Being back in North Carolina for the past few days has given me a lot of time to reflect, prepare, and enjoy. Believe it or not, I’ve had more time to do this here in Carolina then in North Dakota. Maybe it’s because I’m not working anymore or that my 3 year old niece isn’t here to do crazy things with, I don’t know. But I do know I’ve enjoyed this time of sitting back and thinking of what’s happened since training camp and what’s about to happen.
Time spent in North Dakota is always valuable to me. I continue to learn more about myself and others when I’m away from my hometown. N.D. can definitely feel like another planet at times but I would never trade the time there with my sister and the family she’s made for anything. I met new friends this time that I didn’t think a state like N.D. could ever have. And the old friends I did know became family. People there gave tremendously towards my upcoming journey that was entirely unexpected. And more than that, these people lovingly spoke into my life within just 4 months that will last a lifetime.
Preparing to leave for the World Race can be a bit chaotic. I’m only 9 DAYS away from launch! And yes, there’s still a lot to do. However, I’ve made myself stop and look at what is to come in the next year. It’s hard to imagine what will happen when you know the unexpected and unplanned WILL happen. But that’s the beauty of it. Having a small amount of control or none at all leaves greater room for God to appear and depend on Him. And that’s what I’m looking for right now.
Though my expectations will probably be overridden by the unexpected and the unthinkable I still have expectations. Some of my personal anticipations and hopes are:
To see Jesus in the face of other people who are within various circumstances
To find absolute freedom in the midst of having nothing
Hoping to be 100% Absent to be 100% Present
Several people ask me why I’m going on the World Race and what I believe I’m going to get out of it. In many ways there is not an easy answer to that question and in other ways there are so many answers I could give. But one statement I keep coming back to that sums up my reason for this journey is that I’m searching for answers only God can provide. I don’t know what will happen and I don’t know what all will be given or taken from this journey. But I do know God is in every nation and He will show up wherever I go.
“When we avoid risk or compromise, God doesn’t live through us to the extent that he’d like. He wants us to depend on him and his resources. To accomplish God-sized dreams, we must jump into situations where we have to depend on him.” – Seth Barnes, Founder of Adventures in Missions
