So I turned 29 a few weeks ago on November 3. Greatest day ever to be born 
. It was like any other normal birthday I’ve had except this time it was spent in not one but two foreign countries! My birthday was actually spent during a what I’m assuming to be a typical travel day for a world racer.
Short back story:
At the end of last month our whole squad got together in Siem Reap, Cambodia to debrief how our first month on the race went. What happens at debrief? Like I said our whole squad (which would be 37 of us plus our 3 squad leaders, and 3 squad coaches) met up together at hostel called Overflow. Debrief lasted about 5 days. It is actually owned by Adventures in Missions so it was like a “home” away from home experience! As one large team we ate together, worshiped the Lord together, had sessions together, explored together, had adventures together, relaxed together, had a sick halloween party together, gave each other feedback…together…we did a whole lot of things together. However, there was also plenty of time to rejuvenate by yourself as well. I very much enjoyed that part…haha but I do thrive being around people I love as well. M squad is growing on me for sure 😉
So my birthday took place during the very end of debrief going into Thailand which is where we are now second month on the race. The sessions we had were not like the sessions we endured at training camp, but just as fulfilling and worthwhile. We were leaving Cambodia on November 3 at 2am! So I was expecting to celebrate my birthday on our close to 20 something hour bus ride to northern Thailand. Instead I was surprised by my team attacking me with silly string, a birthday hat,cards,and a passion fruit, chocolate cheesecake! To top it off we met with the whole squad afterward on the rooftop for our last session and it started off with everybody holding sparklers singing happy birthday! Here are some snippits:
For just meeting this group about a month and some change ago, it felt pretty good being celebrated by them! So even though my actual birthday was spent sitting on a couple of buses for elongated periods of time, waiting in line for customs/visas, and sleeping it was well spent with my fellow world race brothers and sisters in Christ!
I have been learning a lot about myself over the past couple of months. Honestly, I have struggled with having a lot of expectations for myself over the past few years, especially now that I am 29. But I am learning to throw the expectations away and to just live in the present. To be grateful for what I have, where I am, who I’ve impacted, who has impacted me and what I was created for. I was created to bring joy to my Father in heaven, I was created to be a daughter of the King, I was created to inherit a kingdom, I was created to love fiercely, I was created to be loved, I was created to glorify and worship my creator and to share that with every nation! I am feeling fine at 29 and I am sharing the love of Jesus on the World Race!
