Posted in General Posts by Brooke Blackburn on 1/27/2012
I don’t really want to write a last blog but don’t want to leave readers hanging. I also want to write something that will be left posted on my blog. So, here it is. I have finally found peace with the race and decided to return home, and not raise the rest of the funds. This whole time, I have learned a great deal about discernment and promised those I trust back home that I would know when it was good for me to come home and act on it, not stay out of pride.
The hardest thing for me to do is fight the pride to stay just to feel a sense of completion. I know finally that this is the right time and that my experience is over. I have gotten many positive things from this experience and will come away thankful for what God has grown me in and the relationships he has blessed me with. I never came in expecting to leave early, but then again, I came in with lots of ideas that have changed about the entire mission behind the “adventure”.
I have now returned to Charlotte after seeing my family and friends in Florida. I am loving the ways God is moving in every area of life being “home”. As much as I feel at home travelling, I see that I am getting back to a healthier place upon returning, surrounded by such wonderful people and literally bumping into people I know he desire in my life around every corner. I will be starting a job at an elementary school next week and move into an apartment this weekend. It’s still hard to imagine living alone instead of with 5 or 6 other girls, but I sure won’t mind having my own bathroom!
Thanks to everyone who supported me on this journey and I am glad to have come back with so many amazing relationships-new and old.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Brooke Blackburn on 12/30/2011
When you celebrate Christmas on the World Race, you realize how much your thinking patterns have changed. At home, I asked for and received nice store bought gifts and enjoyed delicious home cooked meals on holidays. Yesterday, I did a gift exchange of previously used gifts with my teammates that made me laugh and come to terms with who we have become after 6 months of this crazy ride.
Let me explain- Since we are lacking both money and stores here in Rwanda, we decided to do a white elephant gift exchange; where you draw number and exchange and steal gifts. We wrapped items we already had in brown bags, toilet paper, etc. Here were some hot items, actually desirable gifts here on the race: dryer sheets, popcorn kernels(even better because they came in a ziplock baggy!), chocolate, socks, a nail polish remover pad, a buff, bug spray, crest white strips, a massage coupon, and more. Most gifts were fought over, yes, fought over-not with fists, just kept getting passed around! To make this more racey, we did the whole exchange in the dark with one headlamp because the power was out again and some of our headlamp batteries are finally going out.
This is how I finally saw how different we have become out here. I would fight for a pair of yellow socks and a nail polish removal pad! This is the World Race folks! So for you future racers, make sure you pack a little piece of Christmas with you. We keep talking about things we wished we’d brought or not, so here are a few things I would suggest that may not be on every list:
Sweet cards and notes from home for holidays, notecards/envelopes, small musical instruments, extra headphones, external speakers, movies on your computer, a real towel, stretchy pants, extra pens, 1 favorite item of clothing, pictures of friends and family, contact solution, power strip, ways to exercise in small spaces, American medicines, zit creams-most everything on our route we were able to find in every country-from tents, shoes, underwear, or books. Don’t feel bad bringing things you don’t feel are a necessity; just look at them as things you can give away later!
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Brooke Blackburn on 12/25/2011
Merry Christmas from Africa! Last year, I was in a cabin in the mountains, enjoying more snow than we could handle and an abundance of family. This year, I am spending Christmas in the African heat with my Tambo sisters and squad leaders along with my Rwandan family. Today is a day mixed with sadness over missing my family and home, and joy over where God has brought me on this day. Over the past few days, I have enjoyed preparing for Christmas in a new way.
On Friday, I preached on a radio station about the obedience of Mary and Joseph and how I was hesitant when the Lord called in my life many times as these biblical examples were, but see the joy in the final obedience. That night, we spent our evening (until about 3 a.m.) preaching and praying with churches as they did all-night worship. What a great way to start Christmas Eve. That same night, I even shared briefly with some motorcycle taxi drivers and found out the next day that at least one had really taken it to heart.
