Hi friends and family!
Here is an update of my time in Africa…
At the end of our month four in Africa, we traveled as a team of six girls to Jinja, Africa. We were meeting up with the whole squad to have month four debrief. This is a time to see everyone, our mentor and coaches fly in, and they give us “words of wisdom” and messages to pour into us. We also get some time to relax from ministry, and enjoy each others company. The last day we always get to have an adventure day too. I went whitewater rafting in the Nile river. So amazing. It sure was an adventure!
This debrief was so different than the first one we had though. It was a special time as a squad, and for myself. I’m going to try to put this into words. The only word I could think of all weekend was sweet. How sweet the Lord is. And how sweet life is. After saying goodbyes to our last ministry with the girls, it was hard. But I was reminded how good the Lord is. And how every single person He puts in my life is for a reason. That goodbyes are hard, but so sweet to know the bonds we formed over the last month. How sometimes I don’t realize the impact someone left on me, until we’re driving away and waving goodbye.
On our car ride to meet up with the squad, which was about 12 hours, we slept, made a hospital visit, said goodbye to one of our hosts, and sang songs the girls taught us at our last ministry. Every night we would sing African worship songs, with lots of dancing and singing. It was so different than anything I’ve experienced in worship. I wish I could put the song in this blog, so you knew just how joyful it was. We stood in a circle every night around one lightbulb and just worshiped the Lord. They had one drum, and one shaker to use for instruments. And of course their voices. So as we were in the van leaving to head to debrief, we just started singing these songs. The Lords presence filled that van. People from the streets were staring and smiling, and our driver was loving it too. My soul was just happy. I felt full.
It was nice to catch up with everyone once we arrived. The weekend was filled with the Lord’s presence. It was also filled with so many attacks from the enemy. But the lord got the victory at the end of it. A really good friend of mine had to go home, I was baptized, and I was entering a new season, with a new team on the race. It was probably the most emotional three days I have had so far on the race. Change can be hard. I wanted to run, but I ran to the lord in these times. I had some hard conversations, some meaningful ones, and some that will leave an impact on me forever. It’s crazy to think back how the lord worked in my heart in those days.
I kept hearing how he wanted to do something new in my life. I kept hearing how He had many good plans ahead. And that even though there was so much change, there are so many good things to come. I kept reading in Isaiah… It says,
“So do not fear, for I am, with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This verse reminded me of the purpose the Lord has for my life, and for everything he is going to do. How he is going to use me. That even days where my life seems to be drastically changed. That He is still control in my future. I had to keep reading this verse and telling myself over and over again till I actually believed it. I left debrief still not feeling quite ready for this new season. It was hard. Completely starting over with people I didn’t know as well, and grieving my friend leaving. My mind was spinning. I thought, “The race just got real.“
But I’m reminded over and over again, and can never be reminded enough how sweet the Lord is. And how good He is to us. Even through changes, and new seasons of life.
