Why Am I Going on the World Race?
Please stay with me as I try to explain situations, conversations, and decisions that have lead me to writing this blog on October 12th, 2015 sitting on my back porch during lunchtime.
{this is wordy.. so… I warned you!}
1. My First Encounter with The World Race
The first time I ever heard of The World Race was through Facebook one day at work. This was a quick 2 minute video, but it obviously left a lasting impression! I started researching more about it, browsing the website, and talking about it with friends. WHAT A COOL THING!
My first ‘lets do this thing‘ moment was with my brother over lunch at Panera in Conway. I talked about my video discovery and challenged him to go with me! He was in school still, so it was a ‘well we’ll have to wait until I finish school and my internship in 2012′.
Life happened.
I honestly felt like it wasn’t the right time, I didn’t have the money, I was having fun, etc. etc. etc.
2. I Actually Apply for The World Race
So at some point the Lord kept bringing The Race to mind, I had liked their page on Facebook so I saw daily pictures and reminders that yelled ‘WE ARE STILL HERE‘.
In January 2013, I started applying for the Race.
I have always been adventurous with travel and loved mission work, so…. why not? I felt like if I still thought about this opportunity, why not see where it leads? I took a day or two and slowly worked on the application when I had time. Once you show interest and start filling out information, the organization is notified.
First Phone Call: I am sitting at my desk, and a weird number from Georgia was calling my cell. ‘Huh, weird.‘ I let it go to voicemail.
Voicemail: ‘Hey Anna! Its ____ , I see you have started the application process for the World Race! That’s great! Give me a call back and I can answer any questions you may have and we can talk about how this process works!
I felt like I had been caught. For real, that was my feeling.
I honestly panicked about someone knowing my ideas in my head. Why did I feel like this? This is a good thing right? I realized I didn’t feel ready and willing spiritually. This was just me feeling unequipped, scared, and not wanting change. Either way, I never called the organization back OR finished the application.
Lame.
… and the procrastination process continues… see a pattern?
3. In 2014: I Am Itching for a Change
Say ‘HELLO‘ to my mind.
Everyone is getting married. Im not ready for that. I feel like I want to do something BEFORE I even start dating. But I’m actually not doing anything for that to happen, so what am I doing? Should I just move to Little Rock and get a change of scenery and stay at Acxiom and figure things out? Seriously I need to buy a house, I’m wasting money on rent. Should I go back to school? I really DO want to specialize in something. I wonder what was on Fallon last night?
So in 2014 I did start the WR application process AGAIN.
Didn’t finish it.
I did start talking about moving to Little Rock
Didn’t move.
I did look up jobs for about a month straight
Never applied.
I did pay to update my resume
Fist Bump.
By August 2014 I was set on moving to Little Rock, be looking for another job and see what else came up.
Again, I didn’t do anything to push this.
In December my sister and I were driving back from NorthWest Arkansas after attending my ‘soon to be nephew’ Hank’s baby shower.
We were just catching up on life and she got down to the ‘Ok Anna, really… what do you want to do?’
I went through ALL the pro’s and con’s of everything I was thinking: Dating, the World Race, teaching English abroad, going back to school, looking for another job, etc. etc.
In the end, why wasn’t I FULLY walking through the ‘World Race door’ to see if I got accepted? Why Anna? WHY? No hurt in seeing.
4. 2015: We Have Lift Off
January 2015: I apply and FINISH the application.
Hallelujah. This year is IT!
March 2015: I finish part II of the process, the online interview.
My concerns at this point were about 2 things.
1. My Meme and her passing while I was gone {she hadn’t been doing the best}
2. What if I get laid off in this next round at work and I’ll need to get another job just to live, so I won’t be able to go?
April 10th: I get the call for a phone interview
I missed the call, but emailed her about a schedule call on Monday.
April 12th: My Meme had been in a one car accident and was not doing well with the injuries that followed.
April 13th: around 2 AM my brother-in-law starting calling family living in Central Arkansas because they didn’t know how much longer Meme would be alive. I finally woke up to the 5th call that morning from my sister. I literally threw on clothes, brushed my teeth, grabbed my computer and shoes and made it to the hospital in about 23 minutes.
My Meme went to be with Jesus that morning.
With the happenings of the day, I clearly was not in a clear mind to think of anything I had on my schedule that day, let alone brush my hair.
