As I am now over halfway done with the World Race, I have been making time, as able, to reflect over the last six and a half months of what seems like one of the heaviest yet most awakening seasons so far and having conversations with Abba about the future. Here is a little bit about now and later you probably want to know.
What am I doing now?
- I am in month 7 of 11 with my team Kestrel made up of four other lovely ladies (Erika, Caitie, Hailey, and Gabs) as well as our squad leader, Hudson. We are serving in Uganda with our amazing pastor Enoch and his family by encouraging young woman at the college, making paper beads with single moms, serving at a hotel alongside the staff, and being a part of their church services.
What is God teaching me?
- God is teaching me what living out, not just soaking in, the truth of the Word means. I love in-depth learning and discovering, but learning how to share it and not make the same mistakes I used to has been a slow and rewarding process as my team is a safe place God has gifted me in this season that also is not afraid to call me out and lift me higher.
- I am also learning the difference in honesty vs. transparency. I used to say quite often that I was a very vulnerable person while in essence I was just saying that I was honest with answering the questions people gave me. Honest is answering the questions but transparency is opening up without anyone asking you too. I am learning how to do that as well as not overthinking my answers, but speaking from my heart. Also, my team has been helping me through this as well.
How have I grown?
- I am not the same person as when I left US soil. How? Let me give you an example. At debrief in Uganda, there was a sign that said “I came to Africa to look at my phone”. Abba poked me and said “write out what I brought you through in Asia and Africa so far”. So I did and wrote “I came to Asia to break chains of lies; I came to Africa to understand the Letter”. I have grown in solidifying my identity, being more self aware, learning more communication and conflict resolve skills, having convos with strangers about Jesus, moving to different cultures every month, perfecting the squatty potty, and the list goes on forever…. But I am not the same, the deep down me is coming out more, and I am more confident. Jesus is SO amazing, and everything happens for a good reason.
What personal goals am I pressing into for the next five months of the World Race?
- Woohoo my fave! I was asked by my mentor “if you didn’t change, would you be satisfied with being just you?” That was a hard question (ones I enjoy btw). I have only one goal. Be the me, the lioness, God has placed on this couch, in this house, on this team, in that group of women, on the squad, in this country that He needs me to be. That means actively working in the gifts He has given me especially the ones I try to subdue for He put them there for a reason, and I want to give Him glory in His creation of me for the purpose of sharing and extending and discipling His kingdom.
What thoughts do I have about the future?
- I still have a heart for using horses to connect people with God. But there are so many other ministry opportunities God has given me a heart for, the heaviest one on my heart being one that awakens people to who God created them to be. I just simply want to keep living my life as our motto states : life is ministry and ministry is life.
- I have applied for a leadership academy called G42 which is a 9 month program in Mijas, Spain that helps equip people to walk out the kingdom in day-to-day life. I have applied for the semester that starts in semester and am currently walking through the application process. God has been bringing this program back to my mind since Kazakhstan in month three, and we have been talking about it off an on, and He has given me peace about this being the next step to further grow as a believer, solidify what I have learned from the Race, and better empower and disciple others as it applies to the passions and visions God has given me. I am SO excited to see where this application takes me!!
