Month 6 – Albania
It’s hard to believe that this journey on the World Race is half way done.
Half way.
That mean’s I’ve already visited 6 of the 11 countries that U-Squad will visit. I’ve already experienced 50% of the fun, 50% of the adventure and 50% of God’s work this year.
Stating it in that way brings me a mix of emotions. I know I say this often, but these months have gone by so fast – too fast. Yet at the same time, it feels like we’ve been on this journey for as long as I can remember.
In fact, all the things that seemed so crazy, so abnormal and so far-fetched, are now just accepted as our everyday lives.
For example, here in Albania we basically hitchhike everywhere we go. We literally climb over the median of the highway to get on the side of the road that goes into town, and then we wave down a van or bus that is headed in that direction. Eventually one will stop, and we just hop on, cram ourselves into the seats filled with strangers who stare because they know we’re not from around here, and just hope we will eventually get to our intended destination. Of course there’s the inevitable language barrier, so we can never really communicate our destination well, let alone figure out how much we should pay the driver.
But on the World Race, that’s just everyday life. It’s not outlandish or intimidating, it’s just normal. But normal is not what I came on this race to be.
This realization has hit me pretty hard recently. Thinking about the fact that we are half way done has really put things into perspective. Sure this year is 50% done….but that’s it! I still have 50% more to go! I’ve experienced so many incredible things these past few month, and I still have 5 more to go!
God’s work isn’t finished on my World Race yet, and his work in me is definitely not finished yet. I don’t want any day to be “normal.” Not on the World Race, and not in my life afterwards.
I came on this trip because there was a fire burning in me. I wanted to live radically for Jesus. I wanted to pour my heart into every place I visited and love whole-heartedly every person I met. I wanted to start living my life fully dedicated to God – whose greatness far exceeds my wildest imagination.
And now, 6 months in, I can’t say I’ve done this perfectly, but I know for certain that it’s still my mission. I’m ready to reignite the excitement I had when I first left home. And this month, being with team Still Relentless has been a perfect reminder for that. Their name, Still Relentless, says it all…
Yes, we are half way through, but we are still here to relentlessly pursue Christ. I want to be persistent in seeking Him, day in and day out. I want my life to be a reflection of the uncompromising, unrelenting love He has for us. An antonym for relentless is moderate, and moderate is not who we are called to be.
I’ve been so blessed by the opportunities the World Race has brought me, and I want to spend everyday on this journey appreciating that. I want to live relentless, not moderately. I want to do everything with passion and purpose. And I want to recognize that hitchhiking down an Albanian highway is actually pretty freaking cool!
I’ve been so blessed by the overwhelming amount of support I have received. I am now over 90% funded, but still have over $1,000 left to raise before our final deadline in less than 2 WEEKS! I ask that you will please prayerfully consider supporting me financially so I don’t have to come home from this amazing journey prematurely. No amount given is too little! Just click the “Support Me” link at the top of the page. Thank you J
