It’s hard to believe, but this whole World Race thing is almost at an end.
I can now count the days until my plane lands in Miami, Florida on my hand.
Almost every day I've been fighting to "stay present" right where I am. And while I've seen God do some awesome things, I’ve naturally been thinking and praying a lot about what God has for me in this next post-race season.
As I’ve learned on the World Race, nothing in this world is certain. I don’t know what tomorrow holds. But I would like to share with everyone my “plans” once I get home. So I made a list of 11 things I’m going to do after my 11 countries in 11 months.
That is…other than hugging all the clothes in my closet, eating all the food I’ve missed and soaking in hours of beautiful sleep in my glorious, comfortable bed after taking a hot shower and drying off with a real, non-quick dry towel, of course.
1. REST.
I’m going to sleep until my body naturally wakes me up. No alarm. And then I’m going to catch up on a year’s worth of TV, and not feel guilty about it. (So if you’re willing to lend me your Hulu + and/or Netflix account for a few days, let me know.)
2. PROCESS MY LAST 11 MONTHS.
It’s been a heck of a journey, so I’m giving myself time to go back over what God has done. Practically this will probably look like re-reading my journal, looking at my pictures, and writing a ton of blogs. I know I kind of slacked in the blogging department for the past few months, and I’m sorry! But I will finish all the ones I started once I get home. My processing will also include creating a video and hopefully a newsletter and scrapbook. I hope that makes up for my failure to blog every month!
3. SHARE MY EXPERIENCE.
I’ve learned a lot and seen God do a lot in this past year, and it’s kind of overwhelming to think of trying to share it all. But I’m going to do my best! My first chance to share will be at my church, Victory Church, on August 11. So if you live in South Florida, I would love to see you there. And that evening, my parents and the church will be hosting a “Welcome Home” Party for me at our church’s office building. It will be a more laid-back opportunity for me to share stories and my experiences. Everyone’s invited to that too. Eventually, I’m hoping I’ll be able to speak at one of my sorority’s chapter meetings in the fall and at the retirement home I used to work at, St. Andrews South.
4. LIVE "MISSIONALLY" IN BOCA RATON, FLORIDA.
One lesson that has been solidified over the last year is that, while some people are called to be vocational missionaries, every Christian has the responsibility to be a missionary wherever God calls them “in season and out of season.” While I may be “in season” now and “out of season” when I go home, my hope is that I will be able to live and serve in Boca Raton similarly to how I have lived and served abroad. God has been speaking to me with some ideas of how I can do that, so I’m just waiting on His timing and guidance to put those ideas into action. Some people go to the nations and never want to leave, and I always thought I would be one of those people. But for whatever reason, instead being in the nations has made me more passionate about what God wants to do in America. I never thought I’d say it, but I truly want to be in Boca Raton! I’m actually really excited to see what God is going to do in my hometown and how He will enable me to love the people around me in Boca. So for now – I’m bringing God’s Kingdom to Boca!
5. VISIT PEOPLE I'VE MISSED.
I’ve missed a lot of people these past 11 months, and I can’t wait to see my friends! I’ll for sure be making some time to hang out with my South Florida friends! At the end of August, I’ll be taking a road trip to visit friends in Gainesville and Atlanta. Then I’ll be visiting my grandma in North Carolina and hopefully some friends there. And then Lord-willing, I may get to visit some friends in Nashville and Richmond. So pray that the Lord provides for that because I really want to see everyone! I should be back in Boca Raton by mid-September.
6. GO TO PROJECT SEARCHLIGHT.
After squads come home, Adventures in Missions hosts a post-race, networking and life-coaching conference-type event to help racers figure out their next steps in life and have the chance to reunite with squad mates. Project Searchlight for my squad will be in Gainesville, Georgia from August 22-28, so that will obviously be a stop along the way on my road trip. I’m driving there, so if you’d like to help me out with gas money let me know!
7. BE A BRIDESMAID.
On my overnight layover in South Korea, in between China and the Philippines, my best friend from high school and one of my biggest supporters, Dominique, and I Skyped and she asked me to be one of her bridesmaids! She gets married in January, so until then I’ll be helping her craft and be participating in all the wedding festivities!
