As we started to walk out of Starbucks a guy, who had apparently been sitting behind us and observing came after us out the door and said, "Ladies, I noticed you praying for each other and was wondering if you could pray for me. I have some big decisions in my life to make in the next few days and really need prayer for clarity and direction." I was so excited because I had gotten to do this all over the world. People around the world generally see their need for Christ and see the power of prayer and long for it and welcome it anytime you offer. Most people in the States, ‘don't need Christ' because they've got it all figured out in the sense of their independence and having food and a roof over their heads. They aren't wondering where their next meal is going to come from. But we both stopped, asked him his name, and told him we both would be more than glad to pray for him and thanked him for being willing to ask us. So, we both prayed, he thanked us, and we went our separate ways. My friend and I looked at each other with huge grins as we walked away and just said, "That was so awesome!" and thanked God for allowing us to be a part of something so simple but so huge at the same time.

God has shifted my thinking and shown me different things in the US as well.  He reminded me of something He taught me back in Thailand, our first country of The World Race.  He had told me, "Kari, the same needs you see here and will see all over the world, are right back in the United States as well."  Some of them may look a little different, but they are the same.  Everyone in the world needs to know God's love and who He really is.  There are people in the States who are just as poor and homeless.  There are those who are rich in material possessions but poor in spirit and empty in need of a Savior.  And there are those who have nothing from a worldly perspective but are so rich in spirit, knowing who Christ is and His love, that joy fills their lives and their homes.  As God took me back to that first month and His words being spoken to me, I now understood the full ramifications and why I needed to hear that even back then; it would affect me now and God knew it!

As I walked out of the airport on July 24th, after going through customs and collecting my mucho amount of luggage, I was greeted by the best Welcoming Committee ever!!  My parents were holding a large sign that said Welcome Back and had all of our names on it.  My mom had made homemade cookies for all of us and there was a finish line as we officially ended the race.  Other friends and family had also come to greet us and another larger sign was there as well.  People were taking pictures as if we were celebrities and there were hugs everywhere all the time.  We prayed as a squad, as a team, and some left that night.  Those left went to a hotel to enjoy a celebration of the finish with pizza, chips, pop, candy, and a cake that my parents had brought.  Some left as early as 4:30 in the morning and by 9:30am, my parents and I were the only ones left.

But it's a weird transition.  Sunday morning I went to church with my cousin. It's a rather large church with the theater seating, lights, band on stage...the whole bit.  When we started to sing the first song, I just started to cry and at first I didn't even know why.  I definitely never expected this reaction from myself.  ‘I never cry.'  Well, many different thoughts and images started to run through my head as I stood there.  My first thought  was that it was hard for me to stand in this huge, air-conditioned building with tons of money put into everything there.  I saw the many tiny church buildings flash through my head; church communities with very little.  It wasn't that I thought it was wrong for this church to enjoy the blessings God has given them.   Who am I to judge that?  I know that God uses everything, every church in different ways to reach out and bless others.  It wasn't that I was bitter or angry.  It was just hard to see the huge difference.  It did make me sad.  I can't even explain all I was feeling in that moment.

This has been a crazy year of fun, adventure, tough times, hurt, growing, learning, loving, eyes being opened, loneliness, fullness, full reliance on God, coming together as the body of Christ...and so much more that I can't put into words!

God has revealed things to me about myself that I never saw before, both good and bad.  He has taught me more than I ever thought He could in different ways than I thought He would.  He has stretched me in ways I never imagined.  He has opened my eyes and heart to things I was never open to before.  He has given me a desire to be more like Him out of love and not obligation.  He has loved me unconditionally through the learning process...when I failed; He picked me up so I could try again.

These eleven months have benefited me more than I ever could have benefited those around me in each country.I have been there for a short season in each person's life along this race...people in Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, China, (Hong Kong), Swaziland, South Africa, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.  He has broken me and then molded me.  He has allowed me to meet many people I had to say good-bye to.  All along the way, God used me to be an encouragement or speak truth or preach or sing or just hold someone.  HE used me to get a task done, such as painting, or to bless someone by serving.  He used me to pray or feed or share God's word or pray with someone.

Thank you for all who were praying for these two events before they happened and during.  It means a lot!  And I know God heard :)

You know that feeling of just passing through, seeing a person and praying for them once and heading on your way? The one that leaves you feeling like you were just another person stopping by for a second in their life, leaving you wondering if they really know how much you care and love them?