Christmas Eve certainly didn’t feel very Christmasy. We don’t have a tree or decorations and we haven’t been out buying gifts or sitting on Santa’s lap. We did, however, go to the airport where we get our internet. There was a Christmas tree, banners, and with flavored coffees and skype calls, it felt like a real holiday to us. That afternoon we went to an incredible kids Christmas program at church where they danced and sang for hours. In true African fashion, we were served a huge plate of food, glass bottled soda, and a lollipop! We performed a skit for them and out of nowhere, Pastor Ettian called me up to RAP! WHAT?!?! You can’t say no to these things, so I delivered. So, while you were finishing your Christmas shopping and wrapping, baking cookies, and watching Elf; I was rapping, “Jesus Loves the Little Children” in a church in Rwanda.
It was a blast, and I then preached one last Christmas sermon for an evening service. As we settled in last night, it was hard to believe still that today was the “big day”. We woke up this morning to Santa’s many surprises. There were World Race style gifts all around- toilet paper and goodies in each of our shoes lined up in the hall and sweet notes, gifts, and OF COURSE peanut butter from teammates. Looks like we didn’t need a chimney after all. After our delicious traditional Christmas breakfast of hotdog buns and bananas, we were off to 4 hours of church where we celebrated the way we should. What a joy to see true praise of our king on the day of his birth! This has been both challenging and wonderful. Since we already did the big casserole Christmas in Kenya a couple of weeks ago, we opted for an American Christmas at the airport to skype our families, eat burgers, and take it easy. At least we will be watching a Christmas movie and doing a, here’s what I dug out of my pack, white elephant gift exchange later!
“I am the Lord’s servant.” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” – Luke 1:38
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Brooke Blackburn on 12/24/2011
It’s roughly halfway through the Race and I want to reflect back in a way. I am halfway home and don’t even know where home is anymore. So far, the World Race has been absolutely nothing like I imagined. When they say to have no expectations, they mean NONE, because you spend months being disappointed or frustrated. I have yet to really make physical sacrifices, have had nice homes to stay in, good food for the most part, and a lot of free time.
The challenges have come from other areas-community, personal growth, relationships back home ending, and deaths both here and back home. I look back at why I came on this journey- to love on people around the world and allow God to soften my heart and give me a more gentle spirit. Never did I think He would do it in the ways He is, but that shows how little I understand.
In the last 5 months, I have been more angry, frustrated, and homesick than ever in my life and thought about going home every day until about a couple weeks ago. I finally saw that God is working on all of the things He said he would, just not in the fun, exciting ways I want. So, I am sticking it out and finding joy in whatever pain and frustrations come. Now, I don’t want you to think it’ all bad- certainly not. It’s been a crazy and often-times, amazing ride. I haven’t even gotten sick, eaten anything bad, or had to go more than a few days without a shower! Here are some highlights-
BULGARIA- This was almost a whole month of ATL (ask the Lord) ministry where every day my team and I would just pray and see where the Lord led. This led to so many memorable moments and I grew in my sensitivity to the Spirit. Plus, it was fun living in our Summer home and being a family.
HUNGARY- A month of discernment and frustration but also prayer and triumph. This beautiful country is where God revealed that thankfulness is the key to the consistent joy I was seeking. Praying through the night during 24-hour prayer was so powerful.
INDIA- Originally, this was the one place I was most hesitant, and least excited about, so naturally, it is the country that I connect with most and ministry that will be with me forever. The children at Sarah’s Covenant home feel like my own and I plan on always be involved with the wonderful family there, especially one girl, Melanie, that God placed on my heart to help support and I am dying to see again.
NEPAL- I learned so much about family from the family we stayed with and my new team who finally broke me into having some fun amidst the things I am going through both on and off the Race.
KENYA- This may have been the toughest month with being homesick, having a hard time with ministry, and ending a relationship. Making it through this month with more joy was a confirmation of the promise the Lord shared that living a life of thanks will be joy.
