We are officially on our way to start this thing! On Friday, playing rummikub with my parents over our last meal as just us, it didn’t feel real. That night when I reunited with some of Lsquad, it didn’t feel real. On Saturday, getting encouragement and hearing incredible stories from alumni Racers, it didn’t feel real. Saying goodbye to my parents Sunday, for sure didn’t feel real. Sleeping in a hotel bed, with AC and clean sheets for the last time, definitely didn’t feel real. Taking a warm shower, soaking in the clean-drinkable water…ok I really tried to enjoy this, so it began to feel real. Worship in a room full of Americans, hearing an English accent with no translators for the last time in the next 11 months, still didn’t feel real. Last night, being reminded that it was our last full day in America… it felt crazy and unreal.
But today, we woke up at 3:00AM, boarded our first plane and it began to feel real.
Looking out the airplane window and reflecting on what God has been revealing and pulling on my heart began to make it sink in that this 11 month culture and eye opening experience has begun. I have a lot more to process, but we also have 21 hours left of plane riding to go. I’m excited to begin what I’ve been dreaming about for the last months. I’m excited to begin seeing God’s face in the people I have been dreaming about meeting for the last 6 months. I’m excited for our team to create this authentic community that we have been told to choose and take on. I’m excited to be pushed. To be challenged. To be broken. To be awed. And to be embraced by God’s love and grow deeper with His radiating presence.
In a little over a day we will landing in Cambodia and begin to get our first tastes of Race life. We will spend a day of getting phone cards and getting things straight before we separate into teams and head to our ministry sites. I’m excited to see what ministry at Rock Foundation will look like. I’m excited to see what ‘daily’ life will look like. And I’m excited to begin life as a Racer ‘on the field.’
‘Life as a Racer’ that have already been experienced….
-No longer can I be alone from now until July 2015
-We have lived off of $5 a day for food
-We have sat down for team feedback
-Hanging out in an airport for 12 hours
-I smell bad already on the travel day
-Lugging around our backpacks around the airport
And finally…
-ROUTE CHANGE!!! This weekend it was announced to us that all our African countries have switched. We will be heading to Uganda, Rwanda and then Ethiopia. I’m sad that I won’t get to experience South Africa and get to relate with friends and family that have been there. But I’m thrilled to return to Ethiopia and see more of their culture.
So, here’s my last ‘Cheers’ from State Side! Don’t worry, I’ll be safe as I hold onto my nephew’s advice of “not going near the hyenas.”
Love you all! Thanks for being part of this journey with me!
