The World Race has been an incredible adventure filled with a variety of moments that have been both challenging and shaping. Along the way, I have learned a lot & want to share with you my favorite parts. It’s hard to fully put into words all this year has held, but keep reading to see some of the highlights.
(1) Growing outside of my comfort zone
I have been able to grow outside of my comfort zone in more ways than one. I’ve tried lots of strange and foreign foods, peed on my feet while using squatty potties, showered with buckets of cold water, slept on the floor/on top of desks, lived with 40 other people, etc. This year has been one of the best & most difficult years of my life so far. I loved it a lot, & I also never want to do it again (lol).
(2) Living in community with 43 teammates
Our squad consisted of 43 people. These people did not only become friends throughout this year, but became family. It has been pretty incredible to be surrounded by such a beautiful community of people who truly love the Lord. They are the only one’s who truly know the insides and outs of what we’ve experienced this year.
(3) Salvations
Ultimately, the goal of this trip was to share the gospel, learn about God, and help others learn about God. One of my favorite memories will always be of 2 buddhist high school students who decided to dedicate their lives to Jesus, and met with us every day to discuss the Bible and ask questions. THAT is what it’s all about. Moments like that will always melt my heart and will always make me reflect on the goodness of the Lord.
(4) Partnering with a variety of ministries
It’s been SO COOL to do things that at home I never would have done and see the very many sides of ministry. I’ve been able to build a roof, teach Sunday school, do door to door evangelism, teach in classrooms, work at a home for abused children, translate documents from spanish to english, preach in churches, dance, teach kindergarten, partner with a coffee shop and restaurant for burmese refugees, work in orphanages, paint houses, clean, tutor students, host a woman’s retreat, plant gardens, plan kids camp, do sports ministry, have open air crusades, preach in high schools, etc. The Lord uses people from all over the world in so many different ways, and we were blessed to be a part of that.
(5) Forming relationships with people all over the world
We have been able to meet new people, hosts, and families from all over the world. It has been the biggest blessing to form relationships with people I otherwise never would have met. Honestly, I cry at the end of every month knowing that I am leaving the people who have become so dear to my heart.
(6) Learning different styles of worship
I’ve been able to learn a lot about worship, & how different that looks for so many different people. Some scream into microphones, some set up music on the side of the road, some shout (literally shout) for joy, some stomp on the ground so hard while dancing in church, some dedicate themselves to praying for others (shout out to Papi Lee in Honduras!), some sleep at church overnight, some fast for long periods of time, etc. Worship looks different for every person and every place, but the Lord sees our hearts and loves us all the same.
(7) Going with the flow
Sometimes in life, you just can’t have a schedule. My brain loves to plan, and this year that was all thrown out the window. I learned how to come up with a sermon 5 minutes before the service, perform dramas on the spot, teach lessons without any preparation, etc. Plans change. Things are often unorganized. And, that is okay. Sometimes, that gives the Lord room to lead me without my own plans getting in the way:)
(8) Observing different cultures and ways of life
I’ve been able to witness 11 different ways of living life. There are different ways to wash clothes, different ways of dressing, different types of food to eat, different ways of walking and talking, different languages, different values, different facial expressions, etc. All are beautiful, and there have been plenty of awkward moments trying to figure them all out.
(9) Living with a host family who does full time missions
Every month, we have a host or host family who we are able to help and work alongside of. These hosts work full time, all year long, without complaining. I have been INSPIRED and encouraged to see the dedication and passion that these people have, and want to be like them some day.
(10) Growing in my relationship with the Lord
My relationship with Jesus has grown so much, and I can now walk in much more confidence knowing who I am in Christ. I used to give people the final say and influence in my life, and now like they say in Africa, Jehovah has the final say!
(11) Saying goodbye to people and places that are hard to leave
At the end of our time in each country, we have to say goodbye. Goodbye to the country, goodbye to our host family, and goodbye to the people we’ve met along the way. Each time it hurts my heart and is so hard to do. But, now looking back, I feel blessed that those goodbyes were hard because that means God put such beautiful and wonderful people in my path that MADE those goodbyes so difficult.
So, here’s my final goodbye. Goodbye to Central America, to Asia, & to Africa. Goodbye to my favorite squad & the World Race – For now anyway. This has been such a sweet season with a bittersweet ending. I’m so thankful for all of it, every single part.
*** Bonus reason, (12) Going on adventures and exploring the world
It’s been QUITE the experience witnessing such beautiful landscapes, types of weather, and fun adventures all across the globe. I’ve been able to surf with a professional surfer and climb waterfalls in Costa Rica, board down a volcano in Nicaragua, snorkel & hold sloths in Honduras, watch incredible fireworks for New Years in Guatemala, visit a beach with monkeys in Malaysia, ride elephants and hold leopards in Thailand, try new foods like silk worms in Cambodia, get a tattoo in the Philippines, visit the Genocide museum in Rwanda, raft the Nile River in Uganda, and live next to zebras and ride camels in Kenya.
It’s been quite the ride! Watch the video below for a fun recap of the year!
