In my last blog, which you can read by clicking: Dear Future Racers AND Supporters I talked about why the Race is so hard.
However, I also want you guys to know why the Race is worth it despite the hardships, hard lessons, etc.
You do rarely have alone time, but community is so GOOD. There are moments it can be really difficult, but it is so special to be with a group of people that you live with, eat with, and serve with. You are always together, but you become like family if you choose to. You have a group of people that understands what you are wrestling with because the Race is an odd thing and they are struggling too. You have a group that supports you in what you are wrestling with spiritually, or with family or whatever–they have your back and are praying for you and pouring into you. You also encourage them. You have a group of people you just do life with–laughing, watching movies, eating meals together. You also have a group of people you serve with–you understand the sorrows of seeing poor children but also rejoicing over what God is doing or how someone came to Christ.
There is never consistency–things constantly change and you’re always on the move. Yup. Either way it can be hard. But, it keeps you on your toes, reminds you God is in control (especially for us planners and control-freaks), and can be fun because things are always new.
You are always pouring out, but we get to the fill the cup of our hosts and the Christians in the countries we visit. It is an honor and a privilege to encourage our hosts and the local Christians in their hard work, to become family with them, and to partner and work alongside them to bring Kingdom to their area. Those in other countries whether that is their native country or whether they are there
You are constantly outside your comfort zone, but it is there that you grow. He challenges you, strips you, and more so that you become more like Him and so that you need Him.
God strips you and teaches you the hard things. BUT, that’s a GOOD thing! They say on the Race that the growth we experience in 11 months would probably take a couple years because you are in such a pressurized, spiritual atmosphere. And it is so true! In just the 6 months I have grown so much! And the stripping does really suck, but I know that He “disciplines only those He loves” (Proverbs 3:12).
Deep relationships=hard good byes. But, hard goodbye’s are better than none. I actually wrote a blog about this called “The Blessing of a Heartache” And yeah, it is REALLY hard to say those hard good byes, but I would RATHER have hard good bye’s than not having any at all. At least I know I now have friends and family all over the world now and I’ll get to see them again in heaven, I get to pray for them, and hopefully we get to still be apart of each other’s lives in other ways.
You do miss out on things back home. But, you come to appreciate those back home more and it is so worth it! My camp family and my adult Christians friends I have come all the more to appreciate because of how well they loved me when I was back in the US, but also NOW because they are still praying for me, encouraging me, and commenting on my blogs. And when I do get to talk to a friend from back home. It is also worth it for all my growth, the new relationships I have made from my squad and all over the world. Also, the only the Lord knows exactly how He has used me to touch the needy and those that don’t know Him yet.
It’s not normal to feel like a regular human being. You do get to have moments where you can just be a tourist though! God blesses you with McDonald’s in the airport. You do have opportunities to go and explore a city and see things like Angkor Wat, climbing a beautiful mountain, going to an ocean, etc. And He brings you the refreshment you need when you need it.
I have grown so much in the past 6 months and I know that He still isn’t done with me. But also, even though ministry is not what I would have expected it to be always, He’s allowed me to do other neat things.
The Race is hard, but the fruit out ways the struggles.
