I have never liked
hurdles.
In eighth grade I used to run track
and once during a hurdle race I had a bad fall that tore up one side of my face
and knocked 2 of my front teeth out. I still have some scars from it today. Not a good memory!
A Hurdle race is tricky
to run. I watched a couple of races during the Olympics, and cringed every time someone jumped, hoping no one would fall. You either confidently jump over them, or you hesitate ...and most likely
will trip and fall. I usually just rather avoid them.
Coming to Congo this time has felt like a "hurdle run". Hurdles are pretty much a norm for Africa. Some of them these past days were very concrete…like having no electricity last night or internet when
I wanted to connect with my family or driving down the streets of Kinshasa
dodging pot holes, broken down cars or piles of trash in the middle of the
road on our way to taking my African colleague’s wife to the hospital to get a malaria
treatment. Other hurdles are more mental
and emotional. Mine these days were finding out that two of my colleagues were refused
entry in to Congo and that I am now here alone and responsible for doing the teacher
training we had planned to do together. My initial reaction was ..and I did, to call Phil, cry a little and tell him I want to come
home. I really didn't want to be here and do this alone.
That is what I felt
like doing! But a strange thing is happening tonight and I can only explain it as
“Christ living in me”. I all of a sudden have
peace….yes, the one that passes all
understanding that we we about in the Bible. And after reading dozens of emails, What’sApp and facebook
message that came in from good friends encouraging me and saying they were praying
for me. Tonight I don’t feel alone.
So I’ve decided and
I am going to take those hurdles straight on with confidence and
courage….because…,
“He that is in me is greater than he that
is in the world”
Yesterday morning while sitting in the Addis
Ababa airport on my way to Congo. I read these verses. They came just at the right time. I Just wanted to share them with you. Maybe some of you are running a kind of hurdle race right now. Go for it!
“The Lord you God is with you, he is mighty
to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he
will rejoice over you with singing-
Zephaniah 3:17
