It has arrived! The end of the race, the return to our past lives with new ideas and perspectives on life. Months of preparation lead me to an 11 month long experience. Which is in return 11 months of preparation for the years I will live there after. The things that were normal at home are gone, and a life with a new norm is in place, ever changing when we return home once again.
I don’t know how it will be to not travel every month. Communicating with only 50 people that can speak English. Not having to convert currency in my head every time I buy something. Not walking or driving alone anywhere, or even flushing toilet paper. Leaving a community that has invested in each other’s lives for the past year. I honestly don’t know how I will be returning home. If you have asked me what I have learned or experienced I might not say a word, because I don’t know how to sum anything up into a single conversation.
I have shared a large amount of pictures and experiences on Facebook. You may or not be connected with me in this way. But if you are, just remember that only the good things are shared on Facebook. If I truly shared everything, you would see that the tough times were equal if not greater than the good times! This has been probably the hardest year of my life. Sometimes you just want to talk to a family member or friend who understands you, but you can’t always. The only people you can talk to are the members of your team who are often the ones that influence my frustrations. Feeling completely alone thousands of miles away from home is tough, but you know that God is there and you can always count on him to bring you through anything. Sometimes it takes awhile but He never fails.
The main thing I am learning about this year is Love. I have been wearing another squadmate’s shirt this year that says “Love is the Mission”. Well duh! But the depths of that statement go farther and deeper than I can comprehend. A huge part of my tough times this year relate to love. If I would truly love others like Jesus, many of my problems would be gone.
When you truly love:
-Pride turns to Humility
-Selfishness turns to Selflessness
-Stubbornness turns to acceptance
-Annoyance turns to a lack of complaining
-Legalism turns to Freedom
I want you all to know that just because I went on the “worldrace” I am not some super Christian. I have heard stories of people returning and getting introduced as some “world traveling missionary.” Yes we have but that is not our identity. My identity is in Jesus. Nothing I have done in the past year or in the future will be worthy of what He has done for me on the cross. Serving overseas is not any more respectable than serving right at home. Living as a “missionary” I still struggle going to ministry. I still struggle reading the bible. I still struggle with loving teammates and strangers. I still struggle with pride, selfishness, legalism, being patient, and everything else. Coming on the race I thought that I would be better when I get home. I did become better; only in the sense that I have greater self-awareness of who I am and how much more I need the grace of Jesus to save me from my sins. Learning about my faults and where I need Jesus more in various areas of my life.
I have a huge amount of respect for those that are in ministry at home. Day in and day out they serve. They didn’t just give a year, they have given their lives. Reaching out and talking to people that they see everyday and sharing their faith and not caring what people think of them. Being bold and serving overseas is an amazing calling! But when you know you will leave and potentially never see someone again boldness comes a little bit easier. So I would like to thank you for your encouragement to me to pursue ministry right where you are at, whether stateside or worldwide.
I would like to thank you all so much for following and supporting me as I pursue God and our savior Jesus Christ on the worldrace. I don’t deserve any of this. Just like Jesus, all of you have poured your love out over me, to bless me with this experience. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
God has given me the dream of traveling around the world and helping others. I never thought this would happen, and look it did. I still have a huge desire to become a pilot, whether it is stateside or on the mission field. I will be pursuing this when I get home and see if this is what God has next for me.
Photo courtesy of Ali Bruce, getting me in the cockpit of the jet that flew us home!
Love is the mission wherever you are. I pray that I will be able to love others better than before I left. I pray that reading what I have shared this year will inspire you to draw closer to God and experience Him in a deeper way. Nothing in this life matters more than knowing and pursuing a relationship with Jesus.
I love you all. God Bless
