I head to Colombia today, on my grandfather’s 90th birthday- sending Happy Birthday vibes all the way to Chester, West Virginia. Also, the World Race is all about expecting the unexpected and yesterday we got some unexpected news: a route change. For our 11th month, instead of continuing our stay in Eastern Europe and ending our journey in Latvia, we will instead be heading to Spain! God has some awesome worked planned for us there and we are excited for this opportunity but that’s also next June so back to the present.
Here is a guest blog from my dad, Jim Upton, about his experience at Launch!
“After informative and somewhat repetitive meetings on the Friday of Parent’s Launch, I went to bed at approximately 1:00 am Saturday morning with some trepidation in my heart—had Aynn and I done enough research on the World Race? Who is this Seth Barnes guy? Did Bill really know what it was like to be a racer when he went on the race with his spouse? He had a built in sounding board, a spiritual mentor, a loved one he could confide in and someone to pump him up when he had doubts—I would bet everything I have that everyone on the Race has and will have questions about their decisions at times. The Racers of Redeemed and Remade would only have themselves. Dave had many terrific insights about his time on the roof in the Dominican Republic and Betty provided answers to many of the parents and loved ones’ questions, AND YET. . . everything just seemed so (if anyone reads this–fill in whatever adjective you feel here).
Awakening a short 5 hours later at 6:00 am, I was angry and wondered how Aynn and I came to be in a room at the Hilton in Atlanta with our daughter in a room down the road at the Holiday Inn. I awoke angry and without the faith needed for the World Race. Additionally, I did not need another 4 hours of faith based discussions. I wanted to hug and talk to my daughter—the baby that was born prematurely with her hair on fire from day one, the baby that I held for hours when she had colic as a child, the girl that busted her lip open standing on her stroller, the girl that I coached in ice hockey, baseball and softball, the girl I cheered on in tennis, the young lady that I celebrated when recently graduated from TCU. That is all that I wanted to do and I did not need any more information on anything. The anger was there and it was real. BUT THEN. . . reality set in right before the meetings started and then Dave once again made it real and helped with the process. My anger resolved (although I still wonder why Seth could not have done a 6 month 6 country mission trip) and I began to appreciate the time that I had spent and was going to spend with the parents, sisters and other loved ones of the Racers on Redeemed and Remade team, as well as the entire Y Squad during Friday and Saturday.
When 12:30 finally arrived and the Racers started to appear somewhat like ants at a picnic, I knew that Kaitlyn was one hundred percent committed to the Race and her faith in Him was building to the point that she was about to burst. She was ready to go out and change the world just like that premature baby was 22 years ago. Just like every single parent and loved one at the Parent Launch, we will always support our daughter’s decisions and know that Seth, Bill, Dave, Betty and so many other World Race individuals have given her the opportunity to assist others to see God and make the world a far better place. My anger had evaporated and was replaced with a sense of pride and wonder at the faith and wonderment of these young Racers.
One of my favorite quotes is as follows:
“There are two things we can give to our children. One is roots, the other is wings.”
I think all Racers’ parents have done an incredible job on the roots and now it is time to let them fly with that beautiful set of wings God has created for them.
To the World Race people, thank you; to the Racers that are launching this month, good luck and God Speed.
To the Racers of Redeemed and Remade—Wow, you seven young ladies are terrific examples of God’s creations.
To the entire Y Squad, may your journeys be successful as only you will be able to define your successes.”
