This month is one of the toughest on the race so far. It’s
the half way point on the race and it’s not easy. After traveling to Rwanda on
a cockroach-infested bus for 28 hours, I was excited for the country… (I know
that sounds ironic). Known as “the land of 1000 hills”, Rwanda is breathtaking.
But in the week that I have been here, my team has been faced with a lot of
challenges. We originally were staying with a pastor who only spoke French, and
our ministry was pretty much non-existent. My team was also feeling uneasy
spiritually, so we ended up moving to another house with another team. In the
midst of this weird beginning, I received bad news from back home. My grandma
passed away and I didn’t get to say goodbye. She meant so much to me and I
struggled with the idea of going back home and leaving the race early. But
through the mess, God is constant. He ultimately has been my rock through this,
and I know that I am meant to be here in Africa for the moment. I’ve realized
that as much as it sucks to be broken, it causes desperation for God. He is the
source of my strength, comfort, and restoration. My grandma was one of my
biggest supporters and was a prayer warrior for me. She showed me how to love people when they don’t love you back. And she instilled in my heart what true compassion looks like. So I know she would want me
to fight through the hardship and persevere. Because when we persevere, God
takes notice. He blesses us for it and promises us the crown of life.
Even though my flesh may feel like giving up, my spirit is
driving me forward. So right now I am savoring the small things in life and
fighting for the nations on behalf of my grandma Alicia. I know God has so much
more in store for me and the people I get to share life with. Regardless of the
trial I am facing, I am eager to chase after God all the more and let him lead
me; because I know that when I suffer, I sometimes grow the most.
2 Corinthians 1 says
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those
in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so
also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we
are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance
of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you
share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.“
