All the Happenin’s of the Past 5 Months

Hello friends! I figured I should update you all since I haven’t written a blog in 5ish months.. Oops! So here’s a little update from each month since Colombia!

Quito, Ecuador

Ecuador by far has been one of the sweetest months with the Lord. Our month in Ecuador was a team month where we stayed at Hacienda El Refugio, an adventure retreat center. We helped build a little cabin for pastors to come and retreat. What I didn’t know was that this would actually be a “retreat” month for me too. I spent most mornings just me and God in the Grace Center. I was reading Captivating and God gave me the intense desire to be married again, but to know him first as my Maker and Husband. For those who don’t know, I was super content in my singleness so this was a pretty big thing. I prayed and worshipped for hours before our ministry days would start and cultivated that intimacy with Him that would carry me through to the next month, that was a little more emotionally challenging. We also had really comfy beds and really hot showers here which was a plus! Haha

Jeffery’s Bay, South Africa

We were in Jeffery’s Bay, South Africa for 2 and a half weeks, one of our shortest months. During this month, we had team changes for the first time. Meet Team Rooted (starting from me at the top left to right), there’s me, Kendell, Claire, Morgan (our Team Leader), Caroline, and Stephanie! This month we stayed at the Missions House that was dedicated to a young couple who had tragically passed away in a car accident on their wedding night. Within our first week of staying here, I got to be a “house mom” with Wendy, which turns out was her son and daughter in law that had passed away. I got really close with Wendy, feeling like she was a spiritual mother to all of us. Her story had greatly impacted me, and also propelled me into my own grief and inner healing journey with past relationships. I absolutely LOVED Cape Town and Jeffery’s Bay! Before we leave each country, we have to get Covid tested to enter the next country. When we got our results back, two of our girls tested positive. We were bummed that we might not get to travel all together or we were going to have to quarantine longer in South Africa. BUT truly a miracle from God, they tested the next day and were negative!!! We all got to travel together, like every other month. We’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs with Covid but we’ve always been able to travel country to country together.

Mokhotlong, Lesotho

Lesotho was what I originally imagined the Race to be like.. We didn’t have running water most of the time and sometimes went 4-5 days without a shower (bucket shower), we walked literally everywhere, and didn’t have WiFi or good cell service. Ministry looked like teaching a 15 minute devotional for the people waiting outside at the hospital, then we would come home for breakfast, walk to the church to pick up rocks and move them to a pile to help build the foundation of an extension of the church. We would preach at youth on Fridays, and at church on Sundays. This month I really considered how we were living like the disciples in Jesus’ time. We walked everywhere and didn’t have much rest. I had to really rely on Jesus for strength and wisdom because preaching is not one of my strengths. But I saw Him come through for me in giving me the words to say and making me comfortable speaking in front of people! FREEDOM in Jesus is amazing. Praise you Lord! 

Manzini, Eswatini

Ministry in Eswatini changed a lot. I started out working at this farm called Umdoni. It operates on permaculture, reusing every single thing they have and eliminating as much waste as possible. It was super fascinating! I did that for about a week, then switched to being Maintenance at Carepoints. Carepoints are facilities in every community in the area that helps educate and feed children who are living in poverty. They can show up at any one and get a free meal, and they also have child sponsorships. For my job, we went around and painted doors, measured windows to replace them, tore down an old playground that was falling apart, cleaned storage buildings, etc. All of these moments were great, but the ones that really stuck out to me is when we pulled up to the Carepoints and all of the kids come running up to you giving you a high five or a hug. There were many times where we only had time to sing a couple worship songs then would have to go to the next Carepoint. I just love the children that we’ve met in Africa. They are so joyful with so little. It’s very convicting!

Kigali, Rwanda

Ahh Rwanda.. I love you already. We’ve only been here for about 2 weeks, but this place and these people have my heart. We are staying with Pastor Moses (Uncle Mo) and his wife, Mary. They have 5 kids, Lorie, Jay, Deborah, Josiah, and Isaiah. The youngest two boys have my heart. They are so crazy but so sweet! We are working at their school Wednesday through Friday, helping teach! We are also preaching at church on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays to the kids, and Sunday mornings. This has been the most fulfilling month working with these sweet kids and just playing and loving on them. We also get to preach on the radio where 500,000 people in Rwanda tune in! It is the coolest experience. We’ll be in Rwanda for a total of 2 months, so I’m sure you’ll hear more from me!

So overall, God has been doing so much! Bringing inner healing, making me into the wife and mom he has called me to be in this “becoming season”, calling me into abandonment and living minimally and free of distractions, and has given me amazing community of 17 other women who love Him with all their hearts. With only 3 and a half months left of the Race, I can already tell how sad it is going to be to leave all of them and go back home to normal life.. But one thing I know, this year has been life changing. I love Jesus more than ever. I love his people more than ever. And I want YOU to love him more now, than ever. 

I do have WiFi this month, so feel free to message me! I would love to talk with you about what’s going on in your life and how I can pray for you.