Month 12: The Movement of God

"The race doesn't end when your race ends." 

TRUTH. My World Race ended on December 3, 2012, and my race continues today as I live life back in the United States.

Let me catch you up on the last chapter of my race…when I returned to Kenya, just me and the Good Lord, to volunteer with the Isebania Christian Rescue Center as they protect girls from FGM. 

Leaving my squad in LAX airport and embarking on my solo adventure with the Lord back to Kenya didn't break me. The race didn't end. I didn't have a grief period involving sudden snot and tissue meltdowns.

I didn't panic when I realized I was by myself, or freak out when there was no one to hold my bags, or tell me the schedule, or debrief situations with me. In fact, here I am six weeks later, pressing forward in joy, resting in the knowledge that whatever weird re-entry culture shock I "should have experienced" I didn't. The Lord spared me. That's a beautiful redemption when I look back on my life and remember all the times I closed chapters of adventure and friendship with a long period of depression and grief. 

God is so good. 

Month twelve began on December 3rd, when I hopped on a plane to NYC, where I rested for two days with friends and reunited for a day with my beautiful Mama. 

God assured me long ago that this trip was going to be a great blessing not afforded to my squadmates. "No re-aclimation, no overwhelming reunions, no panic attacks in the aisle of Wal-mart, no struggle in processing your race. You will know who you are in Me, and you will accomplish I have asked of you." 

And it was a great blessing…just as He promised. Not that there wasn't struggle, unexpected situations and uncomfortable circumstances. I'm sure I experienced all of that. But honestly I couldn't say what they were.

I had so much peace and rest left over from the abundance of His storehouse that I walked steadily through the storms, seeing only the crazy blessings He provided and the dreams He's asked me to serve. 

For those two weeks in Kenya I spent my days with the girls of the Isebania Christian Rescue Center. Every day I walked along the roads of Isebania, watching the parades of celebration for girls who had been mutilated.

In the afternoons we studied the Bible together and played games; the girls taught me Kenyan songs and dances, I taught them English worship songs.

On Sunday I preached at the church and the Lord spoke over that community words He'd been manifesting for them throughout the three months I'd been away. It was so good. 

After four or five days I brought out my camera and began documenting. (I like to aquaint my heart with a community before I capture it with my camera, if I can.) The girls somehow became more and more beautiful with every passing day. I came to know them as sisters, friends, and women of the Most High God.

 

What these girls need is passionate people willing to pour into them and this cause. I believe that when we prepare the way, He will provide the means to complete the mission. When we set the table and sit down, hungry, and confident in our father, like little children, He always feeds us. He never leaves us hungry. 

This rescue center is being held together and carried out year after year by one passionate, successful woman of the Lord. Madame Bonny is not only the headmistress of a school. She is a businesswoman, a mother, and a protector of the Kingdom. 

I've come alongside her because I believe God is doing great, CRAZY, world-changing things through these young girls, and the passion that Madame Bonny carries. The weight of that passion was given to her by our Father and it's not meant for her to carry on her own! She gave me a piece of this weight to carry, and I'm gladly walking towards God's goal with her. But this cause is bigger than her, and bigger than me.

 

This next year of preparation (between now and December 2013, when the girls will run to the Center for protection) I am advocating for this cause–preparing the way for the Kingdom coming in Isebania, Kenya. 

Have you caught the vision? are you asking the Lord, "what can I do to help?"

If so, I encourage you to come alongside us. Carry out the dreams of God, and breathe the breath of God into this community of growing daughters.