Hello everyone!
I am currently in Bangkok, Thailand! It’s finally here. I’m experiencing every emotion ever created, as you can imagine. But I am ready for whatever the Lord has planned for me… Not because I am spiritually strong or abnormally willing, it is only by the grace and strength of God that I am able to say that. My God is good and I know he will not give me too much I can handle. So yes! I am ready for whatever the Lord has planned for these next nine months!
I am so grateful and unbelievably blessed to be on this journey! One month ago, that was not my mindset. In fact, one month ago, I didn’t want to go.
I was in Gainesville, Georgia, literally dripping sweat nonstop. I was slapping abnormally huge bugs off me every three seconds. I was huddled CLOSE with 10 other girls in a 5 person tent trying to sleep. I was at training camp, surrounded by 150 people I didn’t know.
That was a huge wake up call to what the Race will be like at times. I was suddenly stripped from everything I found comfort in, and it was hard.
Suddenly it was just me and God, and he was asking me, “Am I enough?” I felt like the rich young ruler who kept all the commandments, but when asked to give up the one thing he put before God, the one thing that defined him, he couldn’t let go.
I didn’t want to let go of my comfort. I didn’t want to let go of my family or my boyfriend or familiarity.
That’s when Jesus gave me an even bigger wake up call.
Matthew 26:36-39
“And taking with him [Jesus] Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.’ And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, it it be possible, let this cup be passed from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'”
Even our Savior asked the Father if the cross would be passed from him. He didn’t want to do it. “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
That was a beautiful reminder of the fact that I have a God who understands me and understands what it’s like to not want to do his will sometimes.
(BY THE WAY) I do want to go on the World Race. I do want to leave my comfort behind for the sake of serving others and furthering Gods kingdom.
There’s the story of the Israelites in the wilderness. They escaped slavery in Egypt, but they were so out of place and uncomfortable in the wilderness that they longed to go back to slavery. But the Lord desired to bring them into the Promised Land! Suddenly, the Israelites were so blessed to have a God that desires to bring them to a beautiful place.
I realized that I should be so grateful that the Lord wants to put me through this although it is hard, so that I may grow so much closer to him and learn how to serve him. Going back to my comforts would be going back to slavery!
Since then, the Lord has given me so much excitement to be his hands and feet in such dark places. I still deal with temptation to run to the things that I found comfort in rather than turning to God, but He is so faithful to be my refuge and to be enough for me. He has given me an awesome team of girls that I am excited to learn how to love and serve them and with them.
Thank you for reading this! Don’t worry, soon enough you will be hearing stories of me ACTUALLY serving! Thanks for all your support! I have received exactly 70 letters that I get to open throughout my trip. I’m so blown away and grateful by all the love and support. THANK YOU!
If you would like to contact me, please send a Facebook message or email; or download the texting app Viber and I will receive it when I have wifi.
I love and miss you all,
Sabrina
P.S. I will be staying in Chanthaburi, Thailand for the first three months!