8. TAKE CARE OF MY BODY.
After 11 months of dirty feet and hands, I’m ready for a manicure and pedicure. My eyebrows feel out of control. My skin needs some serious exfoliating to get all the dirt out of my pores. After the initial excitement of baking everything off Pinterest because I’ll finally have the supplies to make it and eating Chick-fil-a wears off, I’m looking forward to eating healthy. I need to do some intense detoxing after all the junk food and who-knows-what I’ve eaten this year. Through it all, I’ve actually been pretty good about working out on the race, so I’m hoping to continue with that. Oh, and I could probably use a nice, long massage after carrying all of my possessions around the world in a backpack.
9. SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY.
In addition to being beyond excited to celebrate the holiday season with my family again, God has been putting it on my heart to be more intentional with my family members – mom and dad included. In this next season, I’ll be moving back into my parent’s house, and God has given me a few thoughts on how to spend my time with them. The Lord has also given me a desire to spend more time visiting and truly getting to know my extended family, so I’m looking forward to that. So mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandma – just know we’ll be spending some together soon! Get excited.
10. BE DISCIPLED AND MAKE DISCIPLES.
I’ve mentioned it a few times, but I have an amazing church family in Boca Raton who has supported this journey and whom I know will support me in this next season. I know a big part of my next season is getting re-plugged in with my church and beginning to serve there again. I’m still waiting to figure out where exactly and to what capacity I’ll serve. But I do know that a big part of my involvement in the church will be discipleship. I’ve asked a lady from my church to disciple me and we’ve been Skyping over the past few months, so I’m hoping that continues! I’m also trusting God to provide young women for me to disciple and pour into. I’m so excited to get back to my church because I really feel like it’s where God wants me to be in the next season. I’ve been listening to sermons via podcast over the past few months, and so much of what we are discussing as a church coincides with what God has been speaking to me personally. It’s actually pretty crazy. So all that to say, I can’t wait to get back with my church family!
11. SEEK GOD DAILY, AND TAKE LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:33-34
So basically, my main plan is to obey God’s Word. I’m going to wake up every day and seek the Lord. I’m going to trust my heavenly Father to take care of me, walking by faith and not by sight. I’m going to love the people God puts in front of me each day, and I’m going to live each day for the glory of God.
So no, I don’t know what job I’m going to have. I don’t know where money will come from (other than from my parents, who have graciously agreed to support me financially for a little while longer). I don’t know how long I’ll be home or where I’ll go after that. I don’t know a lot of things. But I know that what my God says is true, so I’m not going to worry. I’m going to seek Him, do what His Word says, and let Him do His thing of taking care of everything else.
So, now that you know my post-race “plans,” here’s a few ways that you can support me in the next season:
1. Pray for me. Pray that God would guide each day as I walk into the calling and purpose He has for my life. And pray that I would hear His voice and make choices that glorify Him!
2. If you’re able and God puts it on your heart to help me out financially until God provides me with an income, please let me know! If that means paying for my lunch or coffee when we hang out because you know I’m broke, buying me a gas card, sponsoring a month of my new cell phone bill, giving me some clothes you’re not wearing anymore, or straight up giving me money – any way the Holy Spirit leads you would be an insane blessing!
3. Set me up with someone who might be able to bless me with a service. Do you know someone who would give me a free haircut or pedicure? Or a massage or a facial? If you do, tell them about me and my race and see if they’d be willing to bless me with their services.
4. Hug me when you see me. I want so many hugs when I get back to America.
5. Reach out to me. Coming home I’m probably going to be overwhelmed with a lot of things, so it would help if you would reach out and contact me instead of expecting me to contact you. I have about 41838148713 people I sincerely want to catch up with, and not enough time to call and message everyone. So please be patient with me, and help me out by calling, texting or Facebooking me if you want to hang out.
6. Encourage and pour into me. Don’t get me wrong, I will always desire to love and serve my friends and I will always try to do so as the Spirit leads. But at the same time, I have been constantly pouring out for a year, and I am worn out and exhausted. So please drop any expectations and just love me without any conditions.
7. Ask me sincere questions about my trip and what I’ve learned, and then listen. Help me process. I’m a verbal processor.
8. God has changed me and taught me a lot. So even if we’ve known each other forever, get to know me in this new season.
9. Tell me about what’s happened in your life for the past year. Tell me stories. I really want to know!
10. Ultimately, just listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading in how to support me, love me, bless me, serve me.
Thank you everyone for coming alongside of me these past 11 months, and for joining me in the next season of my life! I can’t wait to see everyone in America!
