World Race life, it’s a whole new adventure. I have been on many mission trips before the Race, but I have never had any experience that is quite like this one.
Before the Race I scoured blogs, trying to figure out what this thing was going to be like, and none of them prepared me. Nothing could give me a glimpse of what life on the Race looks like. So instead of trying to put it into a nut shell for you, I am going to give you some observations of what the World Race is from the perspective of several month 8 Racers.
- Poop is going to be a huge topic of conversation, most of the time dinner conversation. Followed closely by food and Jesus.
- Packing blogs are good, but no one can tell you what to bring on the Race. Bring the clothes you like to wear, and things you use every day. As far as toiletries go, people around the world survive, and there hasn’t been a month yet where I couldn’t find everything I needed or wanted.
- You’re going to crave the weirdest things from home, and by month 6 it won’t be strange to start a sentence with “Do you know what I really miss?”
- You’re going to learn to do new things: fix a soccer cleat, use a squatty potty, and kill a chicken. All in a day’s work.
- You’re going to miss hot water.
- You’re definitions are going to change. Nice will have a whole new meaning when you get home.
- You’re going to want to quit at some point, but don’t give in. In those moments open up to your team, tell them where you are so that they can come along side you and encourage you.
- You’re going to wear socks with sandals, it may be flip flops, chacos, or crocs but it’s going to happen.
- You’re going to play football (soccer), whether you are good or not.
- People are going to stare at you in every country.
- If you’re a girl and going to Africa, you’ll probably get proposed to.
- You’re going to fall in love. It may be with your team, with a ministry, with one particular kid at ministry, but it’s going to happen at some point.
- You’re going to break, and that’s where God is going to meet you.
- There are days that are boring.
- There are days you will remember forever.
- You’re going to find entertainment in the weirdest things, like empty plastic bottles. (Try flipping it in the air and getting it to land upright if you’re bored.)
- You’re going to sit under teachers that make you want to cuss and hit them with the Bible.
- There is going to be at least one super awkward moment, like when a strange man rubs your hairy legs on a mini bus in Malawi.
- You’re going to travel in new ways- tuk tuks, mini buses, jeepney, all awesome.
- There is no such thing as personal space on the Race.
- You’ll pick lice out of someone’s hair.
- You’re going to eat meat, that you have no idea what it is or where it came from. Could be dog, you never know: Cambodia.
- Someone is going to serve you fish with bones and eyeballs still in it.
- Packing will always suck, my opinion at least.
- Roosters crow at 4 AM everywhere and they will wake you up.
- Chickens just walk around everywhere, no fences or anything, they have free reign.
- You’re going to laugh until your face and ribs hurt, sometimes for no reason.
- You’re probably going to get sick, and eat TUMS as candy.
- You’re going to start talking like a Racer, “press in” “one on one” and “intentional” will be something you say all the time.
- You’re going to be uncomfortable.
- You’re going to get really good at feedback, and even want to receive constructive feedback.
- You’re probably going to cry in public and that’s ok, sometimes over silly things like bowling.
- Clean isn’t a thing anymore. In Cambodia I showered 5 times, but I swam a lot and that’s practically the same thing on the Race.
- You’re going to find blessings in unexpected ways and people.
- If you survive training camp, you can make it through the Race. Promise!
- There will come a moment when you realize that you are a middle school boy. Even if you are a 20 something lady.
- You’ll meet someone named George.
- People around the world are incredibly nice and they are glad you are in their country.
- Plans change all the time. From hour to hour what you are doing will change.
- By month 5 you will jump in any form of transportation without hesitation. Back of a bicycle- no problem, random giant bus with no one else in it- perfect, the bed of a complete stranger’s pickup truck- new adventure.
- Your limits are going to be tested.
- Your feet are going to have some funky tan lines.
- Weird smells are going to be a normal thing.
- You’ll poop in a hole behind someone’s house, and probably miss.
- At least 47% of your squad will get tattoos.
- Baby powder will be your new shampoo.
- What’s mine is yours isn’t only for marriage, its for Race teams as well.
- You my friend are going to change this year.
- Community is sweet.
- Your team mates and squad mates are fighting for you. I promise.
If you are a future Racer and you took the time to read all that I commend you, and I want to pray for you. If I were standing there with you this is what I would pray over you:
“Father, you are good. My brother/sister is about to start this new adventure and I don’t know where they are in that process. But I do know this, you have good things in store for them. This journey isn’t always going to be easy. You’re going to call them into hard things. You’re going to ask obedience from them and it’s going to be hard. You’re going to grow them. You are going to change them, and it’s going to be incredible.
Father I thank you for the freedom they are going to experience. I thank you for the glimpses of you they are going to have. I thank you for what you are going to do through them, and what you are going to do in them. I thank you for the encouragement they will be to their hosts and contacts, for the truth they will bring to the nations. Father you have plans for my brother/sister and I know it is going to be great.
Father I ask that you would surround them with peace about leaving home. That you would wrap them in the comfort that can only come from you. I pray your protection over their families and loved ones. I pray that you would use this trip to impact not only my brother/sister but to also impact the lives of all those around them.
I thank you for my brother’s/sister’s obedience to you Father and I pray your blessings over them. Love you. Amen”
If you aren’t a future Racer and you read that, I may think you’re crazy….. but I still love you.
Love you all,
Audrey
