For as certain as I am about going on the World Race, I have surprisingly few expectations. The truth is, I have no idea what to expect! And that excites me.
All I know is that I love Jesus and I love traveling. I love cultures and I love sharing Jesus with people all over the world. I love missions. So that much I know will happen. It’s a mission trip: traveling will occur and Jesus will be shared.
My biggest expectation is that I will encounter God in new and exciting ways while I am on the World Race. Every day of my life is an opportunity to grow closer to God, and especially on the World Race, I expect to experience new things that will broaden and deepen my understanding of God’s nature.
I expect to form deep, personal relationships with my teammates. I can’t imagine not becoming close to someone after experiencing so much together, not to mention spending 11 months straight with them! I expect to love, encourage, grow, and challenge each other, and to make lifelong friends.
I expect to fall in love with the people and cultures that I encounter. All the various cultures and ways of life reveal the beauty and diversity of our Creator God. And I love it. I also expect to be saddened by the sin and brokenness that I encounter. The results of living in a fallen world, such as poverty, greed, death, exploitation, and loss break my heart. I’m sure I will be broken by the brokenness I see around the world.
The thing I am most excited about is ministering in the Asian countries I’ll be traveling to. All my life I have heard about the 10/40 window, the area between 10 and 40 degrees latitude in the eastern hemisphere. It is the most unreached region of the world, I think less than 1% Christian. I am so excited to travel to Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos to preach the word of God to a people who have never heard before.
And for my final expectation: I expect it to be difficult. Being so far from my loved ones (and my dog) for so long. Being denied comforts that I take for granted (like internet, beds and showers). Being hindered in ministry by language and cultural barriers. Being in a situation where I have to consistently live in such a way that I put others before myself. Yeah, it’ll be tough. But it’ll be worth it.
Jesus said something about the cost of following Him.
“If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.” –Luke 14:26
But He also said something about the rewards.
“And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.” –Matthew 19:29
Receiving 100 times what I give up and eternal life? I’ll take it. Bring it on Jesus!
