Hi friends!
So I’ve been needing to press into fundraising for a while with my final two deadlines coming up soon, but for some reason I’ve been hesitant and procrastinating….and a couple of days ago I think I discovered why. I think I have felt guilty for asking for donations towards my race because I have never been very vocal or direct about what I believe and why I am on the race.
But one of the things that has been spoken over me ever since we left Atlanta about 7 weeks ago is that I have a voice and have things to say. That truth didn’t sink in and become real for me until the drive from Peru to Ecuador. I do have a lot of things to say…my head is constantly full of new thoughts and questions about all sorts of things. I get excited to share what I’m thinking about and what God is revealing to me when I am talking one on one with a close friend or even a (very) small group of good friends. I am being called to use my voice and right now, and this blog is my platform (for now). I am no writer or storyteller, all I want to do is share my heart and what I feel God has given me for more than just myself.
But something was said to my team recently as an encouragement and it has pushed me over the edge to actually write this blog. The encouragement was that we all have been given words, some for other people and some for ourselves. If we are given words but just hold on to them, they rot in our hand and become useless and the ones they were intended for are never blessed by them.
So without further ado the topic for today….who am I? I am first and foremost a daughter of the King of kings, a child of God, forgiven and saved by Jesus, a disciple of Jesus, a follower of Jesus, deeply loved by God; I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a life-long student, and too many other things to name!
I believe that we are all created by the God of the universe and designed for relationship with Him. He is the only one who knows me completely, He knows me better than I know myself, He created me exactly the way I am for a very specific purpose.
I have peace in my heart that could never be self-generated. I believe in the trinity, that God exists as three distinct ‘beings’: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The last of which I connect with the most because I can feel His presence in my soul. He guides my thoughts, He gives me peace and discernment, through Him Jesus and God the Father speak to me.
I believe Jesus’ Church exists to bring God’s Kingdom here to the very earth we live in and know right now. I believe we are all called to be obedient to God’s commands: some of the most important being to love God with all our heart, love others as ourselves, and follow what Jesus has commanded us to do including his final words before ascending to heaven 2000 years ago….to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything He has commanded us.
If you ask me why I am here on the race….I would give you two answers.
First, is to become a (for lack of a better word) ‘better’ disciple of Jesus, to become more like Jesus as much as possible in the time I am gone and with my team and squad. Some might agree that living in community and with a team 24/7 for 11 months is like a pressure cooker for spiritual growth. I am ‘forced’ (in a good way) to face the things that I could usually ignore while living on my own in a comfortable, familiar place – setting my own rules and doing what I want to do.
Second, I am here to be the hands and feet of Jesus. For most of the race, that means serving in the ministries we are assigned to in each country and creating opportunity for ministry wherever we are, including ministering to our team mates and squad mates.
It’s not easy but it’s simple.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog…..please also read a little more information about my (current) fundraising status in another blog found here.
I pray God’s peace and blessing to you!
All for HIS glory, -Pamela