I missed phone interview call #2 that day.
Fast forward to that week and I have worked some, tried to help my mom with funeral arrangments, I am in charge of making the video slideshow for the funeral and collecting all the pictures from my ’40+’ immediate family.
#STRESS
I missed call #3 in the midst of all the prepping for, and then visitation + family time, and the funeral itself +family time, etc.
I emailed {don’t remember her name} and appologized and asked for a reshedule with the happenings of that week. When she replied with the dates I needed to talk with her by, I replyed with a date and time and put it on my calendar. DONE.
As we approached the schedule interview time I had saved on my calendar, I emailed the WR associate and asked if I needed to call her or she was going to call me. I get an email back ‘apologizing for the mix up of calendar dates she had sent me, but I needed to have a phone interview by the week before to continue in the application process, she had mistyped the date we could talk’
{I was in between feeling that Satan was ALLL over this and being a turd and trying to wreck my life, or this is NOT what the Lords wants right now}
After a couple days of rest and prayer, I sat down and pumped myself up for round, what is it now 25 to do this?!?!
The following was YELLED in my head:
“I AM APPLYING FOR THIS ALL OVER AGAIN AND WALKING THROUGH THIS DOOR AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO JUST SEE IF THIS IS WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO DO!!!!!!!”
Remember, when I previously gave my concerns for NOT going on the World Race?
#1 My Meme
My Meme would have been so proud of me leaving for the World Race. I know that. But I didn’t want to miss anything. Anyone could pass at anytime, but she was my #1 concern. Believe me, as I was driving to the hospital @ 2 AM with the news that she wasn’t going to be on earth with us much longer, tears were trickling down my face. You never have had enough time with someone. My Meme y’all, was a HERO.
{Lord, what are you telling me because of my former concern to go on the World Race?}
#2 My job and being laid off
I wasn’t laid off.
{Ok Lord, I get it… I’ll walk through this and see..}
May-June 2015: application done, interview complete, accepted!
5. Post Acceptance
Get that? I WAS INNNNNNN!
July 2015: Told friends and family
August 2015: Began making plans for fundraising and letters while telling more friends & family.
September 2015: Started sending out support letters, planning fundraisers, began telling some co-workers.
October 1, 2015: I had been advised to talk to my boss about my plans. I was going to wait until training camp was over, to give a 2 month notice for training purposes with the holidays coming up. My boss & I finally spoke that morning and I was able to tell her my next plans. With rumors going around about layoffs, I gave the ‘I am leaving, so let me go if needed’.
October 6, 2015: LAID OFF
Laugh! PLEASE!
Reminder: God has a sense of humor people.
{Alright God, got it. I am in this 100%. This is what you want me to do. You have and will provide. YOU WIN, dang it, YOU WIN!}
Let me walk you through the scenario that shows God’s humorous and detail oriented characteristics:
1. Oct. 6th is exactly 3 months till my ‘SEE YA LATER AMERICA’ departure.
Yes, I leave January 6th.
2. With being paid through October + severence package + PDO reimbursement + 2 months of insurance extension from ‘fire’ month, I am 100% covered till I leave.
Yes, like almost to the day.
3. I have been given the gift of time.
Time with my Parents. Time with my neices and nephews. Time with my family.Time with my friends. Time with my church. Time with the Lord. TIME OFF + PAY.
{thanks for sticking with me through this terribly long post}
I am telling you this to encourage you! Take a step.
Just one.
I didn’t get a poster size sign held by angels that dropped in front of my car one day when I was driving to work that said ‘APPLY FOR THE WORLD RACE NOW’, in glitter.
{I wish it happened that way. Amen?}
I simply took a step.
Just one.
I walked you through this ENTIRE {beginning to end} story to show you the mistakes and decisions that I made along the way. I imagined mysel running backwards during all this, so again, DON’T BE LIKE ME.
It doesn’t matter what direction you step.
Just take one.
With each step I take, the Lord continues to bless it and pave the way for another, so I press on.
ONE. STEP. AT. A. TIME.
I don’t know if you see a step, hop, leap, or front flip in front of you. Either way, the Lord wants to use your talents, passions, strengths, and skills while you are here on earth. HE REALLY REALLY DOES.
Again, listen to a girl that stood still WAYY TOOO LONGGG.
Take a step.
Just one, dang it.
Happily Stepping,
Anna
