I woke up this morning to my fifth day back in America. My mind races with memories, pictures and people that are still so vivid in my mind. How do I even begin to wrap up, let alone relay to you what happened in 2007. It is virtually impossible and I am overwhelmed at the task. But here I go.
Misolha, Mexico
Often people ask what my biggest challenge was. I don’t hesitate to say, “Well, even though we were found without electricity, food, sleep, normal toilets, language skills, communication…(and the list goes on and on) I would have to say the biggest challenge was the community. It was the people I woke up to day in and day out that often challenged me more than any ministry I was a part of because at the end of the day, my love had to reach far beyond the orphans and the widows to my peers. It is easy to love the people you minister TO, but to love on the people you minister WITH is a whole different ball game! Essentially, I lived with the same four people all year long. Team 61 is what we called ourselves. And throughout the course of the year, they taught me how to love and how to listen and how to live with people that sometimes you don’t understand! You say you want to know how this year went with my team? Some days were awful! Some days we didn’t want to speak to each other. Sometimes we fought and disagreed and got so annoyed with each other. It’s life, right? But we stuck it out and that is what I loved about team 61. When we had an issue, we got it out on the table and worked it out. Because of this, we came out stronger and in the end we came out friends. Not many teams can say that. But we truly ended up not only loving each other but liking each other too! I do have to say that though community was my biggest challenge, it was also my biggest delight. Never would I want to go through something like I did last year alone. Paired with the disagreements in my memories are the countless times of belly aching laughter and joy. Painted in my memory forever are the people I ate popcorn with, the people who held me when I cried and the people who knew the exact location of the itchy spot on my back. I remember the people who I prayed with and held orphans with and danced with. Jimmy, Katie, Becca and Hannah will forever be imprinted in my heart as the people I lived with and spent more condensed time with than anyone in my life. And we came out with more refined characters as a result of each other. I will never forget you.
Lomo de Corvina, Peru
Manzini, Swaziland
Hong Kong
Moving right along. The second question I get a lot is, “What was your favorite country?” Ok, people. That is like taking me to Jamba juice and making me pick my favorite flavor. I sit there for probably 10 minutes having a minor crisis while I scan the endless mixtures of flavors and outcomes that my brain just about explodes. My point is, that it is impossible to say just one. Each country has left a different impression and here is the truth: I didn’t love every country! Shocking I know. But I did find something that tugged at a different heart string in every country. If you pulled my whole team together and asked them this question, you would get a different answer from everyone. But here is mine. For purely aesthetic reasons, I loved Guatemala. It was a haven of beauty. At the time, our team really needed a beautiful and calm place. I connected with God in amazing ways just staring at his creation. And I will never forget the sun setting behind the volcano we hiked up. It was a precious moment between me and my creator that I will never forget.
San Juan, Guatemala
Volcan Pacaya, Guatemala
For the people, I adored Peru and Cambodia. I created the most meaningful and deep (as deep as you can get in a month) relationships with the people in these places. When I think of these countries, faces flash through my mind at a million miles an hour. I miss these friends dearly and am so blessed to think about how God created the body of Christ. Our brothers and sisters are around the world! And more than any place I went this year, I saw such a raw passion and love for the Lord that brought me to my knees through the people of Peru and Cambodia.
Villa el Salvador, Peru
Villa el Salvador, Peru
Phom Penh, Cambodia
New Life Church, Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Thinking back on ministries we were able to be a part of, I would have to say the ones that stuck out to me the most were the ministries in Swaziland and Thailand. In Swaziland we were able to work with a man named Kevin and his wife Helen who are changing their part of the world in Africa. They are setting up homes for orphans to come and be a part of a family. It is an active change that is taking place that will eventually save this dying nation. I was blessed beyond words to go and observe and support this man and his family as they are reaching out to the children of Swaziland who would have been dead by now. But now they are full of life and joy as they have been given a second chance. Also in Swaziland, I spent a short time at a care point in Timbeni. I was with Jon and Eric for about three days but when asked my favorite memory from the trip, I always say it was these days. All I did was hold children all day long. But it was the kind of holding where you could feel the child in your arms and know they needed it more than food or water. It was a life sustaining holding. And these kids don’t ever receive it. So I loved on them like there was no tomorrow. And in return it changed me.
Hawane Farm, Swaziland
Timbeni, Swaziland
Thailand was a given if you have been keeping up with my blogs. Anyone who knows me knows I have a heart for men, women and children who are working in the sex industry around the world. And working with Annie and Nightlight in Bangkok gave me a heartbreaking glimpse into a world that was so dark and devastating but so in need of the light of Christ. As I sit and think even now about my time there, I start to cry because my heart is so burdened for the girls I met in the bars. Some of those images are forever burned in my heart and make me feel ill and desperate and angry all at the same time. I so desire hope and love to be showered over them. And I am incredibly thankful for Nightlight, The Well and Rahab ministries who are actually in those battle grounds right now, fighting off the enemy and bringing the love of God to these gals.
