Today marks the halfway point into the Race. Almost a year ago I remember sitting in my room on my bed applying to The World Race.
Looking back now, I can laugh, I had NO idea what was in store for me. ‘Sure God, I’ll go because you tell me to go. I’ll help some kids in Your name, I’ll paint some buildings in Your name, no biggy. I can do this God.’
HA.
Just like every other adventure God has taken me on, I had no idea what was in store.
Things I know now, I didn’t know then:
1. Sacrifice looks different than I expected: the sacrifices I thought I’d be making I’m not (living in a tent, etc.), and the things I thought I wouldn’t have to sacrifice I am (talking to my family, etc).
2. It’s more about ‘changing you’ then it is about ‘changing the world’
3. I have to raise a lot more support than the initial amount. I could survive on the amount required but as Dusty Dills says ‘There’d be a lot less meat on your bones than when you get home.’
4. Training camp is not the race, training camp is ‘worse case scenario’, they do a good job at freaking you out.
5. I haven’t been ‘roughing it’ like I thought I would be. I used my tent once, and that’s because I needed to feel like I brought it for a reason and not just carting it around. (Not complaining about this at all! I’ve been so blessed! Just not what I expected)
6. You have to be intentional with your time with God. You think it’s going to be ‘God this, God that, God’s everywhere in everything, of course I’ll feel him, He’s God’. But unlike at home when you can go to church and ‘feel God’, you go to a church here they don’t speak your language, they don’t worship like you’re used to, and it’s easy to feel disconnected. You’re not ‘fed’ God like you’re used to, you have to learn how to ‘pursue’ God harder than you’ve ever had to in your life.
7. I never thought I’d be so thankful for simple things; clean water, faucets, dryers, tables, plates, utensils, ice.
8. I didn’t know what ‘feedback’ was before the race, now I look forward to the day I don’t have to do it everyday, but somehow it’s part of me. I know I’m going to want to feedback anyone and everyone for the rest of my life.
9. An 8-hour travel day is considered short. Road trips will never look dreadful to me ever again; 15hours to the beach, nothing. Especially when you get to sit in your own seat, listen to your own music, and control the AC/heat!
10. Everyone is a missionary. You don’t have to go across the world to lead people to Christ. Everyone is a missionary right at home, in their communities, in their cities, in their states, etc. It just looks different if you’re home.
These are just a few minimal examples that I can think of right off the top of my head.
Moving on…
Realizing that I’m halfway through, everything I’ve done this far will all be happening again in a sense, I get really excited to see the rest of what God has in store to teach me, show me, etc.
It’s hard to write in words the things that have changed in me. The new eyes I have for life are brighter, clearer. The new ears I have for the Spirit and God’s whispers, I hear so much more loudly. It’s exciting to think about God doing this much with 6 months of intense living. I never want to go back to the way of life I knew. I know what intentionally living out God’s plan and seeking His guidance looks like. I know what it feels like to be a missionary and carrying Christ’s name with me wherever I go, teaching them what he’s done for us and how He lives in me.
Oh this has definitely been a crazy ride so far. The good news, I get to do it all over again. I still have 6 months left! But I can’t wait for the day when I get to enjoy some transportation available to me 24/7.
Month 1 : Philippines
Month 2 : China
Month 3 : South Africa
Month 4 : Mozambique
Month 5 : Swaziland
Month 6 : Romania
