Being a world racer is full of adventure. I swam in the Indian Ocean, I toured monkey temples, I climbed up mountains and I’ve jumped off cliffs. But Behind the adventure and Instagram pictures, this life is hard. I have witnessed so much injustice in one place that at times it can be so overwhelming and I question why I’m here. I have felt out of place and I have felt inadequate. I have laughed a lot, and I have cried a lot, I have experienced food poisoning where I’ve thrown up for hours, been covered in bug bites from bugs I do not recognize, gone days without sleep from long travel days. I’ve been exhausted both physically and spiritually. I have fallen in love with places, but then I have to say goodbye to them at the end of the month.
I don’t always get to talk to my family and Wi-Fi is scarce. i am away from home for 9 months, and I miss holidays and family events. My friends back home are in college and are experiencing a whole different life than I am. I could have chosen to continue my education but I am putting it on hold for a year so I can be here. So, why do I do this? I do this because through the struggle of this journey I have experienced things never saw myself doing. This is hard but even through the difficulties I have moments where I am the happiest I’ve ever been. Despite how hard it is, it’s also incredibly beautiful. God does not call people to be comfortable. It takes abandonment and complete surrender to be a missionary. I had to completely give up everything that makes me feel safe to reach people that need to know they are loved by the Father, I had to give everything to God when I had no where else to turn to and I had to give my burdens to Someone who is greater. I had to trust God fully and let Him take control. Which can be scary.
Through this struggle I have met the most amazing people that will always be in my heart, been closer to God than I ever have before and I’ve surrounded myself with a community of people who support me and have the same goal. I’m so glad I get to share this journey with my team mates that are my family for 9 months. My team has to wake up every day and choose each other, but not only do we have to choose each other to make a team, we also have to wake up every day and choose the place we have been put in. We have to choose to put our all into the people we meet and the ministry we have. Even when it hurts.
And it’s the best decision I’ve ever made, I am content with being uncomfortable and vulnerable if it means I can share the love of Christ with someone. This kind of love is messy, this love can hurt, because it’s real. And it’s changed my life. Now we are in Africa and we will be here for the next 4 months, and it’s crazy to think of how far we’ve come. Through the hard times, we’ve found comfort through God and the community we surround ourselves in. I’ve learned that this is what it’s like to trust the Lord, it’s not always a safe zone. It’s not always easy and you’re going to get your heart broken sometimes. But reaching the lost is what Jesus died for.
