Let me just start by apologizing if you were expecting something to do with that crazy country band, but I think I got to experience something much greater than a concert. I was spending the last day up at my lake house outside of Tampa, when the time came to head back to Highway 275, but something was different this time from the past. My mom and I were sitting in a Sony’s Barbecue just off the exit and it was the first time that reality slapped me in the face. I found myself realizing that I would be graduating high school soon, not only that, but moving out and moving on, and I was amazed at the uncertainty I now had, but it was also comforting to know that I have a living God who was going to lead me wherever my feet fall. Just as my mom started to get emotional, a car pulled up next to ours and had two joyous faces so excited to see mine. Everything else seemed to stand still and excitement soon burst into that parking lot. I was finally meeting two new, familiarly unfamiliar faces, Emma Moody from Tampa, Florida and Lexii Wolff from Wisconsin. Hugs seemed contagious and then came the farewell to my mom; so I climbed into the car with two new wonderful girls on a car ride up to Georgia to meet some more team members. We had never met before and barley had time to talk on the phone, yet I have never felt so at home with strangers, we had all joked that a nine hour car ride would surely allow us to get to know each other, but quite honestly I had already felt as we’d known each other for years. In what seemed quicker than actuality, we were passing through the heart of Atlanta, a beautiful city that requires more time spent in the future if I ever get the time, to come to rest in Roswell. It was great weather for the locals and Lexii (who was in shorts), but coming from the warm weather of Florida, me and Emma were in a lack of better words, shivering our butts off. Parking lots seem to be ideal meeting spots for racers, because this time it was at an ice cream joint down the street from Abigail’s house, who was waiting to accept us from our small journey from Florida and with her was yet another racer, Kaitlyn! This meeting confirmed my past assumption that hugs are contagious because they spread throughout everyone. Lexii had her first encounter with cotton candy ice cream fused with pop rocks, which was quite scary for her, and quite humorous for us, and everyone else watching us. We asked a lady in line if she could take some pictures for us and we ended up speaking about our mission with the world race and a little about how the world is really needing kids like us according to her, which was quite reassuring and cool to see God’s face right there with us in Georgia. After roaming around and meeting a new friend who was eating a cone alone, (oops if he wanted to remain in peace) we met the most incredibly family at the home of the Johanson’s who opened their beds (and attic for me) that we could not be more grateful for. We spent an amazing night out by the fire as the Lord spoke through all of us and I got to see what marriage was meant to look like from God’s eyes as Mr. and Mrs. Johanson spoke about so many great stories from the beginning of their relations and so on. Well rested, we rose the next morning to a wonderful pancake breakfast prepared by Mrs. Johanson and I really do mean wonderful. We would be travelling once again to meet another racer, this time a guy! Grant had invited us over to his lake house, where we met yet another incredible family and also surprised by later by another team mate from Georgia, Victoria. We all spent the day on a gorgeous lake, blessed by the Middleton’s as they let us play around with the jet skies and pontoon boat. However, before we arrived I must mention we had incredible worship in an open field just outside of Grants neighborhood. We attempted to sing with a ukulele but resorted to the good old iPhone after being unable to adjust to the pitch (we’ll get the hang of it soon). After a wonderful day on the lake, we shot over to an Italian diner for some dinner where Grant broke the news that he wouldn’t be joining us on the race, at first we were saddened, but soon overwhelmed with joy at his new calling to the middle east with his older brother for God’s work. Goodbyes were sad, as we all parted from the gas station we thought was a frozen yogurt shop, but we had a great group prayer circled up out front. Emma drove me, Abigail, and Kaitlyn back to Abigail’s house where we encountered the three unexplained lights over the highway. Making a pit stop at Target for smores, we finished the night by the fire once again with great conversation. Waking up on the last day in Georgia, we attended what would be the highlight of the trip for me, Church with the Johanson family. A great service was taught over issues we all were talking about the days before, but it wouldn’t stop there. Mr. Johanson walked up to the front of the chapel at the end of the service and introduced us as “soon to be missionaries” and we had the most powerful time as many came from the pews to pray over us. One woman came and prayed a prayer to us, later explaining that she was about to pick her son up from the airport in Atlanta as he had just returned from the World Race! How amazing! She spoke of miracles, healing’s and crazy things that Jesus was doing through racers over seas. How great is our God. After service, goodbyes were even tougher and we headed back to Florida on another car ride, yet this time, it was much longer and less exciting.. Nevertheless, what an amazing precursor to the amazing journey i’m about to embark on after high school, when i’m out on my own, led simply by God.
