running with beautiful feet

last weekend i drove 2 hours to cedarville after a long work day and week for the 2nd annual possible impossibilities 10k run/walk/relay. it was so stinking cold....

rewind to september 2009: i had just started my senior year at cedarville which included classes, an internship, a couple of jobs, and i was media/publicity coordinator for the IJM chapter. i had just started running again during the summer. one of our officers mentioned that she was training for a marathon and i thought to myself that organizing a race at cedarville would be cool. i could plan something, run, and we could say we were doing it to fight injustice. we began the beginning stages of planning and it soon turned into something more than a race to fight injustice. we decided to support GRACEHAVEN HOUSE- a safehouse for victims of domestic minor sex trafficking in the columbus, oh area (http://www.gracehavenhouse.org). when i told people we were organizing a 10k and that they should run, the response i got was a giantic laugh followed by, i can barely walk 6.2 miles (10 k), let along run it. so we prayed more and thought about it and tried to relate running a 10 k- a seemingly impossible task- to coming out of a life of oppression and bondage. understanding that for these girls, it takes alot of more than deciding to come out of a life of oppression or even being rescue- it takes perseverance, determination, dedication, and community of people supporting and encouraging you. similar things needed in order to train for a marathon or 10 k.

so we got people on board. fast forward to the race. we had 690 register total, and 594 show up on race day. we raised over $20,000 for Gracehaven. what i saw that day was indescribable. when we first started planning, the LORD put Hab. 1:5 on my heart to be the theme verse for the race- "look at the nations and watch -and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." this is the only way i can describe that day and the events. seeing people coming out in the freezing cold, to run a race, to raise money for girls who are victims of a horrific crime whom they have never met- wow. people came in hoards towards the end of registration. it was amazing. i was utterly amazed and i wouldn't have believed you if you told me.

fast forward to last saturday: i came back to see 2 amazing girls, who helped last year, taking on this project and exceeding what we did last year. i cried happy tears. i was- am- so incredible proud of these girls for taking this on, trusting the LORD, and believing that justice is something worth fighting for. they raised money for an organization called Daughters of Cambodia- (http://daughtersofcambodia.org/)- an amazing organization and all the money raised will go to be a salary for women so they have another option besides selling their bodies. i cannot wait to see how much was raised. almost 500 people came out to run this race again. the weather was even colder. but still- i was amazed to see that people came out to run for girls they have never met- but girls they know about. girls they have been praying for. girls whose names were on runners arms as they ran 6.2 miles. 

being a part of something bigger than yourselves. brook fraser has a song called- albertine which i amazing and says- 'now that i have seen, i am responsible.' now that you know you are responsible. you must tell. you are not being part of the movement to end slavery, to fight for justice if you do not educate-- if you do not fight. the 2nd annual 10k was such an encouragement. who would have thought that some crazy idea that got laughed at countless times would first, raise so much money, second- happen AGAIN a second year, and third, continue to educate people on an issue that is so close to the heart of God and bring people out to run 6.2 miles is 40 degree weather. 

i feel like i have so much more to say- but i am just without words for how cool it was to see so many people out again. to know that a crazy idea can have such an impact. i got to pray for the race on saturday which was great...and SHOOT OFF THE PISTOL! :) so great, except i stood in the middle of the path and got mauled by runners- should have stood in the grass. 

long- all for now. take crazy ideas from the Lord and run with beautiful feet.

***If you want to give to Gracehaven House- www.gracehavenhouse.org/howtohelp/donate

or Daughters of Cambodia- http://ijm.cedarville.org -(also to find out race numbers and totals!)