This post is a little different. I asked my mother to write down what she has experienced ever since I left for the Race. Honestly, she killed it. I have a crazy perspective of this journey that I have shared with you, but here is a different one that could possibly explain a lot. ENJOY!
“It’s Sunday night, June 24, 2018 at 7:37pm. At this time exactly one year ago Preston was sharing with us what God was calling him to do the following year!! My oldest son who finished a degree at our local college and always told me and his dad when it was time for him to move out he was just going to put a camper in the backyard (lol) was telling us that God was calling him to embark on The World Race in 2018!!!!! He and Tristan had just returned from a 7 day mission trip to Florida with our church and God spoke to him very clearly on the way home!!!! That story in itself will blow you away!!! As Lee, Tristan, Chris, Edie and I sat and listened to him tears began to flow from us all because we knew this was God’s Will for him and at that time little did we know……….for us too!
We began preparing for this trip by praying for direction for fundraising. As most of you know Preston is truly gifted with an amazing voice, musical talent and a way of speaking to people that just truly captivates. He shared his testimony and sang at several churches including our own and was blessed with gifts to help fund his trip. We continued to pour ourselves into fundraising and preparing him with all that he would need for this 11 month trip to 11 different countries! We were and still are so very proud of him!
When I was alone I would find myself thinking how in the world I was going to get through 11 months without him here. I loved spending time with him and having deep conversations with him about Jesus and how He was working in our family. I lay across his bed many a night while he played his keyboard and sang his heart out!! Oh how we worshipped together! I worried about Tristan. They are best buds!!! They laughed about things that only they understood, they sang together, they took rides to Walmart and Taco Bell late at night, they watched movies, they argued a little at times but not much. Tristan could talk to Preston about anything! Their relationship is so special. I knew Tristan was going to miss him so very much. I didn’t worry about Lee as much because in my eyes he is so strong!!! He was so proud of the decision Preston had made to surrender to this journey God was calling him on. He would say how much he would miss him but he would be just fine.
Our family watched Preston grow spiritually and emotionally during the time of his surrender in June to his departure in January. He poured himself into Jesus!! He stayed in The Word and prayer! He always encouraged us to do the same. He would end just about every night with time at his keyboard worshipping in song!! God was preparing him for this journey that would change his life forever!! We knew that God was up to something BIG in his life! Preston even took many hours to write a letter for me, Lee and Tristan individually to be delivered to us by Kiki (my sis) on the 20th of each month while he was gone. God was preparing Preston for a life changing experience but at the time we didn’t realize what HE wanted to do in the lives of Preston’s family too!!!
Friday, January 12 was one of the hardest days of my life!! We drove to Georgia to take Preston to begin his journey on the World Race!!! We had a good morning and felt all the prayers for us as we drove that day. We finally pulled up to the motel where he and his squad would be staying a few days before they departed for Haiti. The parking lot was so crowded! The gentlemen at the front said we could pull over to the side for a minute while we let him out. Lee stopped the car and we all got out. Whew, I could feel myself begin to fall apart! I grabbed him and buried my head into his chest. I didn’t think I was going to be able to let him go but God said……Yes You Can!!! He’s mine and I will be with him every step! I knew that in my heart but this was so hard. I let go and watched my boys hug each other so tight. What a precious sight. Tristan was so so sad but he let go too after a while. It was Lee’s turn. I watched my big, strong husband fall to pieces as he hugged his 6 foot 6in. 300 lb. son and tell him how proud he was of him and how much he would miss him!!! It was a precious sight. One I will never forget! It was time to go. I looked over in the parking lot and saw a girl with a big backpack on her back and holding one. She was hugging who I thought was probably her mom. I heard…..Preston!!!! She ran over to us. She was one of the girls on his squad. He introduced us, they told us goodbye and walked away. I watched him as we drove off as far as I could see him. “He’s in Your Hands Lord……I know he’s in Your Hands!!! Take care of our boy!” It was a long ride home. We talked some and cried a lot.
Lee got up early Saturday morning. When I got up I told him I just felt so weepy! He broke down himself and said he was too. We talked and cried for a long time. God showed us something that morning!!!! He revealed to us something that needed to be revealed in order for Him to do what He wants to do in our lives through this journey!!! Did you know you can pour yourself into things that are good but at the same time push God out of first place in your life? That’s exactly what we had done. We had poured ourselves into preparing for this trip for Preston and even before then into our children’s lives that God had slowly been pushed away. God was there but not where He should be in the heart of a Jesus follower!!!!He had to take Preston from us for a season to show this to us!!! He had begun to show us that this trip was for us to. I could spend so much time sharing how He has moved in our family this year!
Trust!!! OH how He is teaching this mama trust! Do I miss him? Oh tremendously!! Do I spend all my time worrying about him? Absolutely not!! God’s Word tells me to trust Him with everything! He created my Pres!!! He loves him so much and cares about every little detail of his life. He will provide him with all of his needs and take care of him while he is away! I could stay in a very anxious state if I allowed myself to but I will not! God is sovereign! He has called Preston on this amazing journey and He will surely be with him every step!
God has taught me that I have to be intentional with my time with Him. If I want to continue to trust Him and learn from Him I HAVE to spend time with Him! I love talking to Him and I always feel peace when I share how I may be feeling that day or struggles I am facing. He cares about every little detail of my life. His Word always guides me in the right direction. I fail Him daily though. I have not gotten it all right this year but His mercies are new each morning and for that I am so thankful!!!
It seems each time I get the letter Preston has written me for that month it is EXACTLY what I need at that time!! He challenges me and encourages me in the letters to grow in my relationship with Jesus! To learn more and more about Him and let Him show me just Who He wants me to be!! Not just a wife, a mama, a sister, a friend and teacher BUT a radical Christian!!!!! A warrior for Christ!!!!! God is growing me in so many ways! I am so thankful to be a Child of the King and I pray to be more and more like Him each day. This is an amazing journey for my Preston and I am so thankful that God chose to use it to do an amazing work in us here at home!!
Truly blessed and thankful,
Cynthia Robinson”
