Guess what I did!?

This past Sunday I had signed up to preach. I had no idea where the church was I would be going to. I didn’t even know who the pastor was that would be picking me up. Our host (Pastor Zank) told us that many of the students who have gone to his Bible School are pastors in the surrounding areas and would pick us up (in groups of 2) in the morning to go preach at their church. That’s all the information I had. 

I also knew that last week, almost everyone who had signed up ended up not going. The pastors who were supposed to pick us up didn’t come and we all went to Pastor Zank’s church instead. So, even though I was signed up and had a message prepared, I was fully expecting the pastor not to show up and I wasn’t going to have to preach at all. 

I woke myself up at 6:45 because I was told to be ready at 7. I walked into the living room (sorta awake and sorta ready) and waited. After about 15 minutes of waiting, I decided to stop fighting the tiredness. I fell asleep on the tile floor and figured if the pastor showed up they would wake me up. 

An hour later I vaguely remember hearing voices. Then I heard “Kaci are you ready.” So, I peeled my sweaty sleepy self off the floor, grabbed my Bible, walked out the door with my buddy and hopped in a car with a pastor I had just met. 40 minutes later we were at the church worshipping and dancing and I was mentally preparing to stand up in front of them and speak to all of them about the spirit of fear. 

As we were worshipping, I noticed a woman walk into the church holding the tiniest little baby I’ve seen since being here. I thought to myself “I’d much rather just hold that baby than preach…” 

And then my wish came true. After my buddy shared her teaching, we worshipped some more and I shared my message and prayed for almost everyone in the church, they brought the baby to the front to dedicate her. Turns out she had been born the previous Friday and was only one week old. Their parents named her Mawuena which (I’m told) means God will give and she was such a beautiful little baby girl. The pastor of the church was holding her and asked us all to extend our hands to her to pray. While I was still praying I noticed that it had gotten silent. I lifted my head up to see the pastor staring directly at me. 

He motioned me to come up to the stage, handed me the baby and told me to pray. As I was praying for this child, I had this image of her being a source of joy for the people in her life. That when her parents go through trials, they can look to the face of their baby girl and remember the hope that is from the Lord, remember the joy and peace that comes from our Father.

 It was such a beautiful moment and is probably one of my favorite things I’ve done on the race so far. I got home from church that day and told all my teammates excitedly that “I just got to dedicate a baby!” I don’t even know what else to say expect “Thanks God” and what a great day it was! 

Thanks for reading, I love you all! 

Blessings, 

Kaci 

 Dad: Sorry I forgot my POL in my last blog so here it is now. Love you and miss you lots ??