Well, 11 months has officially turned into 11 days. I cannot believe how fast the time has flown by. As my teammates and I prepare to return home, we spend time reflecting on the crazy adventures we have had. From mudding huts in Africa to teaching in front of the Ministry of Education in Vietnam; each month has been vastly different. Each month has been filled with blessings and challenges. Over the past eleven months I have learned so many lessons about myself, God, and the world around me.
Although, I can identify some ways in which I have changed, I do not think I will realize the full impact this year has had on my life until I attempt to return back to “my normal life” in the states. I am not sure what that transition will look like, but it would be impossible to return as the same person who stepped onto that first flight last July.
I pray that as I return home to my nice bed, air conditioning, closet of clothes, and warm showers that I never forget this experience. That the memories of freezing cold showers in Nepal, half a potato for breakfast in Mozambique, or the broken crayons that were prized possessions in India always stay fresh in my mind.
I have spent the last 11 months on the mission field. However, returning to American soil does not mean my job is done. When I look back at the past year, some of my favorite moments on the race were not during “set” ministry time. The mission field is everywhere. Ministry does not have to be your job description or something you do with your church. It doesn’t have to be organized or planned. It doesn’t have to be big or flashy. Ministry is a lifestyle. Sometimes the smallest gestures have the biggest impact.
As we enter into a single digit countdown. I am becoming increasingly aware that my World Race is coming to an end. But this does not mean my race is over. One of my hosts said, “The World Race is like training for the life ahead of you. The real race starts when you step off that plane.” Thus this is not the end, it is only the beginning…
“…And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and protector of faith.” – Hebrews 12:1-2
