Hey y’all,
As I write this blog today I am overflowing with many different emotions. First, because this is my last world race blog I will ever post and I feel so absolutely grateful for those who have stayed faithful with me through this journey. Second, because I have less then 2 days on the race until I touch down in For Lauderdale, Florida. Last, because although there have been times of sadness, pain and despair I have never experienced so much daily interactions with the Lord than I have on this trip. I have seen the Lord work in my life in such a mighty way. He has taught me so many different things which I will share later, however, relying on Him when all else fails has been the biggest thing I have learned.
The thought of going home and leaving this beautiful life I have lived for the past 9 months brings me a great deal of sadness. It is crazy to think because as a child when my family traveled, I was always the one who wanted to go home after a few days of traveling in the states. However, seeing the things that I have seen and experienced are things that are so sweet and beautiful and sadly most people I know will never be able to experience that. From hiking in the Himalayas to dancing in the middle of a village in Malawi, I have met some of the most beautiful people. I have learned what it is like to live like them, having barely nothing and yet being content in that. I have learned what it is like to uncontrollably love the people around me so deeply. Seeing children malnourished, women mistreated by their husbands and ( because of the animal lover that I am) seeing dying animals on the street actually broke my heart. I say “animals” because it wasn’t just dogs, in India and Nepal we would see pigs, cows, goats just walking along the road at times. I also learned how to pray, I have been a believer for about 7 or 8 years but I have seen my prayer life grow in such a mighty way. In the states it is often easy to forget to pray daily, because honestly I don’t really need the Lord, or at least I don’t need him for necessities like food and water so it is often easy to forget to pray. However, when your tent breaks in the middle of the night in a rainstorm and all your stuff gets ruined, you begin to realized that the things in your life will break and get ruined and then you throw them out, but the power of prayer can never be unimportant and thrown out. For the past 9 months I have been doing life with a crazy group of 44 which now has turned in to 29 people. 29 people I had never met before training camp and now are some of my dearest friends. 29 people within a matter of a few months saw the worst of me at times and also saw the best of me and still chose to love me through that. 29 people I will be saying goodbye to at the airport tomorrow probably crying my eyes out because most of them live in different states than I do.
The thought of transitioning back to home has been giving me a lot of excitement and also anxiety. Going home I want to show everyone the change that the Lord has done in my life but at the same time scared that it’s gonna be hard for me to see how we live. Before leaving on the race I led a life of wasting food, buying clothes I didn’t need and spending time doing things that were not furthering the kingdom. I am now coming back a women broken from the life I once lived. I am so incredible grateful for the support I have received over the past 9 months. It has been such a huge blessing and encouragement to me. I love you all very dearly and hope I get to see you all when you get home. I am convinced that this race I have been running is now coming to an end, but I am beginning a new race the moment I touch down in California and I am overjoyed to see what the Lord has planned for this next chapter. Thank you all again for your constant support and love. God bless.
