I’m driving through Nicaraguan mountains reminiscing on my race. I’m exactly one month from being on American soil and starting a new season in my life. 4 weeks away from having unlimited internet, American foods, and a million questions all in front of me. 30 days away from saying goodbye to the people I’ve come to know better than my own family. The thought makes my heart ache and grow all at once.
I miss home. I can’t wait to see the people I haven’t seen in 9 never ending short months. I long to work, eat, and sleep on a schedule that I make. I can’t wait to drive by myself and eat an entire meal without sharing a sliver of it. Selfish? Yes, very much so. Truthful? Yeah, more so than you’ll probably ever understand. Although I miss home, I know I’ll soon miss the people I can’t stand right now.
As some of you know the majority of my squad and I have spent most of our 9 months together. This isn’t typical for The Race though.
More often than not you’re alone with your team and sometimes one other team. My squad has 36 people on it and 6 different teams. I assure you that I could describe if not all, most of them better than I could my own family members. Ministry has been amazing, horrible, easy, and also hard at all different times. I’ve cried and laughed while questioning God on numerous occasions. I’ve hung out of cars, jumped into bodies of water, climbed trees, rode strange animals, hitch hiked into towns, communicated using charades, and so much more with all these people right by my side. The things I’ve listed and the pictures you’ll probably one day look through will only be stories for all of you though. However for us, it was our life. They’re our memories of a year we’ll never get back. A year we’ll remember forever. A year that most will never have the privilege to really grasp or understand.
To the future racer, appreciate your squad. Cherish them during the beginning get to know you stages. Respect them when you can’t stand them during the middle stage. Laugh and cry with them all while you reminisce during the last goodbye stage. I promise you that you won’t like every single person on your squad. But I also promise you that you will learn something from every single one of them.
To my squad, Here’s what I’ve learned from all 35 of you…
Maddie- How to be okay in every situation.
Kelly- How to not judge anyone.
Ang- How to actually not care what others think.
Grace Pritt- How to love the unlovable.
Marita- How to cherish my past instead of be ashamed by it.
Maggie- How to do you in a world that wants you to do everything else.
Ky- How to not sit in a negative.
Shad- How to be comfortable with silence.
Will- How to be a hard worker.
Brian- How to be open.
Taryl- How to always stay true to myself and remember who I am.
Lexi- How to be patient.
Katlyn- How to not feel as if you need to prove something to anyone.
Team leader Drew- How to be an amazing friend.
Morgan- How to bite my tongue.
Anna- How to share literally everything I have.
Lucas- How to be confident in what I believe and stand for.
Ariel- How to push through when all I want to do is give up.
Kayleigh- How to fight for someone to be the best version of themselves.
Alex- How to be content with what I’m given.
Evan- How to be confident in who I am and what I can do.
Nate- How to be thankful for the small things.
Andy- How to not care about the little frustrations.
Taylor- How to laugh something off.
Grace Beecher- How to bless others with the gifts I’ve been blessed with.
Jamie- How to trust in the Lord.
Lynds- How to love myself like God loves me.
Hope- How to confront someone when I’m hurt or frustrated.
Madison- How to be strong when my world is changing.
Cami- How to be faithful.
Friend- How to be truthful with where I’m at and how I’m feeling.
Benson- How to be comfortable talking about poop, throw up, farting, ect.
Dad- How to actually want the best for everyone.
Raed- How to be joyful in all situations.
Kate Kelly- How to put frustrations aside and love in front.
Alyssa- How to turn to God for small things.
Jessica- How to grow up when you don’t want to.
Love and prayers,
Courtney
