If the race has taught me anything, it’s that I’m a slow processor.
Actually, the race taught me a lot of things. And I’m still trying to figure it all out.
It’s hard to put into words everything I’ve experienced in the eight weeks since being home. I still remember vividly the last night on the race – in a hostel in Antigua, Guatemala. It took me a while to fall asleep, I was nervous with excitement. Then – in the middle of the night, I woke up feeling nauseous. After constantly traveling for 11 months, coming to an abrupt stop seemed like an adjustment I wasn’t quite sure how to handle.
Our goodbyes were sad, but my hellos to my family were sweeter, and I knew I’d see my race friends in a few short weeks at Project Searchlight, and then at Bekah and Josh’s (two teammates) wedding in Georgia.
I experienced the usual World Race re-acclimation moments – the mental shutdown in the toiletry aisle of the grocery store, the confusion over whether or not to flush toilet paper, the elation of drinking water from the tap. My emotions were all over the place, and that was just over “normal” day to day things! After being in Central America for four months, I missed speaking Spanish so much that I embarrassed myself by saying “hola” to a girl in the makeup store. When she responded “Hey, what’s up?” I wanted to respond “No hablo ingles” and scramble away. *face palm
Coming home from the race is a lot like that moment when you finally get off of the ride at Disney World: Your brain is still spinning but your body has stopped. It takes a little while for everything to catch up and to feel normal again.
I’ve opened the three packages and two backpacks I sent home. I’ve gone through my pictures and videos a few times and re-lived the memories. I’ve hugged family I hadn’t seen in a year and touched base with Race teammates about their adjustment. I’ve spoken at my home church and am speaking to another this upcoming week. Each step has taken me further along the processing journey, but I think to completely unpack the Race, I may need a few years.
I’ve gotten to see my niece and nephew, my sister and brother-in-law, aunts and uncles, cousins. I moved back in to my parent’s house… Spent time in PJs watching Hallmark movies with my mom, over-indulged on Thanksgiving ham and experienced the joy of watching my niece and nephew open presents on Christmas. I set up a prayer nook in my bedroom and started to think about what building community at home means.
Things were just starting to calm down and settle into my new ‘norm.’ But then I went to Project Searchlight and talked to Seth (Barnes – the creator of the World Race for non-AIMers reading)… and was thrown a curve-ball I couldn’t help but catch.
Once again, a nervous excitement is keeping me up at night, prompting me to write this blog at 3:30am. A new adventure on the horizon, this time into unchartered waters – both for myself and Adventures in Missions. Once again, I find myself like Peter on that boat – jumping out in a leap of faith and excitement before even really thinking things through. Sometimes you just know it’s Jesus standing out there – calling you to the unknown, even if it’s uncertain and a little scary. I’m sure at some point I’ll falter and have to grab Jesus’ arm. But “faith makes a fool of what makes sense” – and with the Father’s hand, we’ll walk on water again.
(Also, so sorry if you subscribe and received several notifications. I didn’t think the email had sent and kept reposting, and just got four notifications in a row. Oops!)
My family welcoming me home at the Atlanta airport. My niece and nephew made me signs.. My dad’s sign says “Welcome Home Kara. Did not realize you were gone. Where have you been?” (He’s a jokester). I didn’t know my sister was going to be there but she surprised me! We then went out to a nice restaurant and ate steak.
Two of the people I missed most crawled into my bed the morning I got home. Missing a year from their lives was hard and I was so glad Max and Addison hadn’t forgotten me! Later that morning, Max (who is two) said, “Kara, were were you?” As I hesitated to respond, he said perfectly “Were you in Guatemala?” (Guate was my last month). I can’t get over how smart and sweet they are!
I spent Christmas morning at my parent’s church in Bowling Green, KY as we waited for my brother and sister in law to drive down from Chattanooga.
My dog, Lucy, didn’t forget about me while I was gone either! Yay!
I created a prayer nook in my room while my squad was doing the “Draw the Circle” devotional (a present from our squad coaches). It’s a daily reminder to make time to sit in the Lord’s presence, and I’ve had two of my Race teammates use it while visiting me!
