This month we are in Capetown, South Africa, more specifically in the city of Strandfontein. The ministries we've worked with have included praying for neighboring communities & visiting a rehabilitation center next door called Camp Joy. I have met numerous amounts of people & have formed many relationships at our ministry sites. However this month has been a bit different than months prior. I have realized our main ministry site this month was in fact ministering to our teammates, as well as our own spiritual growth individually with the Lord.
As you've seen from pictures, there is so much to do in Capetown!! Weekends for us have included nights at a rad market place, scuba diving with seals, playing with penguins, etc. I don't want you to get out of this blog that the World Race is a vacation, nooooo wayyyy. I just know that for me personally, the Lord is reminding me this month to love the people around me first. My squad has become my family! We are learning each others moods in the morning, likes & dislikes of food, when someone needs alone time, interpretation of tones, how to give feedback, the thought processes of teammates, etc. At times, its very hard because these are people I just met & have basically become married to overnight. However, I am so thankful the Lord put me on P Squad! I am finally realizing what it means to have brother's and sister's in Christ.
In general, this month was a major period of learning about myself. I've learned that throughout the race, it is not just about the people we will meet, the places we will go, the people we will impact, and spreading God's love. We can't spread His love unless we understand His love, and we can't understand His love unless we have a relationship with Him. Coming onto the race, I was a brand new, born again Christian. I was a baby! Therefore, I've had huge growths learning about my identity as a daughter in Christ, what exactly that means, & how I can explain it to others. I feel like I'm in a counseling session on a daily basis with the Lord. Free counseling on the race, haha who knew? I've loved it!! He's taught me a ton about my personality, how I relate to others, as well as how I can grow relationally.
One thing this month that I've learned is that I've struggled with my confidence in standing up for myself. In the past, I've fed myself lies that my opinion doesn't matter, my voice has no input, & that standing up for myself was being selfish. I am the type of personality that just "goes with the flow," & I generally went along with other peoples opinions rather than voicing my own. I'm very sensitive to hurting people's feeling & holding stuff in, instead of speaking truth to help someone grow. I've learned that I need to be more bold in that, for I am strong in the name of Jesus. I am powerful, for I am His. My words will touch lives. He is leading me. My spirit is important because I am a daughter of the King.
I proclaim boldness to anyone who is reading this blog, insecure of their voice, worried how it will affect others, scared to use it, etc. I rebuke that in Jesus name!! I love the quote from the movie 'The Help,' "You is kind, you is smart, you is important." I completely believe that, and even more! You is powerful, you is mighty, you is His! Hehe. Here's to a new month, walking in boldness, walking in His love. Here's to layers of fear being stripped away. Here's to walking in no fear, knowing that the Lord is always with us.
"Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:26 ESV
God Bless
