I’ve been robbed of time. I’ve been robbed of memories. I’ve been robbed of relationships. I’ve been robbed of giving and receiving love. I’ve been robbed of adventures. I’ve been robbed of life changing experiences. I’ve been robbed of completing my World Race. And honestly, it’s poop.
The Enemy has been found guilty on all charges.
But there are things he will never be able to steal from me.
My hope
My joy
My faith
And yet I know God is still in control over it all and allowed all things to occur for a specific purpose. What I’ve been robbed of, God is going to return in full with something better.
My feelings/emotions about coming home is like imagining you were getting married in three months then one day you wake up and get told your wedding day is less than a week away now. So much planning and preparing happens in the last three months before a wedding, so to now only have less than a week to prepare is completely overwhelming to say the least. About a week before all this blew over, thinking about coming home in three months already terrified me. I thought three months would be too little time for me to mentally and emotionally prepare. But I guess God thinks and knows I’m stronger than I think I am.
I keep preaching to myself that He is before me and He is right beside me holding my hand every step of the way and He just wants me to watch Him. So I’m watching. I’m waiting. Even though I have to constantly wrestle my emotions and the lies the Enemy tries to get me to believe.
A quick update on the chaos that’s been goin on the past three days. We got told Sunday morning we were being brought back to the States and not continue to our next country (Ecuador). By Sunday afternoon we had bus tickets for that evening to get to Bangkok (three days earlier than planned). We were so disappointed we could no longer be part of the VBS we had been planning on doing Monday-Wednesday. Instead of flying out of Bangkok on Thursday we are now flying out Tuesday night to arrive in NYC by Wednesday late afternoon (hopefully). All tentative on if our flights don’t get cancelled or a million other things. My squad is still planning on doing a two day debrief once we get there but they just made a ten people max group size in NYC. So that will be fun. We’ve been told customs could take 4-6 hours. If we don’t get a mandated quarantine when we arrive (which who knows at this point), I will be self quarantining for two weeks before seeing my family. Not sure where that will be yet as I don’t want to get stuck somewhere and not able to get back to OKC. Many many unknowns right now. But I have peace. I’m not scared of the corona virus. I’m not scared if we were to be quarantined once we land. I’m not scared if we were to get locked down in NYC. Because God is with me. Because my squad will be with me and they have been my family for the past eight months.
I will not live in fear but freedom. That was one of my goals I wrote down for Thailand that I forgot about until I reread my goals again this morning. I love how God prepares me for things before I even know I’ll need them.
My Race might not continue in South America where I thought it would, but it will and is continuing as I return back to the States. Like many of my squad mates have said: America is my month 9 of the Race. I love that!
Keep my squad and I in your prayers as we try to get back on U.S. soil. We know whatever happens is passing before the watchful eye of our loving Father. My squad and I appreciate all your prayers.
God is good, all the time!
All the time, God is good!
On a positive note, I got to squeeze in one last adventure yesterday with two of my teammates at an elephant sanctuary. I think I have a special connection with elephants:) Haha!
