A letter to the huzband.

Right now you are hopefully fast asleep.  In a few very short hours you will be rising, getting ready to run your third marathon.  How different this one feels from the others!  For me, I think it feels so different because I am not near you, seeing you prepare your race day essentials, loading up on carbs the days leading up to it, hearing you share your hopes for race day.  For you, I know this one is different because of where you are running these 26.2 miles, in Rwanda.

Your time in Rwanda is only just beginning.  My hope and prayer for you while you are there is to see the heart of God in the faces you encounter, to experience His beating heart in the communities you visit, to hear His voice calling your name as you exhaust yourself in the name of others.  I know you are looking forward to running a marathon with no issues or major pains.  I know it has frustrated you to have a bad running day the very day of your marathon.  However, what I have seen is that in your weakness God has drawn you closer to His heart.  It is in those moments of pain, frustration and vulnerability that you have let everything fall away and just focus on Him.

So when you face that road today, when you begin putting your feet to the pavement, think upon the One who has brought you to this very place, this wonderful country and these beautiful people.  As sweat begins to pour down and thirst sets in, think upon the faces you have met and are going to meet.  When your legs grow tired and week, look ahead and see Diana, see the little girl you will meet this coming week, see the faces of the children you are running for.  The children that make up nearly half of Rwanda’s people, children who have lost one or both parents to HIV or Aids, children that are malnourished and fighting to survive!  Lastly, see Velda and I believing in you, what you stand for and what you are doing!

You see, they exist, they are out there, waiting for someone like you to say they are worth it!  You believe with all your heart that we can change the world one child at a time!  In a few short days you will meet one child whose life will forever be changed because of you!  That one child is worth it all, precious, beautiful child.

I love you and miss you so very much.  I desire for you to come back to me, however not before God has broken your heart for the things that break His.  In your lifetime already, you have seen and known poverty first hand but I believe what you are experiencing now in Rwanda will take things to a whole new level!  This may sound strange but I think you will understand and that is, God has just begun to mess you up!  So though I will be fast asleep when you begin your marathon, know in my heart of hearts that I am cheering for you!  I am proud of you and I love you whole heartedly.  Though know that my encouragement for you goes beyond your 26.2 miles, it goes into each day, hour and minute you spend in that land.  I am proud of you as you run but I am also proud of you as you love others!

Tomorrow you run for the children.  Remember though, you run for The King.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Matthew 25:37 – 40