These past few months have been great but also a huge struggle. I haven’t really talked much about it. Before coming on the race I asked God to not let things happen on my trip that I was afraid of and couldn’t handle. It was kinda like I was putting Him in a box and told Him how my life should go. Little did I know that through experiences that He would have me grow closer to Him and grow as a person. I also didn’t think that so many things would happen while being away. The first month I found out that my sister’s friends were in a car accident and were killed in it. Second month I dealt with a lot of spiritual warfare and loneliness. Beginning of this month I found out that a family friend has passed away from cancer and another woman I knew had passed away. On my way to Madagascar I found out my brother was hit by a car and was in the hospital. Some of my friends and family has been struggling and I haven’t been able to be physically there to comfort them. I was sick the first week of being here and had that nightmare. It’s just been one thing after another. I had started turning to my team or other people I had met on the race for comfort. I then realized something. It didn’t click until I was able to sit and think about it while I had a moment to be alone. Through all of this I was turning to people first. I had forgotten to go to God for all the emotions I was feeling. When I went to those people I felt a temporary happiness. Not all the time the people knew how to comfort me but I just keep seeking out the comfort of man. Then a few days ago, I was part of door to door ministry in one of the poorest/ dangerous parts of Madagascar. We went into this one house that I will never forget. It had just rained and the ground was so muddy around it. The house what white. So white that I was surprised that it was clean. When we went inside, there was a lady laying in her bed and another woman who was taking care of her. They had asked prayer for the woman in the bed because she was sick. I felt in that moment that God was telling me to ask her what she was sick with. I listened to Him and found out that she was sick from cancer. I started feeling very emotional and had no words to say because I knew a woman who passed away a few weeks ago from cancer. I got up and left without saying anything. I got back to the rest of my team and was asked if I was okay. I didn’t tell them how I was feeling until my translator gave me a hug and prayed with me. Later on that day when I got home, I started praying to God asking Him to give me the comfort I needed. I then felt everything lifted off of my shoulders and God started giving me joy like no one else had. I realized that for now on I need to turn to God for absolutely everything. He gives me so much joy and it’s so much easier to go through life. If you are struggling I also encourage you to turn to Him. Thought I would share how He has worked in my life in a small way. Thank you all for your prayers and support!
