I remember the night before I left for launch. My family and I all hopped in the car to head towards Cracker Barrel. My parents, siblings, nephews, aunt and uncle, and grandparents all came to celebrate with me before I left for my 11 month adventure. After we ate, we went to my grandparents and celebrated with ice cream and cake. Before we left, we played Phase 10 which always has (and will always be) one of my favorite card games that I played with my grandparents. I remember the competiveness side the Roediger’s have and the joy and laughter I felt spending time with my family that night.
That night, as I was leaving to go to my parents car, I remember my grandpa giving me a big huge hug goodbye. It was a hug that left a lasting impact as he told me he loved me. My grandpa has always expressed so much love for me, and I know he’s said he loved me so many times, but that night when he said I love you the words impacted me so deeply. That moment will always be a vivid memory in my mind. I could tell that my grandpa was so proud of me and excited for the adventure that awaited me as I served God’s kingdom around the world.
At launch you have the opportunity to allow your parents to join you. At launch raceiera receive additional training and information before going on the field. My parents even met other worldracer families to communicate with while we were gone. Our parents joined us for a few days then left. A few days after my parents left, I was to fly to my first country Mozambique. As soon as my parents landed in Ohio, they shared the devasting news with me that my grandpa had stage four melanoma cancer. They shared that they were looking into treatments, but they didn’t know what the future looked like ahead.
Flash forward 6 months, and here I am at home. A surprise too many I know, but about a month ago I decided to come home because I wanted to spend some precious last moments with my grandpa. To be honest, before I left home I never thought I would end up coming home half way through the race but I couldn’t imagine not being able to see my grandpa again.
For months, I kept praying to God that he would allow me to have more time with my grandpa, and I’ve been so blessed to be able to spend four and a half days visiting with him. We actually kept it a surprise, and I’ll never forget the BIG smile that crossed my grandpa’s face as I entered the room.
If I’ve learned anything from the Worldrace and as I’ve grown throughout life, it’s the beauty of hearing each person’s story. Through people’s stories you are able to hear the good, the bad, the ugly, and the moments that made life joyful and worth living. When I came home, it was my desire to ask my grandpa questions so that I could hear more about his story. Here are a few things I learned about my grandpa during my time at home: I learned that my grandpa never wanted to be a farmer. Instead he wanted to start a motel. I also learned that my grandpa used to play the accordion and played basketball in seventh and eighth grade. He wasn’t able to continue basketball in ninth grade because his brother Carl went to serve in the war and he needed to help milk cows. I also learned that my grandparents met at a Rolling Rink and my grandpa asked to drive her home and the rest is history. He also talked about how he used to water ski on Lake St. Mary’s and he won a lot of competitions.
Talking with my grandpa, I learned that there is a lot about people we don’t even know. Even about the people we love! Spending these past few days with my grandpa have reminded me how precious our time with the people we love is. As I’m about to conclude this blog, I want to encourage my readers to take the time to spend time with the ones that they love. Spend time asking them about their lives. Ask them what they love. Ask them their wildest dreams. Ask them about the ugly moments and how they got through them. There’s so much beauty and inspiration in the stories we hear as long as we have the time and ears to listen.
Today I start a long 22 hour travel day to go back onto the mission field. My destination is Yangon, Myanmar. I don’t know what my ministry will consist of this month, but I’m excited to go back to the field to continue the mission God placed on my heart. Every moment of my time at home was worth it even though I saw my grandpa in so much pain. It was a blessing to be able to spend time with my family, see a few friends, eat some of my mom’s amazing cooking, and change things out in my big pack I live out of. Please keep my grandpa and family in your prayers as he continues to fight this battle of cancer as long as God permits him to live. My grandpa knows the Lord and stated to me the other day “ I have no worries , I know where I’m going”. That gives me so much peace as I continue my journey on mission.
