So you are preparing to go on the race, most of your time is spent making trips to Wal-Mart, Target, and REI. I mean lets be real nothing in your closet is fit to go with you on the race… Right?
Well, when I was preparing for my January launch these were my thoughts.
If you are future missionary, about to set out on this life changing adventure that we fondly call the world race, let me shed some light on what this year may look like for you.
Every dream and aspiration that you have about the race will come true!
Nope! I have yet to have a month that fulfilled my “this is what mish work will look like on the race” expectations. You might want to go ahead and put those thoughts out of your mind. My race has looked nothing like what I thought that I would be doing. But, I can tell you that each and every month that I have been on this trip God has directed me to the people that He wanted me to reach.
I am going out to WORK for God, therefore I need a wardrobe made up of workout clothes.
Yeah, I thought this…. Let me just say… SO NOT TRUE. Ministry looks different every month, and every day. The likelihood of working construction for 11 months straight is not high. There will be hospital visits, home visits, church services, meals with your contact and their family, and off days. Do yourself and your budget a favor; bring normal (race appropriate) cloths too.
I will never be able to live out of a backpack for a year.
You will adapt SO much faster than you think you will. It’s amazing how creative you can get with outfits when you only have a few shirts and two pairs of pants. Also, who ever said it all had to fit inside the bag? Isn’t that why they created air porters?
** An Air porter is this amazing bag that goes over your backpack so that its less likely that your stuff will get ruined in transit.
Going on the race is a great excuse to let all personal hygiene fly out the window.
Good hygiene is something that I hold in very high regard. But I though “I’m going on the race, I wont be able to have a normal shower for 11 months! Well, ok if this is what you have called me to God I will just pack a TON of baby wipes.” I am pretty sure I must have voiced that complaint about 100 times in the month leading up to my launch.
Now that I am on the race guess what I have learned…
– Baby wipes and dry shampoo work wonders when water is in short supply.
– The art of a bucket shower… with less than 2 gallons of water (including washing my hair!)
– Waiting until the end of a ministry day or workout to shower if there is no hot water.
– Eastern Europe believes in Hot Showers!
Living in community with 6-7 people 24/7 for a year is going to be hard, weird, and crazy.
Well, this one is actually true.
However, it is also one of the best blessings that you could ask for when traveling around the world. I am on an all girls team, and lets be real, I was not too pumped about it at first. Actually, I was completely against it. It’s funny how God knows what I need so much better than I do though. Living with these girls has proven to be one of the best things I could have ever asked for. I can honestly say, if you really strive to commit to the God and the people you live with then God is going to do some amazing things in your life and in the lives of your teammates.
11 Months is an eternity!
I was one of those that had the Chicken Little mindset of “The sky is falling, the sky is falling”. My thought was…A year is WAY to long to be gone!
I just reached the half way point of my race and I cannot believe that 5.5 months have passed so quickly. I can only imagine how fast these next few months are going to pass. It feels like I could blink and this would all be over. I am learning to take nothing for granted and to strive to soak up and give my all each day.
