Last week, I had the pleasure of chatting with my good friend Meg, socially distanced on the streets of Santa Barbara, CA. For the last two years I’ve been doing independent mission work in Guatemala and I always try to make it back to the States about once a year. This year God’s timing was incredible! My flight was originally cancelled in May from Guatemala back to the States but I got another one about a month later. I knew I could be “trapped” in the States for months since the borders are closed to get into Guatemala. However I felt peace about being back and visiting friends and family. God has been so good! He’s given me quality time playing pickleball with my parents, divine encounters with strangers in Montana, and timely wisdom from my community in Santa Barbara!
So back to the streets of Santa Barbara… I was sharing with Meg about the World Race and how I had heard about it roughly 10 years ago and had considered applying then. But at that time, I don’t think I was ready. I also think my idea about the World Race centered around me primarily wanting to travel, and serve on the side. Although God can use even our impure motives to bring Him glory, that timing just wasn’t right.
Meg took this opportunity last week to celebrate with me while recognizing that God had brought this World Race dream full circle! We recognized that our culture sees this idea of achieving dreams as climbing some kind of ladder (corporate, lifestyle, education, etc). It could be easy for me to look back at dreams like joining the World Race, and just say that my time has passed. But God is so much bigger than my timeline. He has given me this opportunity 10 years later with 10 more years of life experience that I’m thrilled to bring to my squad! Thanks be to God!!
I love your transparency about your original motives for doing this mission Lynneal. I know that God will use your fresh honesty and humility to minister to others. He is faithful. You are faithful. What a great team you both make!