hands, and just listened to the song, I stand in awe of you, by Jesus Culture. The lyrics say, “amazed beyond what I can take” and I just stood still. Amazed beyond belief, I couldn’t comprehend all that I was feeling in that moment.

 

The Lord has given me so many sweet memories this month of running. And I didn’t know exactly why I wanted to start this running blog at the beginning of the month, but I can now see why I felt compelled to start it. I realized to not only go running physically, but to run WITH and FOR the Lord. In everything. He used every single run to teach me something new. And this last one changed something even bigger in my heart. 

 

 

 

 

 

Run people. Run free, the Lord is with you every single step of the way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for reading and investing in me, and more importantly the people around the world and our great God! I am overwhelmed with thankfulness with the support and blessings from people back at home. 

 

If you still feel inclined to donate, I have $2,000 left to fundraise. I have to be fully funded by May 1st, of this year otherwise I will be sent home. You can donate at the top of this page, by clicking on the Donate button. But please just keep me in your thoughts and prayers for funds, and continual strength as I journey and follow the Lord’s plan for my life. He has given me more than I ever thought so far, and I couldn’t do it without all of your support. So thank you for that. 

 

Much love!

 

xoxo, 

 

Paigey