His number was 001 and it changed a life.

March 20^th was one of the most memorable days of the Race.
 
I met my sponsored child on his 13^th birthday.

 
His name is Great. Through the Compassion International program, I have watched him grow into his name for the last five years, and I have been able to love him through prayers and letters.
 
A little gentleman, Great held my hand all day and guided me around Compassion’s Ugandan property, careful to help me avoid prickly weeds and cow droppings. When it started to rain, he held an umbrella above us.
 
Great is more than a picture and a penpal now. I have seen the difference the letters and the sponsorship have made in his family’s life and also in mine. They spoke of the blessings they received, yet I walked away feeling like the blessed one to have been a part of their lives and welcomed into their home.

I heard their story. Great’s dad became a Christian the day Kweyunga was welcomed into the program. Great was the very first child accepted into Compassion’s program in that area, and it was confirmation to Great’s dad that God heard his prayers.

 
I shared the adventure with a teammate, Kenzie. We traveled several hours on African dirt roads to Great’s village. Along the way, we saw zebras and grass huts and were able to stand at the equator and be in two hemispheres at once, something that has been on my bucket list.
 
Moments exist on the World Race when it hits you that “I’m in another country.” I stared out the window, observing the African landscape, and the reality of the moment hit me. I am on an adventure, one that will be over in a little over two months. It made me appreciate my time on the Race so much more. I have two months of adventures left!
 
The thing is, I don’t want to be talking about the crazy stories of the World Race ten years from now. I want new stories, new adventures. God works in America, crazy things happen every day if we have the courage and mindset to pursue them. And that’s the life that I want.