I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to tell you about the Race when I get home and you’re getting ready to leave. But then I thought I should just tell you now as I’m living through it so it’s more real. So here are 26 things I wish I would have known from the beginning, 26 things I’ve learned along the way, 26 things I’m still learning. I’m so excited for you to go on this crazy adventure, and I’m so proud of you!
1. Budget spending money for chocolate in Africa- Cadbury is SO much better than Hershey’s (Top Deck bars are the best).
2. You will spend more money than you think you will- choose months to treat yourself to that Coke or chocolate and choose months to be disciplined and not spend personal money.
3. Bring something comfy to sleep in.
4. You’re going to get sick of your Chacos- bring a couple other pair of nice sandals like Rainbows or Sanuks.
5. Eventually you get used to being stared at, honked at, and whistled at wherever you go.
6. Bring a real twin sized sheet- there will be months you’ll have a real mattress and you’ll be so much more comfortable with a sheet.
7. Bring a real towel too- the quick dry towels from REI get gross and smelly. If you pack smart, a real towel will fit.
8. Be prepared to be told “I love you” and asked “Will you marry me?” in Swaziland.
9. Some kind of speaker comes in handy for worship, movies, dance parties, etc. Other people will bring them but it’s nice to have your own for when you’re not with them.
10. Bring multiple pairs of headphones- they break. Bring a headphone splitter too (in case your phone or ipod breaks and you have no music to listen to).
11. You can find pretty much everything you need all over the world so don’t bother packing 11 month supplies of things- except for tampons. If you like good tampons, pack a lot.
12.There’s never toilet paper in public bathrooms (at least not for free) and sometimes you have to pay just to use the bathroom.
13. Team changes will happen- so whether you love or hate your first team, just know you won’t be with them forever and that is ok.
14. One of the best ways to love your teammates well is to know what they like (soda or chocolate) and give it as a gift.
15. If you like Diet Coke, Tab tastes more like it than Coke Light in Africa.
16. This is not going to be an 11 month mountaintop experience- it’s just normal life around the world. There’s hard months and easy month, hard weeks and easy weeks, and hard days and easy days.
17. There’s a rule that if you’re sick for 48 hours, you have to go to the doctor. Do whatever you can in that 48 hours to get better- the doctors will give you a prescription for chlamydia and gonorrhea when they tell you you have bronchitis, but you actually just have a cold.
18. Prepare to fall in love- with the Lord, kids, people, countries, traveling, and yourself.
19. You find “your people” on your squad and it’s a beautiful thing- make plans with them for after the Race and then do them.
20. Bring your favorite, warm sweatshirt and a super comfy pair of sweats- you’re going to have lazy days.
21. Something you’re going to hear a lot at training camp is “choose in, be fully present, and let go of your expectations.” It’s some of the best advice you’ll get.
22. The granola in Swaziland so so good! Especially with melted peanut butter mixed in.
23. Some month ministry will be slow- know that pouring into the ministry contact is ministry too. You might even end becoming really great friends with them.
24. This Race isn’t about your personal growth- it’s about the Kingdom. The sooner you know that, the more growth you’ll see in yourself.
25. You will still have days, weeks, and maybe even months of doubt- “just keep swimming” (that’s what God told me to do).
26. Know that this is only the beginning.
