(A lake near where we stayed in the countryside in Tasi, Latvia.)
Having lived on the planet for 33 years, I’ve often thought myself wise and to have learned mosty what I needed to know about life. But I’m learning there are many lessons I have yet to grasp. The Race has provided ample opportunities to learn and listen for what God is trying to teach me. When I’ve sat myself down to really listen and ask God for guidance, He has spoken and I’ve listened. Each month, I’ve learned something new…
Month 1 in Thailand…
God confirmed His leading. Just days into the race, I doubted whether I was truly where God wanted me. But there were several connections made in the first week that put my doubts to rest. God confirmed to me that He works as much through our convictions as He does through more obvious circumstances.
(A couple of the dogs at the ranch where we had Training Camp in Thailand.)
Month 2 in Cambodia…
God can give us complete joy in the midst of uncomfortable circumstances. Cambodia was hot, humid, and dusty. My team was brand new and adjusting to one another. We were often hot, dirty, and at times feeling misunderstood. As I painted an office wall with one of my teammates, my frustration mounted and I decided to finally give it to God. In return, I felt complete, incomprehensible joy!
(Conquering the ladder in the office we painted in Siem Reap, Cambodia.)
Month 3 in Vietnam…
God reminded me that He cares about me. At the end of the month, our squad had a debrief weekend when we all came back together. One night, I was feeling particularly alone, frustrated and anxious about what the next few months would hold for me. I went to God with my feelings. It wasn’t long and God reminded me that He knows me, cares about me and has great plans for me. He spoke to my heart and prompted one of my teammates to come to where I was without her knowing beforehand I was there. He reminded me that He is very aware of me, what I’m doing, and how I’m feeling and that He cares!
(On the steps leading up to the Jesus statue in Vung Tau, Vietnam.)
Month 4 in Indonesia…
God taught me that prayer is essential. We were in a closed country that took their religious duties seriously. We prayed every morning at 4am as our Muslim friends went to their call to prayer. It was seriously tough to get up that early, having gone to bed around 11pm each night. But by the end of the month, our host was seeing breakthroughs in their ministry that they had prayed YEARS for and they attributed it to our faithful prayer mornings.
(In the courtyard of the largest mosque in Bandung, Indonesia.)
Month 5 in Latvia…
God wants to speak to us, but we must listen. One of the tools we were given for ministry at Training Camp was called, “ATL” or “ask the Lord.” It means that we sit before God and ask Him who He wants us to minister to this day or what He might want to show us about the day. We used this tool several times and I was surprised when we encountered the very things God had revealed to us in prayer.
(Posing with a cherry blossom tree during a house visit outside Tasi, Latvia.)
There have been many other things that I’ve learned on this World Race journey, some of which I’ve blogged about here, but many others that I’ve simply journaled about. We are about halfway through the Race and while I’m already a bit sad that this is the case, I’m eager to continue learning all that God has for me as I apply His Word to my life and the tools I’ve learned on the Race!
(One of beautiful sunsets in Latvia.)
