Category Archives: Missions

A Runner’s Purpose

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April 2010 marked the beginning of my competitive running career. In the last sixteen months, I’ve competed in seventeen races; one 5K obstacle course, ten regular 5K’s, two 4 Milers, two 10K’s and two half marathons. Not only are the races fun and a great workout, but proceeds from the registrations fees go to support good causes; adoption, scholarship funds, cancer support, families of firefighters who die in the line of duty, school athletic programs, and that just covers a few. I started running competitively because I wanted to, but I’ve kept running to bring glory to God.

When I first started running I never dreamed I’d run further than a few miles. But God’s plans are so often much different than our plans. One morning during my workout I started thinking about distance running. I thought, “I wonder if I’d ever be able to run ten miles?” “Nah.” It wasn’t a week later that a friend posted on twitter asking for runners to join her in the http://www.marathonforadoption.com. At the time our pastors http://morelovetogive.com were planning to adopt a child from Ukraine. Funds raised via the race would help offset their adoption expenses. The thought of running 13.1 miles made me want to vomit, but I registered anyhow. Six runners from our church http://theriverstonechurch.com participated in that race. Waiting for us at the finish line, just back from Ukraine, were our pastors with their two new daughters, Olivia Kate and Natalia Rose. Hanging proudly on my cubicle wall is a picture of me and the girls from that day.

There are all types of runners. Me? I’m a slow, distance runner, but after running my second half marathon, and taking 10 minutes off of my time, I decided to train for speed. I spent several months trying to break a consistent 8 minute mile but I just could not do it. I could run a 7.5 minute mile, but maintaining it for an entire 5K was impossible. Frustrated. Frustrated. Frustrated. Not even in training did I once hit my target. As half marathon season began to roll around again, I started praying about what to do. Do I skip the half marathons this fall and focus on speed or do I revert back to what I know and do well? This really was a difficult decision as quitting is not in my nature. I didn’t want to give up speed work having not achieved my goal. There was also another issue, I had no intention of running the http://www.marathonforadoption.com again this year. “I” wanted to run the Tyler Rose Half Marathon. “I” wanted to run the La Porte Bridge Half Marathon. Sense a theme here? The races are too close together for me to run them all, I had to choose.

Several weeks ago God gave me an answer. I picked up my race packet for the Dog Days 4 Miler in New Braunfels and tucked inside was a http://www.marathonforadoption.com postcard for this year’s race. Smiling at me were the beautiful faces of Olivia Kate and Natalia Rose, the former orphaned sisters rescued from Ukraine by our pastors. I began to weep and knew what God would have me to do. The next day I resumed my half marathon training work outs. This year I run http://www.marathonforadoption.com in support of Brian & Christy Guenther http://www.raisingthehope.com , and Wilson, the little boy they are adopting from Haiti. I run with purpose. I run for the glory of God.

Contemplation

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January 2, 2011: It’s the second day of the new year. For many people that means the opportunity to start over again, to succeed where there has been failure, to bring life where there has been death; but because somewhere along the way I became a cynic, to me a new year just means I have to remember to write 2011 instead of 2010. Why does the turning of a calendar page give me the right to anticipate great and wonderful circumstances? I face 2011 with trepidation. Dare I hope that deliverance will come and finally I’ll be set free to live out my dreams?

2010 was actually a pretty amazing year for me, one of the best in a very long time. I traveled to China and Haiti, became a published author, and completed my first half marathon. That’s a lot for one girl to do in twelve short months. But, it’s not enough. I’m that spoiled child in the toy store who wants one of everything! At this juncture, there are no plans on the horizon. The only thing I know for certain is tomorrow morning I have to get up and go to work, something I really don’t want to do. Accounting is NOT my passion.

What is my passion? Adoption and orphan care. My experiences in China and Haiti opened my heart and eyes to the world of abandoned children. This summer I followed closely the journey of our friends and pastors as they traveled to Ukraine to adopt two sisters. I wept at their heartache and rejoiced at their victories. Those two little girls are precious to me in a way that I can neither understand nor explain. The team leaders from our Haiti trip recently returned to that country to spend time with the little boy they have chosen to be their son. They posted a “family picture” from Haiti that caused me to weep for joy when I saw it. You see, I’ve met their son, I’ve hugged him and played with him. I understand what being adopted into a loving family means for these beautiful children.

My desire for 2011 is that will God open doors of ministry, only for me to travel to more foreign lands and love on babies, but opportunities to share my experiences and thereby ignite a similar passion in others. It takes no special degree or skill to love a child, it only takes a willingness to serve, and a desire to reach out beyond our own self inflicted borders.