At the beginning of the race, every racer was asked to pray a very hard prayer- God, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Burden my heart for what burdens yours. I didn’t really know what that meant at the time, but let me tell you, I had no clue how big that prayer was.

Before the race, I had a very hard heart. I didn’t really feel bad for people. I always found a way to point it back to whatever problem they had being their own fault. I never cried. I remember friends from home freaking out the 1 time a year I did cry. They always told me it’s good to cry, but it my mind, crying was a weakness. Little did I know that that prayer I had prayed months ago would change the posture of my heart to look nothing like it did 5 months ago. 

So this weekend, my squad and I went camping. Some stayed back, but I decided to go. The few that said yes to camping piled in a van and drove about 30 minutes away to the literal nowhere of Africa. We stayed on a farm in one of their back houses that was on the river. It was so peaceful. No one was around but us. We went kayaking and swimming and had a bonfire to roast marshmallows and brye (barbecue but South African style). This whole time though following after the whole week, I had a heavy heart. I had been crying for no reason and just feeling a little bit lonely in this journey. The thoughts of coming home so soon to a community of people who will try their best to understand, but no one will. The thought of going back to America where hearts are broken and a church that doesn’t even know who the Holy Spirit is. The thought of people so close to me that I love so dearly who will never experience Christ in a freedom way. Even the thought of having to forgive some people and reconcile with them. It was all so heavy.

It was in that moment I realized that my prayer had been answered. Normally these things wouldn’t have even been thoughts on my mind let alone tear jerkers. But God was sweet enough to allow me to feel what He feels for His people. Ah so sweet. Our God is such a personal God. 

& THEN IT ALL HIT ME: We are called to suffer with God.

When we give our lives to Him, He is on the throne of our hearts. Him being in the throne of our heart allows us to feel Him and the weight of His glory for eternity. WE GET TO! He lets us in on just parts of His heart and the way it aches for those of us who don’t chose into Him, when all He does is fight for us and long for a further relationship past going to church on Sundays. He suffers when His children don’t chose Him, and we get to come alongside of that. 

All in all, the Holy Spirit is moving me. The posture of my heart is shifting and my perspective is changing. I’m seeing others through the lense of God and feeling His heartbreak for them and that’s ok. I get to feel the Lords heavy heart for those people who don’t understand or have a broken heart or don’t even know what a life of freedom with Jesus can look like. But heavy hearts are called to rejoice! In this rejoicing we gain Christ!

IF YOUR STILL READING THIS,
THANK YOU!BELOW IS HOW YOU CAN BE HELPING AND COMING ALONGSIDE WHAT THE LORD IS DOING HERE IN JBAY:

PRAYER-

pray for the hearts of the children in every school and after school program and ministry we go to. pray that we are able to plant seeds in their hearts that the Lord can soon water!

pray for Global Leadership Academy (a campus we live on). pray the Lord will continue a mighty work on the grounds given, and that the Global community will continue growing. 

pray for H-Squad! we are about 3 months out from home, so the enemy is beginning to work against us!! prayers that all spiritual warfare be lifted in the name of Jesus!

FINANCIALLY-

im always fundraising!! if you feel lead to support financially, for serving or necessities, feel free to Venmo me @trav-albrecht. anything helps and is very appreciated! 

AT HOME-

PRAY A BOLD PRAYER! I encourage anyone still reading to start praying boldly in their time with the Lord! be straightforward with Him. He hears every prayer and He wants to talk to you! do it!!