Well, things went as expected, because this next blog is about my expectations for the World Race. For the record, I think that I may have a better idea of what to expect from a trip to the moon (spacesuit, weightlessness, astronaut ice cream overdose, etc.) than I do from the WR. So, enjoy my musings of 15 expectations I have for the WR. I may not know what I’m in for, but I have peace in knowing the God who does!
1) I will gain a whole new appreciation for running water. Also, sometime around month 3, when “feeling clean” is a distant memory, I will start settling for simply smelling better than at least one other person on my team. Note to squadmates: you may want to hide your deodorant.
2) I will laugh and cry harder than I ever have before.
3) Three words, many meanings: funky bathroom situations
4) As someone who often takes a while to meet and feel comfortable with new people, I’m probably going to be in a lot of uncomfortable situations. At least, that’s how it will feel in the beginning. I suspect that my hesitancy will be transformed after 11 months of constantly meeting new people, living in close community with my teammates, and pleading with God to help me love others better.
5) The second month is going to be amazing.
6) I will be overwhelmed by the world’s poverty, sinfulness, injustice, indifference, and hatred.
7) I will be even more overwhelmed by God’s infinite love, goodness, faithfulness, justice, fullness, power, grace, mercy, perfection, holiness, kindness, and compassion. I can’t wait to see God glorified as his hope and healing transform the most broken people and circumstances.
8) Around month 5 (after realizing that I either never understand the answer, or, when I do understand the answer, I then wish that I hadn’t), I will finally stop asking “what’s in this?” at mealtime.
9) Overall, I will really like living in community and I may not want to live alone again after returning from the WR.
10) Just when I think I’ve learned to pray big, bold prayers, God will show me just how weak my faith is. And then He’ll teach me to pray even bigger and bolder prayers. (To this I say: Bring It!)
11) I expect that of the many ministries I’m involved with on the WR, the one that will impact me the most will involve serving victims of human trafficking.
12) I believe th
at God will be using the WR to give me greater clarity about the details of his plans for my future.
13) The times of worship with both my teammates and believers worldwide will be so powerful, the anticipation of it just now almost brought me to (joyful) tears.
14) I expect that the truth of Hebrews 4:12 (God’s Word being living an active in me) will become very real. Along those lines, I believe that in many ways my spiritual eyesight will become sharpened to see more realities of the Kingdom.
15) There will be really big and gross bugs. Ewww.
