I think within my first month here on the field I have easily figured out what the hardest part of the race is— saying hello, choosing in, then having to say goodbye.
For the past month and a half the Lord had my feet planted at El Refugio located in Calicalí, Ecuador. At this ministry, the Lord introduced me to eight of His beloved children and allowed them to show me the Kingdom. My days were spent by their sides, placing down roof tiles, humiliatingly playing soccer, and attempting to share jokes and commentary despite the language barrier. My nights were spent seated around the table with them, eating as a family and playing our new favorite Ecuadorian card game, cuarenta. Once it was all said and done, we would finish every day with the same two words “hasta lunes” (until Monday). Never was this actually the case HAH, in fact we saw them nearly every day except for Monday lol. So I know this might sound like quite possibly the worst joke in the book, but the irony made us throw our heads back laughing every day, and that was all that mattered.
Inevitably, the day came where all the racers and I had to pack our bags and head off to our next ministry. Leaving El Refugio meant leaving eight pieces of my heart along with it. Eight pieces that I quite possibly will never get to see again.
As we started to depart in the bus, holding back tears, i began to utter the words “hasta lunes” and stopped myself half way through to change it to “hasta cielo” (until heaven).
The possibility of me crossing paths again with these eight people that I met in Ecuador, and whomever else will touch my heart during my race, is highly unlikely here on this earth. And that’s a gut wrenching feeling. But that’s the beautiful thing about the race— those you share the Kingdom with here on earth, will once again meet you at the gates of heaven.
I can’t think of a better place to be reunited at than the throne of our King.
So, if you’re reading this— Bethany, Elliot, Luis, Benji, Enrique, Jorge, Aurelio, and Holger: I will see you at the gates. But until then, the Kingdom of heaven is yours, here on earth. So take it and share it, just as I have witnessed you do over the past 5 weeks. Thank you for reminding me of the freedom that can be found when walking alongside His children. Let’s exalt His name from across the world and boast in His glory, it will be forevermore.
I’ll see you at the gates, Hasta cielo,
Ellie
