Posted in General Posts by Becky Lewis on 5/16/2012
|
My Squad and I complied this fun list about life before the World Race. Enjoy!
You Know You are Preparing for the World Race When…
1. You have dreams about actually picking one of the many Malaria medications and getting the prescription filled.
2. You send up little prayers of thanksgiving every time you take a hot shower or use a western toilet.
3. You can say the countries in your route, in order, faster than anyone can understand.
4. You seriously consider applying for a job at REI because of how much research you have done on the different kinds of camping equipment.
5. You earnestly pray for teammates, whom you have never met, on a regular basis.
6. You have “practiced” setting up your tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag in your room for the night to try them out.
7. You used to get excited to live out of a backpack ... now the thought of packing it is a source of anxiety.
8. To pass the time, you try to think up more words that start with your squad letter.
9. Google+ hangouts are as close as you can get to meeting your team before Training Camp.
10. Instead of buying things, you are trying to sell everything you own.
11. You have two full-time jobs:
a. A "real" job or school
b. Fundraising
12. You no longer hate using port-o-potties.
13. You try to hangout with your friends ALL THE TIME, because you know you won’t see them for a year.
14. You ask God over and over and over for trust.
15. You eat basically anything you want, because food will no longer be the same on the World Race.
16. You become good friends with your local shot nurse.
17. Your "to do list" appears to be increasing daily, without a foreseeable way of getting it all done.
18. You don't care when you get extremely dirty at work, because it’s good practice for times when you won't be able to bathe.
19. You're starting to get used to the idea of body odor, knowing that that will be REFRESHING smell in just a few short months.
20. The people at REI stop coming over to ask if you need help because you've been to the store the last four days in a row because you still can't decide which tent to purchase.
21. You check your WR account balance multiple times a day, hoping that it has gone up since the last time you checked it … 3 hours ago.
22. You wish you owned a time traveling machine so you could just go to training camp and FINALLY meet your team!
23. You have a blank stare on your face when people ask what your plans are after the World Race.
24. Your justification system for buying new clothes is:
a. Will this be functional for the Race?
b. How small can this pack?
25. You get funny looks at the store when you are trying to roll up a pair of jeans as tight as they will go, make some kind of sound of affirmation, and unroll them.
27. You instantly have 70 new brothers and sisters who will pray for you, laugh with you, give all sorts of advice, and even make fun of you… even though you have not met them in real life.
28. You feel scared to death, overwhelmed with excitement, and completely at peace all at the same time. Yes, it is possible!
29. You can explain the World Race in 3 minutes or less... awake or alseep!
30. YOU CANNOT WAIT FOR TRAINING CAMP OR LAUNCH ANY LONGER!!!!! :D
|
|
|
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Becky Lewis on 5/4/2012
I am the worst at blogging really awesome things… so I’m just going to blog some thoughts of mine.
Today I was at the pharmacy getting my basic year supply of malaria meds when the pharmacist started laughing while handing over hundreds of pills to me and asked “What are you doing that you need all these pills?”
“I’m a missionary and I’m traveling to 11 countries in the next year…(the conversation went on but I’ll stop at this point)”
Something felt so wrong saying that I, Becky Lewis, was a missionary. I felt like I shouldn’t be called that. Who am I to have that title? This person who struggles with faith in her God every day. Who struggles with sin daily and who tends to say the wrong things all the time. The same girl that had a horrible attitude the following day… surely, I am NOT a missionary. So my immediate thought after that was “I just lucked out and am able to go on this trip so God can make me better because there is A LOT of work to be done.”
BAM. God happened.
I forget that He doesn’t see me the way I see me.
I forget the simple truth that I am loved and cherished.
I forget that it’s not about me
I forget that there is a fallen being who hates that I’m called a missionary as well.
I know God has called me to this. I know He knows what He is doing. I know He knows my flaws, my sins, my strengths and my fears way better than anyone or anything else and He still has called me out NOT ONLY to change me as a daughter in Him but to go and love on more of His children.
I can do that.
He can use me to hug a young girl who feels like there is no hope.
He can use me to hold a precious baby who was abandoned.
He can lead me to pray for strength for people who feel so lost.
I hope I never feel worthy to be called a missionary. In fact, I really shouldn’t even feel “worthy” to be called His, but I am His and there is no changing that but this pity party I throw myself shows how I still think it's all about me. I should praise Him and have that fuel me even more. I’m not worthy of Him yet He still loves me.
Yet He still wants to use me for His glory.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Becky Lewis on 2/29/2012
Less than three months from training. I think I can speak for my whole squad when I say God has been wrecking our worlds since we signed up. What I thought I knew became nothing when God showed me a glimpse of Him. What my plans were and still are nothing compared to His. What I think my heart desires is the complete opposite of what God desires for me and I am so grateful for this.
I’ve been reading Kisses from Katie recently. Not quite done yet, but it’s been a blessing in my life (I encourage anyone and everyone to read it). She’s a missionary in Uganda who already has more than a dozen adopted Ugandan children (did I mention she’s my age?). Her fire for the Lord and for other people puts me to shame but what I love so much about reading this is that she is just like me in so many ways. She inserts some of her journal entries in the book and this particular one hit me hard. I hope this brings encouragement to anyone reading this like it has to me.