RWANDA- So far, this place has been a beautiful halfway point that is surprisingly very homey. Being able to preach daily is wonderful and my highlight is preaching on the radio. Having real goals and beginning to meet them this month is a victory for our team.
Overall, I have gotten to fly over Mount Everest, get an African and Hungarian massage, witness to Buddhist monks, hike through amazing scenery all over the world, preach on a Rwandan radio, sing in front of an entire school, play with beautiful children, swim in the Indian Ocean, and soooo much more!
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Brooke Blackburn on 12/21/2011
Here in Kigali, Rwanda, we live like royalty. We are cooked for three times a day as we live in our nice home with the beautiful mountains and scenes all around. It’s hard not to feel like I’m in America as we ride on nice buses (on the right side of the road) and see clean streets. Then we have a night like tonight and remember…I’m on the World Race.
Today was certainly a day of high and lows. This was day one of our daily preaching. Each of us is expected to preach daily in different churches and even banks. So, nerves were high for some and preparations were being made. This morning we visited the Rwanda genocide museum. It was both beautiful and a nicer museum than American ones and very moving to see the realities of what the people we are living with are still dealing with.
 <----The Genocide Museum
We then had a time to eat, prepare, and rest before our preaching. Then, the night started getting interesting. Rachel and I were going together to a church and Kendall and Jason were travelling with us because they were going nearby. Our friend, Fergie, travelled with us to help us get around and translate. Transportation is not the easiest thing in Rwanda. After taking multiple forms of transportation, being more than a little late, and having some trouble getting there.
Rachel and I were then immediately whisked away to the church; up 2 flights of stairs in the dark. Thank God for my headlamp. As we walked through a dark office building, following a guy I barely knew, an hour late to preach, I had one of those “this is the World Race” moments. There was actually a church up there, our contact was preaching in the dark and there were some people in the; I have no idea how many or what they look like. We are called right up, still on edge from transportation drama. I go up, in the dark, and preach with my headlamp. Halfway through, lights and microphone come back. I wouldn’t say the place was rocked but we made it through to tell a funny story later.
As the lights came on, it hit me how funny it was that up until then I had no idea who or how many people I was even preaching this message too. Does is really matter though? I realized it should always be as if I am blinded to who is watching, listening, or reading. “Do everything as if for God and not for men.” Colossians 3:23
This is a journey I am just now getting my footing on and am excited to see God work through to the end. I have one final support deadline before January 1 that I need almost $3000 in order to stay. I believe there are so many stories still to be written.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Brooke Blackburn on 12/14/2011
We are living near the city center of Kitale, Kenya. We stop in town just about every day for some reason or another. This is where we met our VAN CHASERS. As with any city area- there are beggars. Young and old wander the street asking for money and food. The kids we have met have not been just some beggars though. We have heard their stories, spent some time, and this is what I want to share.
When we first met most of these school aged kids on the street, they were sniffing glue and just wanting to talk to mzungus. As we drive away, they hold onto the back of the van and chase us down the road. The more we went into town, the more we learned their stories. Sure, some of them were fabricated tales of woe to earn a shilling or two but sometimes you just knew when a kid has just been handed the wrong fate.
It started by just buying the cheap popcorn bags from the machine outside the grocery store for some of the boys we had met and turned into a real ministry. A couple of the girls bought shoes for some boys and we tried to get kids to give up the glue. Soon, though, some of my teammates felt that more needed to be done. After talking with our contact and another pastor, Staci visited some of the boys’ homes and made sure their stories matched up. These kids are smart, sweet, and just want a chance to go to school and get out of the life they have been handed. In order to go to school or even eat, they have to be provided for. So many of the stories are the same and we have found to be true. Parents have been killed or died and there are no funds to support them or pay for school, food, or anything else.
