Hi everyone. Hello from Texas. This is Becky, Emry’s mom. She asked me to write a blog post about what is like to be a parent of a World Racer. So, here I am. Its actually really cold here in Texas. So, i am cuddled up on Christmas Break with our family….while Emry is celebrating Christmas in Honduras, not too far south of us.
A little over a year ago, Emry mentioned that she would like to go on the World Race Gap Year. I was somewhat familiar with it because we have known a few people over the years who have done the World Race. When Emry asked if she could apply, I said Yes, not really knowing if she would go through with it. Less than 2 weeks later, she let us know that she was accepted.
Being away for almost a year is a commitment. But, that was not so much my concern. I was more concerned with the amount of money she needed to raise to be on the race for almost a year – just shy of $15,000 would cover living expenses, insurance and air fare to several places across the world. So, as she committed to being gone a year, she also committed to fundraising the money before she left. I think it was a good thing to focus on her senior year of high school. Not only did she need to fundraise for her trip, but she also needed to make money for living expenses while she was gone for the year. Almost every cent she made at Sonic was put towards next year. Seriously….she saved every nickel, dime and quarter that came her way.
We spent almost a year preparing. There was so much to do. She needed things for a year – sleeping bag, tent, sleeping mat – the list went on and on. It was easy to get wrapped up in everything and almost forget that she was leaving for a year. The months before she left were busy and spent preparing and getting ready. But once she left, it was different. The busyness was gone. It was a chance to actually trust God. Not just with words but with my child.Time for my belief to become faith.
Emry has been been in Cambodia and Honduras for almost 4 months. It’s interesting what you learn as a parent while your child is in a foreign country. She is learning to trust God on a daily basis, but so am I. I could choose to live in fear daily over her circumstances, or I can trust God with what He has planned for her each day. She really can only communicate with us when she has wifi so I dont hear from her daily – really only over the weekends when she has a chance to go to a coffeeshop or find wifi somewhere. But daily, i get a chance to trust the Lord again. To keep her safe. To use her. To continue to grow her. To be real to her.
One day not long after she left for Cambodia, I realized….”OH my goodness….this is what I have prayed for her since she was a little girl. I prayed that she would love and pursue Jesus. This is what loving and pursuing Jesus actually looks like. She has a heart for adventure and people….isn’t that what i have always prayed for her? That her faith would be her own and not mine, not Ron’s.” That was such a huge realization for me. This trip, was an answered prayer for me. This was my little girl choosing to follow Jesus. This was her living out her faith. This is what i have prayed for. That Jesus would be real to her. Wow. I have been flooded with thankfulness. Thankful for a child who wants to pursue Christ. Thankful for a God who listens. Thankful that I actually put it all together and can see His answers and can see Him working.
We did raise quite a chunk of money for her to be there this year. And, I admit, I was not always happy about it. It took a lot of work from all of us. I knew it would be a great experience for her and it wouldn’t always be easy. But, WHOAH, WOW, i dont know if I actually realized what she would learn while away. Hard Work. Living in community. Seeing how the rest of the world lives. Different cultures. Getting to know others deeply. Giving yourself away. Not being comfortable. Loving people who are different from yourself. Being stretched. Walking intimately with Christ and trusting him daily. Throw all of those things together and you get an experience that can not be had in the United States. She is learning more than I could have asked for.
Do I miss her? YES. But I wouldn’t trade this year for anything. It’s only one year. But what she is learning and experiencing will change her for a lifetime.
