We were hot…sweaty. It had been days since most of us had taken showers and the thin film of greasiness which is ever so constant covered us all. I looked around the room and saw a group of young men and women drained…tired…but not yet to the point of exhaustion or fatigue. I saw it in their faces and felt it in my heart as I continued to strum Matt´s guitar. I tried to engage my heart into it but didn´t quite have an abundance of energy…I felt His leading back into rest and was relieved that we were about to go there.
Earlier in the day Brittany had come up to me to see if we could spend some time in worship and prayer. She had collaborated with a couple of other Real Lifer´s to put together a direction for the night that I believe was birthed in His heart. So after a few minutes of gathering everyone together in a moist room of tiredness, I handed the reigns back over to Brittany to use the voice He had given her for our team.
I scanned the room briefly as Brent lay out on his sleeping mat from a day of needing rest. I heard the excitement in Keith´s voice as he knew we were about to jump into some worship. I watched as Whit poured out her heart to the team with some stuff that´s been bubbling up in her for awhile now…then I closed my eyes, leaned back and entered into His rest.
I was thankful for His faithfulness, goodness…for His provision and leading. I was thankful for the team and the opportunity to be here with them. I was thankful for what He had already been doing in them and in me this past week…I finally felt as though I had a bit longer to breathe seeing as though we´ve hit the ground running. I eased my mind and stilled my heart and let His words wash over me.
We entered into His presence and while some sang, others prayed. Still more just sat and soaked. Others wrestled briefly with the transition only to find a safe place filled with deep words. There was healing that was taking place. There was rest and life and freedom taking place. There was a sense of belonging that was starting to fall…and slowly those rumblings grew in our hearts until random eruptions of sound and voice came out of us and from us as we engaged with the Almighty…the tender lover of our hearts.
I watched as one by one the Peru Crew would be led to pray over another or to speak words of truth and life into them. I watched as others cried tears of release. I watched as He started to fill a group that was tired to a place of overflowing. This wasn´t just another ¨ministry¨time…this wasn´t just another thing on the schedule. This was a taste of what community looks like. This was a taste of what unity tastes like.
Hours passed and still most were engaged like an ADHD boy in his third second of something shiny. There is freedom that is coming in Peru but it´s not just for Peruvians…It´s for my team. It´s for me…and for those of you reading our blogs and living vicariously through us…it´s also for you.
Last night I sat in His presence honored to follow the lead of my team. I was honored to walk with them through a transition that will change their perspectives, challenge their ideals, and refresh their senses. I was honored as they undeniably were choosing a culture of honoring each other over the examples we most have come from. For many of you reading this, I´m talking about your child. I´m thankful that God has entrusted me with walking with your child and am honored with the heart that is within them.
