I have officially completed one month of the World Race. Currently, I am in Jaco, Costa Rica taking some relaxation and recharge time with my entire squad, mentor and coaches. We are also breaking down and processing all that God had done in the past month.
My team was working with our ministry host, Ethan, for his ministry called Missions Beyond Aviation. We helped clear land around a stream to start making way for his vision of a runway and Bible camp. Ethan has been led to reach out to the indigenous people in Panama to serve and share the gospel with them.
The work we did was repetitive, exhausting and ultimately dangerous. There were certain accidents that we could not afford on the field. We worked slowly and with purpose being very cautious of our surroundings.
I have personally always been fine with manual labor however, ask me if I enjoy it and I’ll be like a little child with my nose scrunched up and sour look on my face like you just fed me asparagus, I don’t care for it. I struggled right away in seeing the fruits of our labor and the vision that God had given to Ethan and his family. We came to this ministry sight in its raw form, the land looking almost exactly like what it looked like when Ethan bought it. It was frustrating not being able to get on board with this project. I was not as enthused as Ethan, his heart and passion was here because this is where God had led him.
What do I do when I am not apart of a vision or am not part of the planning process? Internally I wrestled with wanting to help Ethan and not caring much about the plan. Until God interfered.
I carry with me my favorite bible verse every since I was a sophomore in high school.
Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.”
In my alone time, Jesus time as I call it, he placed my favorite verse on my heart and I soon saw clarity. It wasn’t Ethan’s land, it wasn’t his project, I wasn’t here to help Ethan. I was here to serve the Lord and work on his project. My whole perspective and mentality changed over. God presented to me a physically challenging situation to teach me exactly what this verse I have loved so long looks life in real life.
We don’t go about playing sports, doing our homework and going to classes, etc for the pleasure and service to our coaches, professors or boss but we do it for the Lord. There is nothing more I want than to give my best to the Lord. I want to give Him everything I have and more. After this realization it was so much easier to get up and go to ministry in the morning.
I believe as Christians we often forget what are motives are behind what we are doing. Are we doing it to serve a friend, a co-worker, the whole of social media onlookers? Who are we giving our best to and why? When we can’t seem to give our best selves to something, what’s the reasoning?
I will not always like the things I will be doing, I will not always understanding the reason or see the vision, I will not always be the planner or creator of each project I work on but none of this should stop me from giving it my all because it is in God’s name, for His glory.
I look forward to being apart of His kingdom, to work and serve in the kingdom and to learn and grow in the kingdom.
Moving into month two and I am just shy of fully funded! If you are following my journey or just randomly clicked on this click and feel led to donate you can gladly do that rachelosmundson.thworldrace.org! If you are not able to support my journey financially my squad and myself would appreciate prayers over the next ten months. Finally, feel free to subscribe to my blog or follow my journey via instagram, @rachelosmundson.
Much love & many blessings,
Rachel
