The Day We Carried Wood

Honduras was hard. While many great things came from our time on the mountains, so did a lot of trials. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. On my Race, we spent two months in the jungles of Costa Rica. It was the most challenging environment I had lived in. With only a roof over our heads and no walls, we were exposed to the elements. The hot sun baking our skin, the humid air choking our lungs, and mosquitos given free reign, we were forced to give up even more comforts of home. Costa Rica was some of the hardest months of the Race. Up until now. 

Similar to Costa Rica, we were living outside while in the mountains of Honduras. A small tarp covered our eating area, a small church up the hill, and our own tents were our only moments of shelter. Instead of the weather being hot and humid, we were subjected to rain. Cold, frigid rain. The kind of rain that seeped into every inch of dry clothing we thought we had. And with the rain came mud. Everywhere. All the time.

The days that it rained meant that the water we used for the showers stopped working. We would spend days in between bathing (gross, I know). In those moments, we were forced to rely on baby wipes and the Lord to remove our sense of smell. With our main ministry being physical / manual labor, we were dirty all the time. Greasy hair. Sweaty bodies. And no shower. 

Through all of this, the Lord showed me what further dependence looked like. I was rid completely of all of my comforts. Physically, I had nothing. No electricity, no wifi, sleeping on the ground in my tent, missing home, always cold, and always wet. I was stripped. But God was still my Comforter. One moment sticks out more than any of them. The day we had to carry wood.

For ministry, we would sometimes hike further up the mountain in order to carry long, heavy logs of wood back to our ministry site. We needed the wood to build benches, chairs, tables, doors, windows, and an extra room for the ministry. A necessary trip, but completely exhausting. During one of these trips, the wood heavy on my shoulders, my back aching, my knees shaking, my lungs screaming, I called out to God. “Help me make this trek. I cannot do this without You”.

Each step was harder than the last. There were many times during the trek when we had to pause. Those few moments of relief are what I looked forward to. When I could remove the load from my back and breathe. But during the moments of struggle, when I thought I would collapse, when I questioned whether I could take another step, God gave me strength. He pushed me forward. He does this with physically hard tasks, but in every area of our lives.

When I have felt crushed by depression or anxiety, He has given me the strength that I need to keep going. He has pulled me out of the dark moments of life. In moments where I am removed from every comfort I have, and in moments when I don’t see any possible way out. He is there. God is always there. Always comforting me. Always carrying me. He did this in the jungles of Costa RIca, in the mountains of Honduras, in my room at home, and for you where you are right now. He is there. Remember that.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me! It means so much to me! I love being out on the field and getting to spread the Gospel. Even if sometimes that includes doing physically challenging tasks. As you keep me in your prayers, please continue to pray for the following:

1. The squad as a whole. We are about to travel to Nicaragua for our next ministry. Pray for safe travels.

2. Health – We have been very blessed with good health. Please pray that everyone continues to remain healthy.

3. Financial provision – I am still fundraising for my time on the field. Please pray for provision.