Sunflower Seeds: August 2013

Photography by Elizabeth Holmes (pre fall)

Once upon a time there was a young girl (some might call her a lady now, but she still thought of herself as a girl) who never seemed to have a boring life. Even when she tried her hardest to be as normal as possible, adventure still swooped in. Don't get me wrong, she loved adventures.
For example: once she was in Spain on a three month missions trip. During one of those weeks she and the others on her team went for a walk. Well OK so it was more of a trek. This trek lasted six days and they went 120 Km (75 mi). Originally this trek was for pilgrims who wanted to walk and visit the place where St. James is said to be buried and their past sins are said to be forgiven, now people will do it for whatever reason. Each day had different difficulties, but she was infatuated with the scenery, and she was also determined to make it. The trail went through cities and towns, through forests and meadows, through hills, mountains, and even a small bog. Everywhere they went, they followed these sea shells that indicated the direction of the path.

Photography by Elizabeth Holmes

On the second day of the walk, they were crossing the bog on a wooden bridge. It was 6 am and still dark out. As she was walking, she tripped all of the sudden. when she fell, she hit her knees first, and continued, in all that momentum, to fall to her face. Her forehead was hit pretty hard, and it pealed the first layer of skin off. It wasn't deep, no blood, but her forehead was swelling just a little bit. It was also that day that God provided a decent backpack for her so that she would be able to finish the Camino. Each day that she walked her adventure got both easier and harder. Easier: her muscles and her feet were getting used to walking. She was tired, but not ever tired enough to stop. But it got harder with the hills, and the length of the days.
One day, she took off her socks and shoes, that Keisha, the dearest angel, traded with her for the day, and saw that one toe was completely open. People compared it to blood sausage. Thankfully God sent the team a German doctor. Because they had Germans on the team, they were able to have their feet wrapped and bandaged, blisters popped, and if we needed it, knees and ankles taped.

Photography by Elizabeth Holmes

As they walked on, encouragement came in many different forms. Sometimes, Erin would pray with her. Other times, Jeser would talk to her, tell her a story of experiences and big things God has done in his life, or God would remind her of Iowa and show her fields of corn.
Other times, she and several others would sing hymns, kid songs, and even take a blast to the past and do 90's songs.
Still others carried her backpack up the hard mountains and hills. They would either carry their own up first then come back down, or in one case, Johannes (Austria) carried three backpacks up the hardest mountain the team faced. Now that's encouragement!
God also always brought to mind the scripture that she needed at the moments she needed. Isaiah 40:27-31 continuously came to mind, especially the part about rising up on wings like eagles and soaring. Before she knew it, she was standing smack-dab in front of the world's most beautiful cathedral (or so she thinks.)

So to those who spend months worrying about something they think they can't do, to those who forget how big the God that lives inside of them is, and to those who fear failure and never get up and do anything, I say, "Greater is He who is in us, than he who is in the world!" God wants to use you. He wants to do big things, but He'll only use you if you let Him.