As I travel the world in search of more of God I have found that my over-planning mind set gets in the way of everything that I try to do for God. While this trip has nothing to do with the stuff that you bring with you, I have found that the “stuff” that you bring with you on the race can actually get in the way of your relationship growth with Jesus.
As my squad is creeping towards the middle of month 7, why do we have SO many things packed in our tiny bags? Why do we pack all the things that we think that we need and then some? In doing this are we not leaving room for God to move or are we just expecting that he won’t move?
I know that a new crop of racers just left for their first month on the race and that another is now preparing to launch in September and my prayer is that those who are praying about the race or maybe even those who are already on the field will have a change of heart as they prepare to leave home or move onto a new month. I want you to know that you do not NEED your Chacos or NEED your sleeping bag liner. I spent so much money to prepare for my race with the mindset that I needed to provide everything and with the mindset that maybe my provision was better than Gods provision.
I can tell you now that I have not used my sleeping bag liner once on the race and that I ditched my Chacos in month 4 along with my tent and I have not thought twice about it (even when I had to sleep in a random back yard while looking of a home in UH month) Others on my squad have given up their packs entirely! None of the things that you have you “need”
When God called his disciples to go out and minister he did not tell them to run down to the market and get everything and maybe more just in case. He told them to take the clothes on their backs and the sandals on their feet (Mark 6:7-9)Yikes! What does this mean for us? Maybe that means that you take just what you need and let God provide the rest. I found for myself, that as I learned to trust God more that each month more things would go on the free table or to my host family. I learned to get out my sewing kit and mend my clothes instead of buying new ones and I learned that God would provide all of the things that I truly desired and that everything else would fall away.
The race is less about having everything figured out and more about what God does when we can not have it all figured out.
There are six things that I will tell you not to skimp on, this is your bed and closet for a year and you will have to lug everything around more than you think you will. Remember that God will provide. All that I will recommend for your journey is below and the rest God speed!
- Backpacking backpack 65-80 litre whatever your taste prefers– mine is a 65 L Ariel Osprey and I love it.
- Day Pack-My day pack is the Celeste Osprey brand
- Sleeping Pad-My sleeping pad is legit. ExPED Synmat Long
- Sleeping Bag- My sleeping bag is awesome! Many other racers also have the same. Sierra Designes Back Country Bed.
- Pillow-Thermarest is the best! Don’t skimp. Get a Large. My dear teammate will tell you why in her blog about proper pillow maintenance.
- Packing Cubes-Mine are Eagle Creek Compressible and they are great but get whatever you like!
Remember that you are going around the world and durability is important but no more important than what God says. I have known racers to give up their big packs, daypacks, laptops, and cameras and they have been all the better for it.
Most importantly I want you to relax. Cry a little bit because yes, you are leaving home for a year and it is a big deal. In the midst of those tears praise your King for making a way for you and for his steadfast love.
And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bag, no bread, no coppering their money belts-but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.
Mark 6:7-9