I am happy to report that because of the passion of a couple of my teammates, 4 of these boys have the opportunity to start attending a boarding school in January, most of them beginning about 6 years behind their age. They will be provided for in all necessary ways and even have a “family” with one of the pastors we have been connected with, but will need sponsors. These kids have been given provision before and then let down and we don’t want this to happen again. We are so excited for them to have a chance to start over and get the life God desires for them. They need caring people to help keep them in the school and off the streets. If you are interested in sponsoring them in any way, even just a one-time donation, email me: bmarieblackburn@yahoo.com and I will let you know how to help. It will be about $800 a year per student for all of their expenses.
I love seeing this God story unfold on the street of Kenya and am blessed to be a part of it.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Brooke Blackburn on 12/6/2011
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19
This verse is our Tambo Tribe verse and has been literally springing up again and again over the past couple of months. When our team first got put together, Kendall, who is our new team leader, spoke this verse over our team. It wasn’t long after when our squad leaders shared this verse with us and said they thought it fit us well. We then got to our first ministry site in Nepal and as we walked into the living room of our home for the month- there it was, Isaiah 43:18, printed on the wall! We repeated it again and again in Nepal and it held true many times.
Now, we are in Kenya and staying with a new family in a wonderful home. In our first week here, they shared with us some pretty major issues they are having with the landlord and needing to move unexpectedly because of it. They had a lot of turmoil and stress because of what was happening in the situation. During devotions one night, Kendall shared our team verse in Isaiah with them. They were grateful and said it applied. A week or so went by and we are still in the house but it was been quite hectic, not seeing the family much. We got up to introduce ourselves at a church the other day and our contact shared that she knew we were brought here to speak to them in this trying time. She said that Kendall sharing that verse was why God brought us here at this time. We had no idea that God had used that verse yet again in such a powerful way. Amen!
It has been so true though, as much as I am the same, new things are happening. Gratefulness has sprung up, but other things too. There is a trust and fight in me, I’ve been missing. It’s not so much the race or what I am doing here that is springing things up, but just the distance from all that I love. The trust I have had to develop in God and others has changed as I faced fears all around, not having the things I usually depend on. I don’t really know how people face those fears in their lives without God and the peace He provides. So, as He makes ways in the desert and gives me hope in the hard times, I can see the new things. I am excited to see how Isaiah 43 is used in Rwanda.
| |
|
Posted in General Posts by Brooke Blackburn on 12/4/2011
I recently wrote a blog about a book I’ve been reading (“One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp) and the list of gifts I have been keeping because of it. I have been continuing to work on my gratefulness as I literally count my blessings. In the book, she says that thankfulness precedes blessings. This just didn’t make sense to me at first. Why would I be thankful before receiving something?
The other day, it all came together. I had one of those mornings where I just wanted to be at home and couldn’t get out of bed. We had a full day of ministry and a youth conference at the church. We had worship with the teens and others in the church first. During worship, I decided to try this whole thankfulness preceding blessing deal. So, I starting speaking all the things I was grateful for at the time and what I knew was to come. I was thankful to be in Africa, to have little kids pulling at me as I prayed, thankful to have family I missed; and went on and on for as long as I could.
It wasn’t long until, surprise surprise, the blessings flooded in and I had one of my favorite ministry days of the race! Dancing with the women, having the beautiful orphans fight to hold my hand during the sermons, and sharing my popcorn and peanuts with kids who have never even tried either before all became gifts. Then, I found out how to bring real joy to others- through music. Some of the high school girls at the boarding school and I have bonded and love to dance and sing. They don’t have computers, radios, or anything and just know songs they have heard from in town when they are out of school. I had my ipod with me and that ended up being the biggest blessing of all.
Sitting with girls, some boys, and even one little one and listening to all kinds of music was one of my favorite memories so far this year. It’s hard to imagine the joy in putting a little earbud in your ear and hearing Josh Groban or Beyonce, but imagine not even knowing that Beyonce isn’t white. For about 4 hours that day, I sat until the battery was drained and watched faces light up and voices sing familiar songs.
