It would sound nice to say that from when our team was assigned at training camp, we formed an idyllic bond of sisterhood and have been best friends ever since.
Our team is the only one who has been together since month 1 (minus Cadence). And for the foreseeable future, we are going to remain together as a team until final debrief. Yes, there are great moments when we laugh together, and stay up until midnight talking. But there are also hard moments when we hurt each other, and fight in the back of a matatu. There have been times when we’ve all wanted to throw in the towel and probably begged AIM and God for team changes.
The hardest thing about the World Race is not using a squatty potty for 2 months; it’s not missing my family, my bed, and hot showers. It’s not even adjusting to new foods and cultures only to relocate again. The hardest thing about the World Race is community.
Relationships are hard. Humans are imperfect. Love is costly. We must love, not only when it is easy, but when it is difficult. We are to love not only our friends, but our enemies. We must love not only those who love us, but those who hate and persecute us. Community requires sacrifice. My attitude in community must be one of seeking to serve, not looking to receive. We must be willing to give and get nothing in return.
I have learned so much about what it looks like to be on a team with people who would probably never interact under ordinary circumstances. Through them I have learned what it means to love even when you don’t feel like it, and what forgiveness and friendship looks like. Because of my team I am learning patience, selflessness, and, sacrifice.
In the past I have struggled with perseverance; I gave up on things as soon as they were no longer fun or came easily to me. But being on this team has taught me so much about sticking it out, even through the hard times. So the six of us women will stand together from start to finish, having learned what community, love and being on a team truly means, good and bad.
Yes, community may be the hardest thing, but it’s probably also the best thing about the World Race.
my team with our host family in Kenya, and squad leader Jeremiah
