About a month ago was the first time it’s happened to me. I wake up in the middle of the night and it hits me. BOOM, like a bag of bricks to the gut! An overwhelming and paralyzing fear. “What the heck am I doing?, I say aloud to myself. I can’t go on the World Race!”
I suppose all WR’ers feel this way at some point. I imagine mostly on the plane, as you leave your family and home for 11 months, if not before. As Training camp and Launch, 43 & 83 days respectively, draw closer the excitement and unfortunately fear begin to draw closer as well. I’ve been planning on this since November when I was accepted, but it seemed forever away at that point. Now…its becoming real. And to be honest, I’m pretty scared. Am I gonna be strong enough to leave all I’ve ever known for 11 months?
11 months without seeing my family, seeing my friends, sleeping in my own bed, getting regular showers with regular hot water. 11 months without washing machines, driving, going to movies, watching my beloved Georgia Bulldogs & Dallas Cowboys. 11 months without chocolate milk, fast food, texting, talking on the phone, my closet and talking to people who speak the same language as me. 11 months WITH people who I’ve known for only a few months online. 11 months outside of my comfort zone. 11 months of, from what I hear, NEVER having any personal space or alone time. 11 months of dying to myself daily.
Personally I don’t like to think of that part of things out of fear I’ll chicken out if I gave it much more thought than I already have. I’m an optimistic kinda guy anyway. The glass is half full! So I try to focus on the experiences I’ll have, the amazing people I’ll meet/places I’ll see, how much I’ll grow spiritually and most importantly the hundreds if not thousands who will get to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ because of my team and I’s willingness to be used by God in this way. THAT gives me hope that I, with the power of Christ in me, can do this and make a difference in this world and the world to come. THAT melts away my fear! THAT makes me want to go!
Pray for me,
Chandler
P.S. I’m almost 40% funded for my World Race journey. Will you help me get to 100%? A big thanks to those who have, are and will support me. I pray the Lord “repays” you with many blessings!