“ONE DAY…
November 22, 2007
Peter is the rock on which God built His church. But first, Peter was probably the worst disciple ever. I am Peter.
Jesus tells Peter that he (Peter) will deny Him 3 times; Peter says, “No! I love you, I could never deny you, Lord.” Yet we all know that Peter does in fact deny Jesus three times. I know in my heart and my soul and the core of my being that I love the Lord, that I would do anything for Him, go to the ends of the earth for Him, but how often do I forget to give the glory to His name? How often do I take compliments without giving Him the credit? Do I, like Peter, deny Jesus the glory that is His?
Jesus told His disciples that it was God’s will for Him to be arrested. He went willingly when the soldiers came to take Him, but enthusiastic, loving Peter raised his sword and cut off a soldier’s ear. “Put your sword away,” Jesus commanded. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” I am Peter. I have my own time frame. When I don’t see things happening, I try to make them happen. And Jesus says, “Put away your sword, put away your plans. Shall we not do what the Father has asked of us?” So like Peter, I put away my plans, my defenses, and watch as everything happens perfectly, in God’s own timing.
After Jesus had risen, He appeared to His disciples while they were fishing. When Peter saw his beloved Savior, he excitedly jumped out of the boat and began swimming to where Jesus stood. Needless to say, the boat probably reached the shore long before Peter. I am Peter—excitedly jumping into things and then standing, sopping wet, at the feet of the Lord, smiling at my stupidity. I get excited, forget to think things through, and end up doing them the long way. Every time, though, just as with Peter, Jesus welcomes my soaking wet self into His arms and is simply happy to see me.
I am Peter who made many mistakes, but I am Peter for whom God had great plans, whom God established to do His work. Peter is the rock on which Jesus built His church. The very night when Peter foolishly jumped out of the boat, Jesus reinstated Him in the presence of the other disciples.
“Do you truly love me?” He asked, “Then feed my lambs.”
“Do you really love me? Take care of my lambs.”
“Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep, and come follow Me.”
For each time I deny God the glory that is His, for each time I follow my will instead of listening to His, for each time I jump ahead without first consulting my Lord, He asks, “Daughter, do you truly love me?” and I do.
“Feed my sheep.” And I will. And I do. “Come follow me.” And I am, or at least I am trying.
I am Peter. I mess up. I make mistakes, I am far from perfect, and God will use me. God will establish great things through me.
You are Peter. God already knows that you will make a mess but His plan for you is great. Go. Feed His Sheep.”
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Becky Lewis on 9/26/2011
I’ve been debating for a while on what to “blog” on this thing. I am a horrible blogger. I write all the time but I usually just write extremely personal things and only in my own personal notebook that no one will ever read. So, my biggest struggle has been how to blog without showing a deeper side of me but still seeming “deep”. For those who do not know me very well, I am the “all or nothing” sort of person, so trying to sound so “deep and personal” without actually being “deep and personal” has been a challenge. Well, needless to say, I could not find a happy medium and figured to just write about what has been on my heart lately. I am trying to pretend that this keyboard and computer screen is really just my notebook and a pen.
As someone who has been blessed to converse with women from all ages (anywhere between the ages of 14-65 years of age) almost daily, I have been able to learn that women… struggle. We all struggle with the thoughts of being too big, too small, too loud, too quiet, too outspoken, too independent, or too dependent (there are a ton more, but for now, that is the list). I personally battle more with the “too loud” and “too outspoken” or just really, too much. When I read about the Proverbs 31 woman, I get sort of mad. She seems so perfect, and I am so not. Her life is so balanced and her personality is so pleasant. My life seems so sporadic and my personality seems just… not so pleasant. I am constantly told differently by my friends, coworkers, and acquaintances but it never really changes my mindset.
Most women, like myself, also struggle with the “pain of rejection”. I was told about a blog last night and was told “if you are single, you must read this”. Well, I am single thus I “must read this” blog. So, I did. I read to this paragraph: “In my ideal world, everyone would get to be someone’s favorite. The pain of rejection in singleness comes in the unbalanced nature of relationships. I have people who are my favorites. They are my dearest and nearest friends – my top priorities outside of Jesus. The thing is they have husbands and children. And so, I’m not their favorite. These people are my family, but I’m not their family. And that’s painful.” ( http://www.fabsharford.com) I had to stop after this paragraph. Literally on the drive home from dinner, I was struggling with this thought. I live out on my own. My blood family lives a thousand miles away (literally). I have a couple “Texas Families” that I adore but the thought that they have their own families with their own lives crosses my mind all the time. I know they love me as much as I love them, but “These people are my family, but I’m not their family. And that’s painful”. So the battle with loneliness is never far off for me and I know it is not far off for most people as well. I stopped reading after that paragraph because I could no longer deny that I struggled. I had to deal.
