Preparing to travel the world is hard. Preparing to travel the world on a mission trip, even harder. God will put you through a series of test and trials to make sure you are ready to step out of your comfort zone to experience life outside of what you consider normal. Packing up one bag, traveling to three continents, seeing poverty first hand as you live among locals in a raw community all while sharing your faith..well, its going to be more than I could ever imagine.
“God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.”
Learning that its okay to be public about my religion.
Funny, don’t missionaries go out into the world to share Gods word? Yes well, I like to keep my life behind closed doors. Correction, I used to like to keep my life private. I never denied my religion to anyone but I was never vocal about it either. Sharing this trip with everyone I meet (sorry its all I can talk about) has allowed me to be more public that I’m a Christian. Any fear that I may have ever had about people voicing their opinion on my religion is now gone. I came to learn that keeping it private would never bring anyone to know Christ.
Psalm 96:3
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
I shared my testimony.
I never wanted to be vocal in saying “I’ve been through some really hard times.” But its been learning to say “I’ve been through some really hard times and God got me through it.” Sharing my testimony has since allowed me to connect with other individuals through their hardships. It has allowed me to be vulnerable and allowed me to be in a sense, more human. Qualities that will be so crucial during my trip. For more info on that testimony head over to my blog post A Second Chance.
2 Corinthians 1:4
Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
I sold my couches and I cried.
I started working when I was 14. Six summers later and I was able to invest in my own furniture so that I wouldn’t have to worry about doing that again for a long time. It was soooo nice to be able to fill a home with my own stuff. But I cant take that stuff around the world with me and paying to keep it in storage was a $1,000 I couldn’t justify paying. I also need to be able to fund my trip and there were three of my favorite couches infront of me saying “Sell me for money.” So I did. I cried. I freaked out. I questioned not traveling so I could hang on to my things. But I learned that those couches I sold will never amount to the plans that God has for me.
1 John 2:17
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
I signed a no dating contract.
HA HA jokes on the them because I don’t really date anyways. The contract says that I would not start any new relationships here in the states or abroad so that I may focus on the mission of the trip. I 100% agree with that since traveling comes with its own hardships to focus on. But signing that contract allowed me to see that being single in this season of my life was a gift.
Looking back now I see that I have been allowed to have a ton of self growth over the past few years of being single during college. When times were hard I found the courage to get through it on my own with the help of God. I know that when the time comes I will be able to give someone else a complete whole version of myself and not just the cliche “other half.” That self growth will continue on this trip.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
I got surgery.
Long story short I have a long history of ear surgery’s. Ever since I was little I have gotten severe ear infections, sinus infections, throat infections. Add those to traveling and that is something I cant imagine dealing with. I knew that if I was in a remote location I couldn’t find a doctor to treat those things. So to help prevent them I got double ear surgery and my tonsils out, all in the same day.
The two week recovery period was hardly enough and just three days after I was back in the hospital getting shots of morphine in my arm. The surgery was not an easy decision considering each one comes with its own risks. Now a few months later I have already had another ear and throat infection meaning they essentially did not work. So several doctors visits should determine how they think things will go overseas. But I am in trusting in God that all will be well.
The lessons.
My squadmates and I will always say things are happening to prepare us for the race. My lessons came in the form of diarrhea, cockroaches and heartbreak.
Diarrhea: So a few months ago I had gotten a three week diarrhea infection. I don’t even know what that means. But for three weeks I was sick in that way and had to still endure my normal routine. If you have ever traveled to other countries you would know that getting sick is a norm, your body is not used the food or water and it can happen. I decided not to go to a doctor knowing very well this was a lesson. I made it out okay and found natural ways to relieve those symptoms as I will have to do on the race.
Sprickets, Roaches and Slugs oh my: My living situation has been a little crazy these past few months and has required me to find multiple places to stay. Right now I’m staying at a place infested with bugs. But knowing this is a lesson because the bugs have come in rotations. First it was sprickets, my most feared insect. One had 20 baby sprickets right before me. So those went away and then it was roaches, my next feared insect. Roaches in my room, roaches falling out of the cupboards when i opened them, roaches on the wall when i got out of the shower. Multiple bug bombs later and pouring dawn dish soap all over the floors (dont ask) they left. Then there were slugs. I mean two different breeds of slugs that would just be hanging out on my bedroom floor awaiting me when I got home from work. One container of salt later and they are gone. Now I don’t blame God for this lesson. First sight of the first spricket, roach and slug I would scream and go cry in a corner until someone killed them for me. Now I can put on my big girl pants and handle it myself! I’ve come a long way and I’m sure my teammates will be thankful for it.
Learning a new type of heartbreak: I don’t mean the heartbreak that you endure after a long relationship or after ending what was supposed to be a life-long friendship. I mean heartbreak in the form of leaving people you have become close to but having peace in knowing you were only meant to be in each others life for a spit second. Let me explain..a few months ago I was reading a blog from a World Racer who explained heartbreak on the world race. It included falling in love with the locals and their stories but finding peace in those goodbyes. I thought I was ready for that, but I wasn’t. Many of you know that I had to switch routes, which meant I had to switch teams. Those fifty or so individuals were apart of my self growth in sharing my testimony and becoming closer to my faith. I had connected with them and at first did not wanna listen to God when he told me to switch routes. But he gave me the grace to say my goodbyes and move on to a different team. He gave me the peace in knowing that those individuals were only meant to momentary be in my life for that self growth. That heartbreak was welcomed with another amazing group of individuals I would be traveling the world with. I’m not sure what you call this heartbreak but there is such beauty in it.
That heartbreak has allowed my goodbyes to be easier as well. To say see ya later to my current season of life and to find peace with moving on.
I bought a bible.
Once upon a time I thought I had the strongest faith because of how much I prayed or felt connected to God. But being fully indulged in scripture, its way different. I’m able to find truth and wisdom in every battle I have gone through preparing for the race and what I will endure after. Finding time for that devotion as well has been a struggle but a blessing. It has brought me closer to our father.
Psalm 119:105
Your Word is a lamp for my feet. A light on my path.
