Month NINE. Where has the time gone? I think I say that every month, but for some reason there is just something special about month nine.
As I may have mentioned before there is lots of downtime here in Africa. Our ministry at the moment doesn’t usually start until 8pm and goes until about 11pm. We hold an evening service called “evening glory” where we share our testimonies with the church and they discuss what they learned. I shared my testimony a few nights ago and one of the ladies at church stood up to say what she learned and she said, “I have learned today that God loves crazy people as well.” Hmmm…..I didn’t think my story was THAT crazy. Yeah it involved drinking and partying, but that’s about it. Maybe that’s considered crazy in African culture?
Back to downtime…. Aside from just watching movies/tv shows (finally watched the Bourne series) I also write a lot in journal. I’ve been reflecting a lot about the past nine months. I started to journal highlights from month one in Honduras and work my way to current. As I was journaling I was listening to worship music and I came across a song that pretty much sums up my time on the Race. The song was “Solution” by Hillsong United.
“…..fill our hearts with Your compassion”
“…..we will be Your hands and be your feet”
“…..we will run this RACE for the least of these”
“…..we will be your light”
“…..we will run with a solution”
As the song played and I kept writing I thought back to EVERYTHING that happened from day ONE. The 17 hour bus rides, the constant traveling from church to church, the two seater outhouse in Nicaragua, the amazing flight to The Philippines, the first steps in Thailand, and the feedings at Tent City all flashed through my mind. I couldn’t help but tear up at the thought of all that has happened this year. I even had to stop and pray because I was so thankful and sad at the same time.
“Father, thank you so much for all that you have brought me across in the past nine months. I know you have more for me in the next two, but right now I just want to praise you for all the good that you have brought to me during this season. I would not trade any of these experiences for anything. I thank you that you have called me out here to serve you and walk beside you. As much as I want to go home to share this experience with others, I also don’t want this to end. I cherish each day you bless me with. You are amazing God. Amen.”
I still don’t fully grasp the concept of why the Lord has called me out here. Maybe we aren’t supposed to fully know what God’s purpose is for things in our life. I just know that He uses us in ways we never though imaginable. I never thought I would do any of the things I’ve done so far. Heck, I never thought I’d ever do a mission trip-let alone an 11 month one. I remember when I first decided to do this, I had many people ask me, “shouldn’t you try out some shorter ones first?” Well, that would have seemed to be logical thing to do, but being Texas born there’s a saying of “go big or go home.” J
There have been some instances so far that I question where God was in that moment. Where was God when the boys we loved so much in Honduras would sniff paint thinner from time to time? Where was God when the prostitutes in the Philippines were being treated so poorly? Or where was He when parents would leave their small children on the sidewalk to beg for money in Uganda? I don’t doubt that God was there, but I know for a non-believer to see those things they would really question the reality of our God.
I have also seen God show up so much more in times I never thought I’d see Him. He was there in Thailand when the gals at Luck Bar crowded around to talk to me and ignored other customers even though they knew I wasn’t there for sex. God was there in Cambodia when we drove up to a tractor accident and was able to take the badly hurt woman to the hospital. God was there when we were able to talk to a man who was ordered to murder and lead him to accept Christ in Kenya.
Those are just a few examples of God showing up HUGE in the past nine months. I was told that God would show up big in my life a few years ago when I accepted Christ. Looks like I got the crash course by being on The World Race.
My eyes have been opened to many of the problems outside America. The poor healthcare, the lack of resources, and just overall poverty has really widened my eyes. The different cultures have broadened my understanding on how other people live. How do these people make it out here? Mud huts? Walking home in pitch darkness avoiding pot holes? Only being guaranteed one meal a day because the “white people” bring food? Craziness! There’s gotta be a solution.
I think one reason the Lord has brought all of us out in the field is so that we can see all those things. He is opening our eyes and placing things on our hearts. Something NEEDS to be done and we are the generation that needs to step it up. If we don’t set a good example for the NEXT generation then we haven’t done our jobs. I have already heard of a few squad mates that have committed to serve in different places around the world. They have a calling from the Lord to go to these places that need His hands and feet. They’ve seen places that need Godly people to serve in. Honduras, Kenya, Thailand, and Cambodia are just a few of the places my squad mates will be serving in the future. Many have also considered leading World Race/Real Life/Ambassador teams around the world.
As for me, I don’t really know what I’ll do yet. I’d love to go back and serve in Thailand. I’d love to lead a Real Life team. I’d love to do lots of things actually!