Well, that may be the case here again, but I am so thankful for the opportunity to go back to the dumps a second time, bringing people who have never been before, to visit those I sat with and prayed for Monday, my new friends, families. Molly and Seth were the ones who had gone with me before but weren't able to come the second time so Traday, Renee, Caitlin, and Caitlin’s mom (Jill), joined me as I introduced them to the friends I had made on Monday while walking through. I got to share my excitement and love for these people with them and their story since I had already talked to them about it before.

When I saw my them again, I think they were surprised that I decided to come back to them specifically since I had already prayed for them on Monday. It was so good to talk to them more, pray for them, and let some of the others from our squad be apart of it as well. There were a few mis-communications between Pastor Manuel and us as we both speak very little of each other’s languages, but it was kind of funny, gave us a laugh, and we eventually figured it all out.

The first person we visited was a lady named Rosa. She was so willingly and calmly washing all the family’s clothes by hand when we walked up. She was older and still had young kids all around her. One thing I noticed right away was how many flies were around. The few flies around me bothered me so much even for those few minutes, but the 100’s on her didn’t seem to phase her because that is normal for her. It broke my heart. As we were talking, we found out she has lived there for over 20 years. She asked if we could pray for her health and pain in her joints. So, several of us prayed over her in English and Manuel prayed for her and her family in Spanish. She seemed not sure what to think of us when we first walked but before we left, she was smiling :). We got to play with the kids a bit which they of course were really excited about. Rosa was such as sweet lady and seemed to be content with her simple lifestyle.

The second visit we made was with my friends Coni (the mother), Jacqueline, Rafael (the nephew), Samanty, Joseling, and Jacquin. When I first arrived, there were only three of them there, but slowly others started to arrive. I was able to introduce my new friends and share this family’s story with the other World Racers. They explained that one of the girls was with her father working at the lake and others were finishing school work. I told them God had put them on my heart and I was excited to be able to see them again.  Coni told me that one of her daughter’s is an artist so we found the artists in our group and it was neat to have that bond. Then she said that one of the others likes to paint pictures and another enjoys math. It was fun to talk with those who had similar talents and interests. They welcomed our prayer and it felt like I had known them forever; they truly are my new friends.

Our next stop was with my friend Jariana. Last time we visited her, she told us that her husband wanted a divorce and we prayed over her, her marriage, and family. She is one of the sweetest ladies ever and she glows with such peace even through her tough circumstances. After much translation, mis-understanding, and more talking and then laughing, we eventually figured out that we had huge things to celebrate…her husband had decided to stay with her and work things out! So, we praised God together and prayed that the enemy would have no place there. We talked with her for a bit longer and played with her little boy and girl. Afterward, she showed us some pictures of her husband and of their children growing up and it was apparent their daughter loved to look at pictures. She was proud of her family and the joy she had on her face, showed thanks to God for what He is doing in her family.

Next, we went to a family I had not met yet. It was a family of ALL girls! There were more than seven women and girls living in that little house together. When we walked up we were greeted with hugs from at least two girls with huge smiles. It was great! There was a 16 year old who was 8 months pregnant and a mother who had just had a little baby girl. A small ten year old popped her head out from behind the curtain where she was bathing. She hurried to get dressed so she could come greet us as well. We were able to tell them that they were beautiful women created in God’s image and that God loves them. We found out they had been living in that house for several years already. The older women and teenagers seemed to be very calm and mature. I could tell the children were well taken care of by how they changed a diaper, brushed another’s hair, and hugged another one almost all at the same time! The younger ones were excited to show off their newest baby sister and eager for us to take pictures of them all. They were so much for to be around and most of all I LOVED seeing their huge smiles. They don’t have much at all, and the younger ones may not even know it, but they are so happy just to be alive!

Before we left, I bought some crackers and bananas from Jariana’s own little shop. It is very common for people all over central America to have their own shops to make a little money for thief family. I couldn’t believe how much I got for a dollar! It blew me away. I thanked her a lot and as we headed out, I stopped by Coni’s house and gave her the crackers and bananas and all of them were so thankful to me for it and excited to receive them. It was sad to say good-bye, but I was thankful for a second opportunity to see them.

I have so much to learn from each person I talked to there in the dump. I want to be grateful like they are and content with life the way they are. I want to live simply and be okay with that. I want to share and give my ‘things’ away like they do. I don’t want my possessions to have a hold on me. I want to praise God the way do.   I want to love life the way they do. So little, yet so at peace, so grateful, and so filled with joy. I have a lot to learn from them...Thank you Jesus for allowing me to be right here right now where I can pray for people you love so much. Thank you for allowing me to love them. Thank you for using them to teach me even the simplest of things, yet some of the hardest things to do. Thank you Jesus…