My squad and I were given 51 days between the time we left Training Camp until we were to arrive in Atlanta, Georgia for the World Race Launch.
51 days of preparation.
51 days to spend with family.
51 days to get in all that we could before we would leave for 11 months.
For me, those 51 days looked more or less like this:
2 quick days of rest,
1 trip to California to spend with my best friend,
And a short stop in Austin to finalize moving out.
2 weeks in Abilene to spend with my dad and friends,
Endless nights of pasta & Mario Kart,
10 days of lounging in my hammock, putting off my to-do list,
1 sad goodbye to my dad, two weeks too soon,
And yet another drive from Abilene to Austin.
3 short days in my beloved ATX,
Back-to-back goodbyes and see-you-laters,
and one last drive to Dallas to be with my mom until launch.
12 quick days of packing, unpacking, and repacking again,
Countless visits to REI, Academy, and Target,
As much Babe’s Chicken, Chick-fil-A, and Starbucks as I could take,
and then I was off.
Off to World Race Launch.
Launch is a time for all of the squads to gather with the Adventures in Missions staff one last time for three days of seminar-style training, worship, and community before we leave for this grand adventure we call the World Race. AIM utilizes this time to pour into us, guide us, and give us as much wisdom and preparation as one can take in three short days, all to help us further God’s Kingdom.
Of course, my favorite part of launch is seeing my squad again and reconnecting with my team. Witnessing sweet moments of long, warm embraces, squeals of joy, and jumping with pure excitement over seeing another squad mate brought fuel to my life and further solidified why I was here.
Because even though 51 days had seemed to fly by when it meant completing the list above (as well as several other mundane tasks), it seemed like an eternity when it meant spending that time without my Y squad family.
The men and women of my squad know how to pour into me and to one another unlike any other community I’ve ever been apart of. Each day I am encouraged, prayed for, challenged, hugged, teased, lifted up, enlightened, and loved.
I am so thankful that God has brought each of us together, and so humbled that he has chosen US to serve His Kingdom. He is an amazing God, and what better way to serve Him than amongst this awesome community?
I expect the World Race to be a challenge.
I expect to be broken, to be taught dependence, selflessness, and accountability. I expect to witness miracles, encounter incredible stories, and to simply do life in ministry with others.
I’ve asked God to break down my expectations.
Because I KNOW He has more for me and for my squad. He is capable of anything, and I want to stand in awe of His work.
I want Him to crush all expectations I have of the Race and show me more than I could ever imagine. I want him to lead me to places I never knew existed, to guide me down a path that will chew me up and spit me out.
I want to grow. I want to know Him more.
I want to be wrecked for the sake of the Gospel.
As I type this, it’s currently 1:45 am the night before I leave for Serbia. I am surrounded by comforts I likely won’t have for another 11 months. I’m sitting on a bed with the AC cooling my face for what is likely the last time. I have a TV, four lamps, two chairs, and more pillows than any one person needs.
I’m not sad to leave these things behind, because I know that in order to truly experience God and to grow in my relationship with Him, I need to step out of my comfort zone.
It still hasn’t hit me that I’m leaving for 11 months. I’m not sad, nervous, or scared, and I have God to thank for that. I’ve asked him for boldness, courage, patience, and abundant trust that I would follow Him wherever He calls me.
This is where I’m supposed to be, and I’m ready.
Let’s go.
