Well, this is the day! This is a day that I've waited in anticipation (and sometimes impatience) for. After months of planning, support-raising, buying gear, saying goodbyes, talking with ex-Racers, and enjoying some of the last moments of American comfort, the day has finally arrived.
Launch day!
That's right…in 7 hours I will be boarding a plane and leaving for Ecuador to begin my first month on the Race. To be honest, I don't really feel overly excited for this moment. I'm not jumping up and down or going crazy or anything like that. Don't get me wrong, I'm super happy to be leaving, but I guess I'm not wearing those emotions on my sleeve. I feel like all my excitement has kind of been dragged out over the last several months and I'm now at a point where I'm just ready to do this thing. I'm ready to just be on the plane and onto Ecuador.
This is now the fifth day in DC with the squad and this week has been amazing. It has been great to hang out with my squad and draw closer with my team and listen to some good talks and get more information on just the logistical side of the travels. I think it was a neccessary week to have before launching. I truly feel the presence of the Lord. I've truly developed a heart to take the Kingdom to the world. And this is the day where all the talk and planning is finally being formed into action.
I'm a little anxious as I begin this journey. I've never left the country for this long of period before. Never have had as limited contact with family back home like this before. Never have been without the luxuries of America for this long before. Never have traveled with 50-some people around the world before. In a lot of ways this will be a very challenging year.
We were told this week by one of the leaders that it might be a cool idea to send a message to your future self, 11 months down the road when the Race has come to an end, and cast a vision for this coming year and see how God has changed you throughout this journey. I kind of forgot about it (horrible memory) but one of my squadmates reminded me about it and encouraged me to take the time and cast vision. And so I did.
The main thing I wanted to cast out was something that one of the leaders spoke over me. He told me to be a risk-taker. To be willing to step out in faith even in uncomfortable situations. There will be a lot of times on the Race where my insecurities will be stretched and my faith tested and I have a choice of whether I'm going to embrace these challenges with strength from the Lord or run away from them. And I pray that as I look back 11 months from now on the person I was today, I can say that I did take risks. That I did put myself in situations where there was nothing of myself that I could turn to: only the Lord. Cause that is how Jesus wants us to walk with Him: in complete faith and dependence in who He is. And as I step out in faith, my faith will increase and my trust in the Lord will increase and my small perception of the Lord will just explode wide open and I'll fall more in love with my Savior and He will be glorified. And that's what I want.
So future Nick, be a risk-taker. Be a man who is willing to step out in faith into the unknown and depend on the Lord to show up. And I pray that this won't just be a vision for the Race alone, but that it will also carry on in the years after (Lord willing). And I pray/hope that what will come out is a man with a greater faith and trust for the Lord, a bigger heart for the world and the spreading of God's Kingdom, and a deeper love and intimacy with the presence of the Lord.
So nows the time to say goodbye. Nows the time to leave my home and my family and friends and begin to walk the path that God has revealed to me with the new family that He's given me. It's going to be a crazy journey and I hope you will continue to follow along with it. My next post will be from Ecuador where I will give you more information on the ministry I'll be doing there. Thanks for all the love and support.
So long America.
Hello World.
