I’ve just finished travelling around the South of the States for the past month, prior to launching for the WR and God’s opened my eyes even wider and broken my heart to things I never thought I would be experiencing here in America.
- Going to Busch Gardens, a multi-million dollar theme park in Virginia for an afternoon and seeing people spend SO much money on parking, rides, attractions, food and souvenirs.
- Meeting a fellow teacher in North Carolina who was living the everyday life with a missing limb, yet she was still content about life.
- Appreciating the creation and peace and quiet in the mountains in South Carolina, where there was no loud music, no access to technology and distractions from the things of this world.
- Helping squad mates pack their bags in Alabama and seeing the amount of belongings they have and want to bring on the race and also their struggle with letting it go.
- Walking down a main street in Mississippi and seeing beautiful wealthy houses for a few blocks and then suddenly walking past broken down houses, all along the same street. The poverty, stereotypes we create for people and the weight gain is prevalent in these areas.
- Joining a youth fellowship in Louisiana and seeing their passion to pray and share the gospel with non-believers.
- Seeing God’s sovereignty when he gave me the confidence to go out into town in Texas, enter a particular bar to meet an ex-minister who I could have a conversation with about his background with Jesus with and then accepting an offer to get a lift back to my hostel.
- Sharing the gospel with young teenage girls in a Juvenile detention centre and seeing them want to be prayed for, want to pray for others and are receptive to learning about Jesus in Tennessee.
- Catching my 12th bus to Atlanta and noticing my perception of African-Americans shift from fear to love, though also noticing the racial segregation of black and whites.
- Experiencing the love of Jesus Christ, His providence and His existence in the world through the generosity of many individuals and families that I was able to stay with over the whole trip. Thank you Gibson’s, Able’s, Thayer’s, Howington’s, Hutchison’s, Brown’s, Fok’s, Matt Johnson, Brandon Woo, Jeffery Balance, Jenny Lenz, Roxanne Speilvogel and Kelly Day.
God has taught me that no matter where I am, overseas, interstate, or in my own town, God is already there and is moving. There are real needs and changes that need to be made in every community, city, state, country and continent and God will give you strength and provide for your needs wherever you are. Even though I’m heading on an overseas mission, I look forward to working and ministering in any and every city that God draws me to, right now, throughout the race and beyond.
Everyone is called to be a missionary and there are so many ministry opportunities to be a part of. In Matthew 9:37, ‘[Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”’ The question is, are you willing to step out in faith and be a part of what God is doing or can do in your community or around the world?