Of course, that night, I went home and had probably the toughest night on race. On this day of extremes, I wrestled with God and why he was teaching me this gratefulness in all things. I knew I had the choice to go back to my old ways of being angry for not having the blessings I desired, but I can’t say I’ve seen much fruit in that. Instead, I stuck with what I’d seen work, and got back to the list- thankful for internet, thankful for my teammate Olivia, thankful for the sound of cows and geese outside…and it went on. Self-pity and fear fled and peace and joy took over as I realized that I had Christ’s strength and gifts to fight anything I was hurt, scared, or up against.
So being thankful before receiving the blessings can bring joy like this? Is that what I am here to learn?
“because you know that the testing of faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
-James 1:4
I guess I just wanted you to know that I am still counting, still thankful and that wasn’t just some seasonal blog. I encourage you to count yours too, even before you have the joy you are looking for.
Here’s a glance at my recent entries to see where I’m at:
#385-playing legos with Ian
#386-tshirts from grocery store
#387-a mom who never sleeps
#388-dancing in the back seat of a bumpy van
#389- sound effects on church keyboard
| |
|
Posted in Community by Brooke Blackburn on 11/26/2011
While our friends and family back home were out shopping for great deals on Black Friday, I was having a very different kind of Black Friday in Kenya, Africa. All day, my team and I felt like we were in a holiday movie while we shopped, prepare food, and listened to Christmas music on our Thanksgiving Friday. After spending the 24th really homesick and thinking of our families’ gathered together without us, having a perfect day with our Tambo and Kenyan family was just what was needed.
We live down a long dirt road which has been all mud since we arrived at this unusually rainy time. This set us up for a very rocky start to our holiday. About halfway down the road, the tire of our van met a deep puddle it especially liked and decided to stay in it. This left us and the van tipped sideways-me in the back corner shaking! It felt like we were teetering and I noticed I could touch the ground from outside my open window, probably not a good sign. After carefully climbing out, it was time to lift and push. Long story short-it was nothing more than a funny story to tell our kids over and over again one day and we were safely back on the road.
We had fun emptying out grocery stores of items that people here had never heard of or used before. Heading home, we even ran into one of the other Xsquad teams in town and found out they live right near us! The rest of the day was mostly spent in the kitchen bringing out our own family recipes and traditions. While singing and dancing to Christmas music with our extended Kenyan family, we cooked potatoes, casseroles, sweets, mac-n-cheese, cornbread, etc. The only thing missing was turkey- it’s super expensive here. My favorite part was letting my new Kenyan brothers, sisters, aunts, and all taste new things as we cooked and be amazed. A marshmellow, a fried onion, a green bean, so many new ingredients were so exciting, so we knew dinner would be fun!
With so many hands and lots of fun, preparations were surprisingly smooth for all of our first Thanksgivings without moms, dads, or family back home. Everything being made from scratch, mostly over fire made us feel like pretty hardcore women! All 22 people sat down to eat and by the grace of God, there was plenty of food with just a little left over!! It was most of the Kenyan’s first Thanksgiving celebration and they were literally eating it up. It was the most joy I’ve experienced on the race and just so fun to see their enjoyment of a celebration that I don’t even care that much about at home.
This year brought a whole new meaning to thanksgiving. After eating and just being amazed at how much it really felt like Thanksgiving Day, I mean we even watched football (soccer), we had our nightly devotional. I was asked to lead it and was happy to do so. We have been going through Psalm 136 morning and night and memorizing. It was very appropriate for a thanksgiving celebration. It is the “his love endures forever” passage. Verse one starts, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” So that is what we did. We went around the room and all of us said something or many things we are thankful for. It was such a blessing to listen to the little boys, the teenagers, the aunts, parents, and all of those who stay at our home and hear all of the wonderful things God has done for them. Days like this are why I am here, why spending special days away from my loved ones are worth it, and what will change the way I view a country, an ethnicity, or a day.
| |
|
Next 10 Articles >>
|
|
|