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand
Clearly, there are more lessons, loves and pains that I couldn’t even begin to write about in regards to my experience last year. But I just wanted to give you a taste of what is running through my head right now. China is also a country where I got to see the church that is underground but very much alive. I remember Marcos in Mexico, the single remaining light left in that city and the people of his community that he weeps over daily. I remember Jaco and the orphans of Temane and Pambara in Mozambique who are still feeling the effects of the hurricane. And I remember all the unsung heroes we met along the way; missionaries who you will never hear of, but who are laborers in the vineyard and working with those in need of the love and truth that only Christ can bring.
Communion with the believers (green tea and bread) in China
Marcos and his church in Arroyo Palenque, Mexico
Pambara, Mozambique
I have been reading a lot in Matthew this year because I am intrigued by the life of Christ on earth. What is it that he cared about and how did he do ministry? Now I am not claiming to be able to relate to Christ, but there were a couple points that made me think about his ministry and the ministry we were a part of last year. First, I noticed that he had a traveling ministry. Rarely would he stay in one place very long, but the impression he left lasted. Secondly, he loved people. So many times I felt an overwhelming guilt over having such short times in each country. The World Race is intended to give you merely a glimpse into the church around the world that will end up mobilizing and unearthing passions in my generation. But I was resolved at the beginning of this year to love without reservation. Can one person make a difference? It is the classic question that everyone strains to find an answer to or even to BE the answer to. Without hesitation I say, one person can make a difference to another person. When Jesus was on earth, he touched people and they were healed. He looked in their eyes and their hearts were moved towards him. There is a world out there in need of that kind of love. Even on the streets of America, people are empty and though it is not as much outwardly noticeable it is still there.
Hong Kong
So what did I learn about myself? I am flawed beyond measure but am loved by my creator. There is something about living in community, being stripped of all my masks and who I thought I was that brings me to my lowest point and shows me who I really am. I am a sinner. Truly I am. But I have been plucked out and called forth. Did I deserve this kind of love? Absolutely not. But as a result, all I can do is give it away.
I sit and think about what I learned about the world. Out comes a “Phew!” and a big fat “Sigh.” But I do have an answer, get excited. J I think it would be easy to come away from this year just feeling devastated by all the need. This world is desperate and steeped in poverty and hurt. You cannot ignore that. I have never seen such horrible things with my own two eyes. War, tears, burdens and death. It is enough to make one want to crawl in a hole and ignore it because the magnitude is so great. But instead of that, I come away with hope. While this world is dark, there is a light. And I have come away feeling encouraged by the things I saw. At the beginning of the year, my biggest desire was to connect, support, observe and partner with the church around the world. And God blessed my socks off! Wherever there was hurt, there was hope. The church is vibrant and completely sold out for Christ around this globe. And God really does take care of the widows and the orphans. I have seen it over and over again. He provides for his people. And millions are joining the body of Christ every day! So instead of feeling paralyzed, I feel mobilized at the things He is doing worldwide. Be encouraged, Church! We are in a battle for sure, but we come out victorious. Praise God.
I have to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who kept up with me this year. All your comments, love from over the seas, financial support, and PRAYER was felt, appreciated and needed. I cannot express the depths of my gratitude and I just pray that the Lord’s favor is all over you as you have blessed me. Thank you.
As for me, I am grateful to have had time with my family in Paupa New Guinea. We had a blast reconnecting.
Ukarumpa, Paupa New Guinea
I got to spend a week with former teammate and friend, Jon in Vancouver (it was my cheapest place to fly into in North America and consequently he lives there so we got to hang for a few days!) Now I am in Arizona visiting my best friend from college, the lovely Ms. Cherie Bradshaw. Tomorrow I head up to New Mexico to spend a few days with some more former teammates: Ginger, Morgan, Spano, Hanson, and Emily. Next week I head up to Kansas to meet my new baby niece, Sophia and hang out with my brother Adam, his wife Jill and Hannah banana. Then, after over a year of tromping around the globe I return home to good old Appleton, WI. You can be sure I will be heading down to Chicago shortly thereafter for some visits. Then after that, I am still praying like crazy to see where the Lord has me! I have several directions in mind but am in the process of receiving clarification. So I would appreciate your prayers alongside me as I make important decisions in the next month. But I will keep you updated!
How do I close this but by saying,
Thank you.
Goodbye world, I will be back soon.
