Prior to signing up for the Race I found myself obsessively reading blogs, not being able to turn away from the amazing stories and adventures people were experiencing around the world as I sat in my small shared cubical as an auditor.
I think each racer has at least one blog that they read that makes the decision of going for them. One of those blogs for me was of an alumni racer who was on an all girls team for the year. A couple of years after getting home each of the girls had gotten married and all were bridesmaids and attended the wedding, no matter how far away. They also chose a different location around the world once a year that they would meet up, do ministry and seek adventure. Reading this blog, I knew that I desired a group of Christian friends who would not only travel the world with me but who would encourage, challenge and live life alongside me.
God knew this is what I desired and I’m one of the few people who have been on an all women’s team all 11-months. Many people may cringe at the idea of being surrounded by 5 women for 11-months straight. Not simply sleeping next to them but working together, sharing the same bathroom and shower, eating together, sharing the same budget and bank account, deciding what and where to eat and making EVERY single decision together. But as challenging as it has been, it has also been such a blessing. Being surrounded by women who desperately love Jesus and have also decided to live out of a backpack, abandoning all comforts in order to serve the least of these is something I tend to take for granted. Sometimes I think I’m the only one radical enough to do the World Race but I quickly realize that the girl sleeping only a foot away from me on the floor has also decided to give up everything to serve Jesus.
Shannon and I have been able to spend the entire year together. We haven’t simply traveled along side each other but we haven’t spent more than 8-hours apart in over 8-months, even if we wanted to spend some time apart, it simply wouldn’t be possible. Even though we have had our disagreements, it blows my mind that we have built such an amazing friendship and still desire to stay up late at night talking.
In Ukraine, she asked me to be a bridesmaid in her January wedding. She had the girls on our team read different verses from a poem she had written. It was such a sweet moment and I think back to that blog I read over a year ago and smile, God has blessed me with that and so much more.
Here is the poem written by the wonderful Shannon Meador….
Friendship is something so treasured so true
It is a bond in which nothing can part the two of you
There is feedback and tiffs
Sometimes sadness and riffs
But every memory with you
Is something I’d never want to miss
We’ve laughed till we cried
Communicated with just one glance of the eye
And made it through Mozambique even though we thought we might die
We’ve sang divine romance
Chosen joy by choosing to dance
And have successfully avoided pooping our pants
The sharks gave us motion sickness
We’ve seen many Europeans French kiss
And walking up Prayer Mountain was much more than just fitness
Things weren’t always friendly at Friendly’s Hostel
And we’ve seen our share of squatties
But there’s no one else in the world I’d rather have beside me
when sharing the gospel to the Chinese
From Philippines to China
And South Africa too
I knew God had given me someone special by blessing me with you
In Swaz, Mozambique, Romania and Serbia it was clear
That this friendship was deeper than 11-months or a year
Still there’s Ukraine, Guatemala and a whole lot more to come
A friendship so special there can only be one
Which is why I must ask if you’d take a position unpaid
Maggie, will you do me the honor and be my bridesmaid?
Just arrived in Xiame, China
On the Great Wall of China
Shark diving in South Africa
Hanging out with the Rhinos in Swaz
Farming in Mozambique
The mountains of Poland
Panama Nursing Home
Costa Rica Beaches
Saying goodbye
Her wedding!!!!
