Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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Ministry this month in Johannesburg has been interesting and unexpected to say the least. This ragtag bunch of 14 Jesus-loving free spirits has been thrust into the business world. What we thought was going to be college ministry turned into us working for and meeting with charitable organizations and churches under the name of forgood.co.za. It is definitely not what any of us expected or would have chosen to do but it’s been good and has taught each one of us a unique lesson. That’s a whole other blog that I don’t feel like writing right now. Suffice it to say that I now know I’m not meant for the business world. J


 


 


Joburg’s Two Towers


 


Some things I’ve loved though are times spent out roaming around Johannesburg, having adventures, drinking coffee, living in community, figuring out how I’m gonna be affected by real life, satisfying my ever-growing desire to spend more time with God, and appreciating every moment I’ve got left on my World Race. I promise I’m not being Debbie Downer about me nearing the end of the Race. It’s just that I’ve passed a tipping point that I didn’t realize existed until I had passed it and looked back. The point where the unknown and uncomfortable became the familiar and comforting.


 


Home is where the heart is. A common saying that used to make more sense to me. The problem now is that I’ve been carrying my heart around the world with me and the saying is still true.





 


 

When I started the Race, I loved the adventure but I thought about home a lot. I missed it. I missed my family. I missed my favorite food. I probably would’ve killed for some Chik-fil-A. (Actually, stay posted on that one, it could still happen.) I missed my dog. I missed curling up in my comfy bed at night with an actual blanket and my favorite pillow. I didn’t like being in crowds of foreigners that didn’t speak English, it made me uncomfortable. I hated travel days and dreaded plane rides. I didn’t like not knowing when I could next do laundry or shower. All the closest people around me I had known for only a couple months.

 


Everyone was new to me. Everything was foreign.


 


But time and life on the Race has changed things.


 


I’ve started being able to feel at home wherever I go. I’m still a homebody but home has become wherever I set my pack down and roll out my sleeping bag. Changing countries or continents every month has become a lifestyle and I’m not sure if I can stay in one place very long when I get home. I actually enjoy travel days because it means a new continent and new adventure. I even anticipate plane rides (Hello, free movies and food!). Crowds of foreigners don’t phase me now, it’s completely normal to be the odd one out. I adjusted early on to being flexible about showering & laundry, and hand-washing laundry and bucket showers are even sometimes preferred.


 


The biggest change in home away from home is that the new people around me became my family. I feel disconnected if I’m away from them for a weekend and I feel so odd if I ever end up alone somewhere. I can’t imagine them being scattered across the whole U.S. when I get back. Who will I do team time with anymore? Who am I gonna have spontaneous dance parties with? Who is going to understand all I’ve been through and want to talk about it? Don’t worry, I know I’ll have to adjust to it. It’s going to be hard though. And I’m just starting to get a taste of how hard it’s going to be.




 


 

So, all this to say, don’t be surprised if I’m a mess when I get home. Not that I don’t miss everyone and am not excited about being home again. Home is just a more abstract thing than it used to be and I’ll be leaving what became my life and my normal for a year. But I trust God had this planned out before and I know it will be ok and get better. After all, home is where I set my pack down.

 


Love you all and thanks for coming along and continuing this journey with me!! I’m savoring every minute of the rest of it.