Month 8 on the Race has been filled with both good and challenging things. I am with my Squad of 34 people in Quito, Ecuador the first three weeks. I head to Banos for a week to serve with a ministry there while some Racer’s parents visit in Quito. In Quito, my team is directly serving the ministry our Squad is being hosted by- ‘Inca Link’. They work with a number of outreaches in the city.
My team has done a variety of work the past three weeks: such as, soccer ministry and painting a building at their soccer field. Although, a majority of our time was spent doing one specific task for our ministry: they asked us to move dirt.
They needed an area on their property cleared for a fire-pit. We would break up the dirt, fill a bag, carrying it to the van, drive up a hill, and then walk up another hill to dump the dirt. Repeat.
I have learned on the Race that no job is too small. As a World Racer we partner with organizations serving the Lord in whatever capacity is needed.
This is my fourth month on the World Race where moving dirt has been a part of my ministry. It has become very normal- like so many things on the Race.
Paul talks about this idea of ‘no job being too small’ in his letter to the Corinthians. He travels to different people, integrating into their cultures so he can build a relationship with people and understand them. For example: becoming weak to win the weak.
Why?
‘I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, that I may share with them in its blessing.’ (1 Corinthians 9:23)
He does it ALL for the sake of the Gospel. That’s why I move dirt and so many other seemingly weird, quirky, or funny tasks- because of the sake of the Gospel and sharing in its blessings.
This has inspired me to share a list with you of some new norms in my life as a World Racer. Hopefully they will make you laugh, or at a least give you a glimpse into some of the hilarity and beauty of my life this year.
So, here they are….
11 Norms Of A World Racer:
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Being asked to move dirt. Who knew that it was such a ground breaking need across the globe? To plant trees in Mozambique, dig holes in Zambia, build a dirt base for a food stand in Cambodia, or dig out a campfire pit in Ecuador.
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Putting five to six people in a four person taxi to save money. I don’t even think twice any more. Pile in, public transport is a way of life here.
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Being a professional bus sleeper. Spending 25-40 hours on a bus is a monthly occurrence. Bring your hard-drive, because there are endless hours to catch up on the world of television you have missed in your life.
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Living with a group of people who were strangers 7 months ago, but who are now your family. We do everything together- eating, sleeping, working, and adventuring. We know each other’s strengths, flaws, and bathroom schedule.
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Navigating communication barriers. South America has been great for most people on the Squad with a baseline or fluency of Spanish. Not for me! I still only understand about 1% of what people around me say.
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‘Are you ready to receive feedback?’ On our teams we do something called ‘feedback’- or opportunities for growth. In actuality, it looks like teammates challenging and encouraging one another to become more like Jesus. Saying and receiving hard things is a norm.
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Paying to use public bathrooms and not EVER flushing your toilet paper. I celebrate every time their is free toilet paper or a free public toilet. I’m serious- it it that rare.
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Living with less. Less clothes, less comfort, less structure, less control, and less convenience. I have learned how much excess I live with in America and how that should change.
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Infrequent access to wifi/American current events. The other day I remembered what it was like to text or call people, like whenever you wanted, not just when you find some wifi once or twice a week. Weird.
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Having no control over what is happening. Don’t ask me what I am doing next month, what city I will be in, or who will be on my team. I have zero idea. So, when people ask ‘what will you do after the Race?’- I just laugh.
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Worshiping in a variety of ways. It might be in a living room with your Squad or at church services where you don’t understand one word. These moments of worship are so sweet because I think that is what Jesus intended the church to look like- communities coming together to worship the King.
I could go on, and on talking about weird and interesting food or teaching English or running a VBS or painting buildings, but let’s not get crazy.
In all seriousness, I read this list and some things are funny and weird and may not make sense through my American lens, but it is often what makes this year so beautiful. Because when I choose into these norms, I am able to receive what the Lord has for me in every country, ministry, task, and experience.
So that’s why I move dirt and choose into it.
I choose in because it is all for the sake of the Gospel so myself and others can share in its blessings.
