Preparing to leave for 11 months the most commonly asked question I get is “why are you going on the World Race?" To be honest I’ve been asking myself that same question these last few weeks leading up to Training Camp & Launch. Well…I really can’t give you just one answer or reason. It’s a lot of reasons altogether.
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We are commanded to.
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Jesus says in Matthew 28, “Go and make disciples of all the nations.”
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I want to learn to fully rely on God.
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I still try to do most things through my own strength. No wonder I fail! "He must become greater, I must become less." -John 3:30
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To open my eyes to the hurting world around me.
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I often forget about the people around the world who are starving and/or sick and pretend they aren’t my problem. The Gospel says otherwise.
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To develop a true thankfulness about life and what God has blessed me with.
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I still don’t fully understand this and probably never will. How many times have I thanked God for my bed and a hot shower? Not many. I have a feeling by the end of the World Race I’ll have a whole new appreciation for the little things I now feel entitled to.
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To tell others about Jesus…duh, lol.
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It blows my mind that many of the people we will get to share Jesus with will have never heard of Him before. Hard to imagine that with a church on every corner here in Kansas.
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For the adventure!
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John Eldredge says in one of my favorite books ‘Wild at Heart”, “A man’s heart longs for three things: an adventure to live, a battle to fight and a beauty to rescue." 11 months living out of a pack? Check for adventure! 11 months of spreading the Gospel? Check for a battle to fight! Time will tell on #3, lol.
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To help me establish my priorities for the rest of my life.
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The last thing I want to become in life is materialistic! To care about things more than people. Like everyone, I struggle with wanting the next best thing. After seeing all I will see in 11 months, I don’t think that will be a problem area for me upon arriving home.
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To emerge fully dependent of my parents.
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I’m 25 years old and I still need my folks help from time to time. Maybe it’s a pride thing, but I would like to be able to live life without having to ask them for help. I don’t want that to sound mean or needy. I love my folks very much and I greatly value their advice. It's just time for only Jesus and I. Hope that makes sense?
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To figure out what the Lord wants me to do with my life.
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Again I’m 25 with a Bachelors degree in History, no clear career path and a boat load of student loans. I pray the Lord will make it unmistakably clear as to what He would like me to do with my time here on Earth.
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To be an example…
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to my family, friends, Christians & non- Christians alike that my faith really is the most important part of me. It’s the part that guides ALL the other parts! I want to be a Christian that walks the walk, not just talks the talk.
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To rid myself of the daily distractions.
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There are about twenty things at any given time that take away from the time I could be spending with the Lord. Though it will hurt as I “detox” from it all, the extra time I spend furthering my relationship God will be priceless. My goal is to read through the entire Bible twice while on the race. I'm pumped!
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To understand what it means to truly live in community.
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From what I hear the only alone time you get while on the race is when you put your headphones in and sleeping mask on. That’s your “room”, lol. While I imagine that can get really annoying at times, I can’t help but also think of how great that will be too. I like to think of it as an 11 month sleepover with friends, ha!
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So there you have it, my reasons for going. Am I nervous? Maybe even scared? Yep, sure am! But I know my God is in complete control and that brings me a comfort and peace that surpasses all understanding. World Race…bring it on!
Blessings,
Chandler
