I’m going on the World Race! It even sounds cool! As awesome of an experience as this is going to be I will never be able to just hop on a plane and take off for 11 months without some preparation. I love to plan and prepare to do things that I am excited about. I was always that girl in school that had all of her folders, notebooks, and binders prepared weeks before the first day of school. I like to feel prepared and in control of my plans so I know everything will work out just as perfectly as I imagined it.
Preparing for the World Race is not as simple as going out to buy some notebooks and pencils and getting my locker organized for school. I have been doing all I can these past few days to get all of the stuff done that is needed so I can be ready to leave on this amazing adventure in January. I have set up my appointment to get vaccinated, purchased a bunch of my gear that I will need including a backpack, tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat. I have written and sent out my support letters. I have talked to my family and friends about my plans for this next year. I have talked to others who are also doing the World Race. Most importantly I have prayed a lot about my decision and asked the Lord for guidance. Now, it seems like I have done a lot of stuff right? So why after all this preparation do I feel so unprepared?
I know how important being prepared for a big event is. I have ran two half marathons and without adequate preparation I would have never been able to cross the finish line. I needed to be physically and mentally prepared for such an incredible challenge. I feel like preparing for the World Race is a little like preparing for a half marathon. You need the proper gear, nutrition, and support system. During my training runs I would run into mental road blocks that I would have to work through. During my preparation for the World Race I feel like I am running into similar mental road blocks. I have thought that this journey is too difficult, too long, too much money, so many things that would make it easy to give up. But I know that once I get through these challenges I will look back and think, “that wasn’t so bad.”
I am trusting in the Lord and praying daily that I will be granted favor and will raise all of the finances I am in need of to go on this Mission’s trip. I will be continuing to do all I can to work towards my goal and I look forward to “Going out into all the world and preaching the gospel…” (Mark 16:15). I know that even after all the preparation in the world not everything will go just as “perfectly” as I would like. I am expecting some difficulties along the way but I hope that through those challenges I will grow even closer to the Lord and continue to depend on Him.
