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After being on the World Race for 11 months I’ve learned a couple, actually a lot of things, that are worthwhile, but here are the top lessons that we all should keep an eye out for in our lives.
1. What does ministry look like?
Ministry has looked different for us every month, but at the end of the day, ministry is about people. It is about being and reflecting God’s love through every circumstance. But how can one do that when life has so many ups and downs? The ups and downs don’t disappear because we are halfway around the world. In a lot of ways, the heartache grows! So what is one to do? Ministry is about our personal intimacy with God. A mirror can’t reflect what is not put in front of it. Spend your time learning to be intimate with God throughout every second of the day and the love He shows you in that intimacy will reflect off of you without having to “do” anything.
2. The pain of growth is worth the reward.
It is not easy to do this thing called the World Race. Most people glorify the journey because of the places we travel and the things we get to do. Those things are amazing, but that worth infinitely grows as were persererve through the cat calls, discrimation, gender bias, culture bias, difficulty in communication, and much more… not to mention learning to do life with 5-6 other people every hour, second, and minute of the day. It sounds crazy! And guess what it IS crazy! But it works because God is in it. Don’t give up on it when it gets hard. It’s worth the endurance to step out, to try, to lean in so that you can be more than you are the day you started.
3. The biggest rewards come from the hardest parts of the journey.
It’s hard to say goodbye once real relationships are made, but recognize that the end of the Race is not good bye. It’s simply a “see you later!” Continue to lean in and fight for the relationships that God has blessed you with on this journey. Be secure in the family and community that God has created for you. Know that you are Kingdom changers that are connected, not only by His love, but also by the journey He has blessed you with for the rest of your life.
4. Discipline is hard on the Race!
It is so hard to stay focused and make good life habits on the Race. I was excelling with budgeting, and healthy eating, and quiet time before the Race, but when life changes every couple days you don’t have the safety of a routine to help you maintain the discipline one needs. It is a fight. Do what it takes to have that discipline because if you maintain that discipline during these 11 months you can do it the rest of your life!
5. I packed less, but I could have packed even less.
I was very intentional to have a purpose for everything in my bag, yet I still had too much stuff! If you don’t need it in the first 1-2 months don’t bring it! You will adapt; you will live; you will survive, and you will have a deeper appreciation for the luxury you didn’t even realize you had when you were home. And worse case scenario, there are store all around the world. Save your money before the Race and buy the thing you think you need when you actually need it. Your back will thank you!
4. If I ever did it again I would…
– Research of every country before I arrived, at bare minimum, and the types of ministries that AIM works with in every country
– Research Adventure day options
– Better budgeting
It is worth the time to have an outline of a plan so that you don’t miss out on anything that you would like to do.
5. I’d be prepared to fight my Addiction #i??Food
My journey with food and a poverty mind set has been a constant battle. Be intentional about asking God to help you see through your fears of lack of provision. God has raised all this money to go on this trip, He can also make sure there is enough budget to eat and not be hungry. I would pray for continued wisdom in managing that budget and I would generously hold my hands open with that budget rather than hoarding for times when I “may” lack.
6. Fear that motivates me… “No longer a slave to fear!”
Fear runs rampant in a America and it ran rampant through the conversations I had before the Race. I believe it one of the reasons we pack so much stuff that we don’t need; we are trying to prepare for the unknown. Next, time I would have a conversation with my family and friends about the fear that America inspires. I would explain to that that it creates anxiety and untrust in times when God should be my only concern. I would ask them to join me in speaking life over all that could happen and ask them to join me trusting God with all that will happen. I would invite them all to relish in the freedom that comes with no longer being a slave to fear.
7. Write down all the new things you learn about yourself and be I would be generous with all the talents you have.
God has given all of us talents. I would be intentional each month in understanding my talents and giving them away with boldness. What I think I want to do back in AmericaWhat do you have to give away? Talents to give away to others for the glory of God
8. I would have a vision for what I hope to get out of the Race.
I would make a conscience effort write down an articualtion of myself so that I could read it at the end of the Race and see all the ways I’ve changed and evolved through my deeper relationship with God. Throughout the Race so many people, and the Holy Spirit, will speak life and encouragement to you. WRITE IT DOWN! Because you don’t remember in those hards times, but in those hard times those truths are exactly what you need to hear. And don’t be scared to speak life into others. Seeing where you were and knowing where you are now is an amazing experience.
9. Dream big dreams like you’ve never dreamed before!
What do I want to do when I get back to America? As you spend 10,000 hours getting to know yourself you will begin to see the vision God has for your life. Write down every thing that breaks your heart and stirs your soul. Nerd out about understanding your personality traits and the skills God has developed in you. Find what builds a hunger and passion in you and use that emotion as fuel. Take all these kingdom dreams and information a create a vision, a compass for your life. Use this compass as your filter and only do the things that take you closer to fulfilling that vision. Change the world.
10. Begin Well and End Well
The only thing that you can control is yourself. Use routine and discipline to create normalcy within all the change. Create a routine that can evolve, but will allow you to begin and end your day well.
11. If you can be stopped, you will be stopped – Andrew Sherman
Don’t let up. Being willing to fight. Start fighting. Never stop fighting and you will accomplish the most amazing things you could never imagine! There is a war force out there trying to steal, kill, and destroy your dream. Fight like your life depends on it… because it does.
The World Race ends, but you have only just begun.
