As my Race is coming to a close, I can’t help but start to reminisce. Wow. What a year it has been. I have seen love, joy, despair, heartache, brokenness, healing, renewed faith, miracles, and the list goes on.
I was told before the Race that if I wasn’t a crier prior I would for sure be one after. I thought, “oh man here we go… I’m probably just gonna cry constantly after the Race then.” For those of you who know me, know I am sensitive when it comes to animals and people. I am the girl that cries when she sees a dead squirrel on the side of the road if that gives you a small glimpse, lol. I have had a love of all living creatures since I can remember.
Coming on the Race meant I was going to face some of my fears: Orphans, homeless, and the sick to name a few. I’m not scared because of who they are, what they have done, or where they have been. I’m scared because I might not be able to help and I don’t know if I can handle that.
I have been in some of the craziest, eye opening, weird, and sometimes scary situations this year.
1. Trujillo Peru- when I was told a heartbreaking statistic that 9 out of 10 girls, by the age of 12, have been raped and often times by family members.
2. Bangalore India- when a teammate was handed a lifeless street infant as the mother was asking for help.
3. Nepal- when you are on the side of a mountain, in a remote village town, rebuilding a church that was destroyed by an earthquake and a second one hits. You see homes collapsing and everyone screaming.
4. Lilongwe Malawi- when a malnourished village kid, with his bloated belly, comes up to you for a hug and all you want to do is feed him, scoop him up, and take him home but you can’t.
I prayed at the beginning of the Race for God to break my heart for what breaks his. Be careful what you pray for…because my heart did and does break for what breaks his. My hearts goes out to the orphans, the widows, the homeless, the sick, the lost, and the hurting. What has surprised me most, through this experience, has been my ability to keep it together though. How am I not a giant puddle of tears on the floor? I actually asked God the other day what was wrong with me? Why do I seem ok? God reminded me that I’m ok and I have been able to handle these situations because I have relied on him. I have drawn my strength and comfort from him. What a beautiful lesson and reminder. God doesn’t give us more than we can handle even though I thought the Race would be more than I could, but God doesn’t call us to something we can’t do. We only need to remember to rely on him.
Proverbs 3: 5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all you heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”
