There is so much hope

It is crazy to me how time can move simultaneously so quickly and so slowly. Currently, it is July 2nd 2025. My mind can barely comprehend that. On one hand it feels impossible to think that I have been gone for over 10 months, but on the other I can’t believe I’ve only known these people, this life, this type of walk with Jesus, for 10 months. I can remember first telling people about the race and saying “yeah, I’ll be back at the end of July 2025” thinking that that date will never come. Fast forward, here I am in, sitting in July 2nd trying to hold onto every second of this race, while allowing the Lord to create so much excitement about going home. In honor of that let me share some updates about my race, and what the Lord has done, taught me, and just more of who He is!

Now I’m the first to admit that I have lacked sharing my experience on the world race on this blog. Partially because the Lord has put topics on my heart to write on. Partially because I hold things to tell in person. And partially because life moves so quickly it’s hard to keep up! But here is something the Lord was putting on my heart this morning: He is on the move. There is good in the world, because He is the creator of it. We live in a world that sells fear. It runs off it. But can I just tell you GOD IS GOOD AND HE IS MOVING! I have seen it in my own life, and with my own eyes. I have seen the joy of children in Africa getting to go to school l, learn about Jesus, and play tag with each other at recess. I have seen women in Africa getting the medical care they need when expecting a child, because of one couples obedience to the Lord! I have seen people with an unquenchable fire in them, saying “I will preach the gospel in these mountains until my knees give out.” I have been to churches and met believers in places the world claims there is no Christianity! I have never been met with such hospitality and kindness as I have in the homes of strangers all over these countries. I have been encouraged by strangers who come up to me, and preach the gospel to me! I have gotten to further develop my faith and see that God is the only way, truth, and life. I have had peaceful and truthful conversations with people of other religions, when the world would say I should do otherwise. I have seen the Lord heal a man who was thought to be on his deathbed! I have seen him cure headaches, burnt fingers, and other body pains. I have seen him be bigger than a language barrier. I have seen him use 2 year old sermons to allow an apartment to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I have seen him bring 16 strangers together and make them a family! I have seen him take a girl, full of fear of man, scared to use her voice, and declare to her that He is bigger than all of that! He told her that she has a voice, that she was meant to be heard, to preach his gospel! I have seen generational curses and ties broken, and people dancing in freedom! I have seen families that never knew the gospel come to know Him, because of people’s obedience to declare the Good News! I have seen Him arrange divine appointments that we could never have even begun to plan! I have seen Him fill people with hope and love, when all the world tries to feed them is fear. I am seeing the Lord be on the move, I have seen Him chasing down this world with love. In a song I was listening to this morning the singer/preacher said “the Lord is saying LOOK UP! Look up and see what I’m doing! In the midst of brokenness. In the midst of disunity and anger, see what I’m doing! There’s a God who is bringing hope to the hopeless, salvation to the lost, healing to the broken, and He wants to use you and me.” (MBL worship) And that is my prayer today. That we would look up, in the midst of everything, and see God. That we would hold hope in not only what He is doing, but also that He is coming back!! We have hope because we know our hope is alive and active and He is coming back, whether in our lifetime or in the next generation. He is coming back, and that is everything! But even so, He is moving now, and we don’t have to wait. My hope for this blog is to tell you that you don’t have to run off of the fear that the world sells. God is working, His love is everywhere!

For more of a logistical update, we currently have about 2 weeks left in our final country, Georgia. This country has been full of memories, growth, laughter, trekking, beautiful sites, praying, and sweet friendships. The crazy thing is, when I said yes to the race, Georgia wasn’t even on our original route. But I couldn’t imagine ending anywhere else, and God’s hand has been all over it. While I’m in disbelief that there is only about 2 weeks left in this country, I know the Lord can do so much in that time. Lord, this country in onto you! This time is for your glory! My whole life is to glorify and love you first. Thank you Jesus. Thank You Jesus, You are so good. I pray every person reading this would feel your tangible presence and would just know you are seeking them just as much. You desire every person to know you. God, thank that your love is uncomplicated, thank you that it’s unconditional. Thank that your love is indescribable. And thank you that that is true all over the world. Would this blog just fill people with YOUR love, YOUR hope, and YOUR joy. I love you Abba!

Thank you to every person who has been reading my blogs, keeping up with my media, and supporting me along the way:) this has been a year that is so much more than I could ever put into words. And the great news? It’s not over yet!!

Continued prayers that me, and my squad, would finish well! And for safe travels as we prepare to come back together, and travel to the states:)

With joy,

Emma