Good Morning Family & Friends
It has been a crazy and unique ride on the World Race. I never know what to expect. One day, I was on a walk with one of my squadmates ( a group of people who you travel with). This is not unique for me because I realized how much I loved walking expectually long walks with friends. As we were walking, we were talking about how excited we were to get to know more of the country of Kyrgyzstan. As I began saying that I love this country already despite the little that I know about, we walked past a group of men. As I continued to talk, I heard the men call me the n word. My first response was to look back. I was so angry! I turn back around and start to pray. My first thought was why did they think it was okay to call me that? Why did not I not say something to them? My brain was still processing what they had said to me. When my squadmate said did they just call you the n word. I told her yes and continued to pray.
I know that I did not sin in my anger against these men but I was convicted on how I handled this situation. Next time someone calls me the n word again, I will not look back at them. I know that is not my name, and by looking back at them I am giving them power of what to call me. The Lord called me beloved and I do not walk in the identity of what the world thinks of me. This was the first time on the Word Race that I was called this name and it made me feel like I did not belong here. The truth is that I am Loved, Welcome, and Accepted here no matter what people say. I will choose to walk in this freedom while I am here in Kyrgyzstan and forever more
My encouragement to family and friends is to start writing down an identity statement of what the Lord says of you. There will come a time when people in this world will call you names and you will not be quick to answer to it because you will know what the Lord say of you.
I would appreciate your prayers for me and my team as we began to love on High School and college age students. I am excited to build relationships with these students. We will teach them English and share the truth of God’s love with them. Thank you for your prayers and support.