The “pain of rejection”, the battle with loneliness and the idea that I am too much occur almost daily for me. My own sins and desires have thrown my life on an off-balance course. In a way, these struggles are a great thing. If I did not daily struggle with these things, I would not daily cling to the only One who saves me from… well, me. I went through that phase of denying that I actually felt these feelings or shoved down the feelings just to get through the day. I can no longer accept my convincing argument that I have dealt with this for so long that it will never actually go away. For those who do not know what it is like to give up the daily battles that feel like they will never be won to the only One who can win them, then let me try to describe it to you. To daily give up something that you feel absolutely hopeless in is… unpleasant at its worst. Some days you will feel despair, even more pain or just plain ridiculous. More days than none, you feel free. You feel like that chain that has been around your neck has been taken off and you no longer need to go around in self-pity. The world looks slightly different. Slightly bigger. Slightly more than yourself. On the bad days, they are usually bad because I refuse to give up everything. I want to cling on to just a little bit of my self-pity.
I am nowhere near perfection, but God sees me perfect. I have been put in my city, where I work, who I hang out with for a reason. All of this is part of a bigger plan than what I can see. My daily struggles are a part of me for now, but they are not who I am. My life is constantly changing. My heart is constantly growing. Where will God lead me next? How will He change my heart again? Ready to find out.
Daily Self-Reminder:
“We are not out to make great our name but we are out to make great of The Name”
- Matt Chandler
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Becky Lewis on 9/7/2011
INDIA
NEPAL
THAILAND
CHALLENGE: ASIA
CAMBODIA
VIETNAM
RWANDA
UGANDA
KENYA
LATVIA
ESTONIA/LITHUANIA
11 COUNTRIES IN 11 MONTHS
So, the time has come! God had brought this amazing opportunity my way and I am so blessed! But for this to happen, I need to be continuously prayed for and financially supported! I know God will provide! So if you feel lead to give, just click on "Support Me!" underneath my picture and give whatever you feel lead to give. If you are wondering where exactly this money goes to, I stole this from another member of my squad (who I think stole this from another racer)... anywho, here you go!!
My 65% covers the following:
-
$4,235 for our intercontinental travel for the year
-
$460 per month, broken down as: $3.75 per day for food; $5.25 per day for lodging; $3.00 per day for transport; $3.33 per day for long distance travel (buses, trains) and miscellaneous supplies
And in case you’re curious, here are the fundraising deadlines for the July 2012 World Race:
-
$3,500 - Due 5/6/2012 (2 weeks before Training Camp)
-
$6,500 - Due 6/17/2012 (2 weeks prior my trip)
-
$11,000 - Due 10/1/2012 (End of 3 months on the field)
-
$15,500 - Due 1/1/2013 (End of 6 months on the field)
Please pray for my squad and I! We will certainly need it to raise all this money! If you have ANY questions, please just shoot me an email and I will be happy to answer! Thank you so much again for just supporting me in prayer, encouragement or financially!
God Bless,
~Becky
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Becky Lewis on 9/5/2011
Let's have some "truth time":
Where to go from here...
This was always something that has plagued my mind. What's the next big step? A constant lack of contentment has been my life status. Being content in where I was at the present time never even crossed my mind. I claimed to be grateful for what I had, but my heart was the last place to find evidence of any sort of contentment. I was in constant movement to become better as a person, to better my physical life situation and an excuse not to face my own reality. What was my reality? The fear that I was a failure. That I had somehow failed at what every 20-something should be at in life.
I think every person goes through this at some point: the feeling of being inadequate. The fear that you will never measure up to how big you wish you could be, the reality that so-and-so was living your dream and you were stuck working ridiculous hours just to barely pay the bills. This was my reality. I was not good enough, my life would never be the adventure my soul longed for, and that I was average at best.
Than God hit me.
Not physically (although, that would've been something to see), but He so mercifully made me see what I needed to realize. I was so caught up in what I wanted out of my life that I never saw what He had planned for me. I have heard this preached at me too many times to count, but it never actually hit me spiritually until God took hold. My dreams were/are nothing compared to what He wanted. So, when I finally had no fight left on the inside, He filled me body, heart and soul. I no longer felt inadequate. I felt humbly “enough” through Him. I no longer felt like a failure but that God had me where I was at and with the people that were around me for a reason. Peace. Joy. Contentment. The things that I always truly wanted.
I still cannot believe it either. Once God transformed me, He started showing me His insane plan for the future. I have always wanted to travel, so He decided to lead me to 11 different countries. My heart has always been drawn to underprivileged kids or people stuck in poverty. Why not call me to a year of serving these exact people for Him for a year? I do not know His complete plan or what He has planned for me after this, but I finally do not care. Wherever He leads, I will follow. Wherever there's need, He is there.
We are here to spread His kingdom, wherever we are in present day. let that be at work, in school, or in a coffee shop while trying to finish a deadline or project. We are here to do His work, until the day He calls us home.
Where do I go from here? Can't wait to find out.
“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
- 2 Timothy 4:5
| |
|
|
|
|
