What has the World Race
taught you about community?
will have to risk getting hurt but that it’s worth it. It takes a lot of grace,
quick forgiveness and open communication. You will get out what
you put in – You must fight for it
if you want it to be good and/or healthy.
You learn to truly love
people that in other situations of life you might not even try to get know or
want to be around.
Whatever you have to do or go through – it’s worth it because it’s the greatest expression of the Church.
How has doing two World Races
shaped your view of God?
I have been blessed to see how He is at work throughout the world.
I have seen some stunning things
that reflect His beauty. I have been blown away by the way He has fought for my
freedom. My limited view of His power and of the trinity has been shattered.
But most of all I come away with a
deeper understanding of God as my
Dad and me as His son. And I
can’t think of a more valuable thing then that.
What was different about your
2nd time on the World Race in comparison to your first time?
Well, it was way different
and the same at all once.
So much had changed since my trip
in 2008 in the way the World Race was run as a trip. The training was
different. They had added new elements such as nightly feedback times for each
team. And the Squad was twice the size (27 to 54 people) of the first one.
Add to that 9 of the 11 countries
were different as well and that made it a very new experience.
At the same time, there are
things about Missions that are more timeless. We still never had any idea of
what was going on ever! A favorite phrase for a World Racer is, “I don’t know.”
There’s still sickness, struggles within the community and things about Asian
and African culture that were very similar even though I was going to new
countries in those regions.
Are you happy you did it a 2nd
time?
Definitely! My 2nd
World Race was just as deeply impacting as the first. I am deeply grateful to
have experienced such a life-changing trip twice. I guess some people can’t get
it all in one try!
Did you get to return to any
of the ministries or places you had been before?
Yes I did. I was able to return both to Thailand and Cambodia.
to Cambodia because I had experienced such a short time there on my last trip.
And I very much enjoyed getting another time around.
blessing because I got to return to THE SAME PLACE I WENT LAST TIME with the
same contact. I had kept in contact with them since my last Race (where we
helped build a church) and it was such a joy to get another month with them. We
were able to do a lot of physical labor for them!
saw God show up?
I saw Him really show up during
my lowest and toughest moments of the year. I saw Him really show up when my
team would be fighting for unity. I saw Him come through countless times in
ministry.
showing up is when He said he would provide a cleft palate surgery for a little
boy named Barack and then He did. Read Blog titled Barack if you want more details.
What are your plans for the
future?
detailed in a future blog – I will be attending the G42 Leadership Academy in Spain in July. Until then I am home in
Illinois working as a server.
take-a-ways from this Race?
The number one take-a-way is that
God is more
committed to the true desires of my heart then I am.
attachment. Humility. And just feeling more Centered on my Identity – All funnel into that truth.
Are there any countries you
could see yourself going to long term or want to return to?
After
both Races there are definitely some countries I want to stay involved with and
return to.
Africa.
in each place that meant a lot to me and even on a short term basis I would
love to get back and continue to partner with them.
I don’t feel a call to long term
missions right now but if I did have to choose a place it would either be the
Philippines, Brazil or Mozambique.
