We just passed day 100 of the World Race. These past three months and some change have been incredible. Very challenging and stretching, but the Lord has been so very faithful through all of it. I want to share everything with you guys and tell you all about every single day of ministry, but that requires more time than you or I have. So, when I thought about what I wanted to write for day 100, I knew I wanted to share with you guys the big things about being on the Race that sets life apart from back home. So, I’m sharing with you guys the 10 roughest and the 10 raddest parts of being on the Race so far!
Definitions:
Rough – things I haven’t necessarily enjoyed but have grown me as a human being
Rad – cool or exciting (but stronger than those superlatives) things that have also grown me as a human being
Roughest:
1. I am never alone.
I think I could count on one hand the number of hours I haven’t been within 20 feet of another person. For those of you who know me well in person, you know my extraversion runs out after about three hours, so this has definitely taught me to depend on the Lord.
2. I am never clean.
I shower/dump buckets of water on myself more on the Race than I ever did at home, but I’m dirty the second I’m out of the shower because of sweat and teammates’ hair and sand everywhere.
3. The Race takes a toll on your skin.
I didn’t have a lot of experience with little children’s ministry. I interned at an elementary school and a foster home, but I hadn’t ever taught kiddos outside of VBS.
4. Children’s ministry is hard.
It’s hard because you want to give your heart to all of them and give a thousand hugs, but also want to scream because one of them stole your water bottle to gulp some water to spit at you. It’s difficult, but it’s becoming one of my favorite things!
5. Saying “goodbye” doesn’t get easier the more times you do it.
Leaving home and missing family and friends, leaving ministry hosts, saying “bye” to people in the community and people from ministry, and saying “bye” to squad-mates every month after travel day and preparing to say it again to teammates with team changes coming up are hard things. But it’s so, so worth it! I’m learning so much about letting myself connect with people and it’s great.
6. Comparison is tough to shut down.
When you live surrounded by 30+ other Christians near your age, it’s easy to compare faith walks, skills, gifts, talents, real-life jobs, theologies, and so many other things. It’s been such a growing process for me to appreciate these things in others and see God and the beauty in it rather than feeling lesser.
7. Insecurities travel with you.
Somehow, I had myself convinced that the African sun would make my 13-year-resilient acne go away and that and my missionary diet and lifestyle would tone me up, but these things haven’t happened. And that’s 10000% okay, but the enemy can attack your view of yourself anywhere.
8. Dehydration is more serious than I thought.
For the travel day from South Africa to Botswana, our leadership development weekend, and the first week in Botswana, I could barely close my fist and I would wake up with my arms numb because I didn’t drink enough water. Crazy, right? My body skipped the whole headache thing. But now I’m staying hydrated and living well, no worries!
9. Intentionality with the Lord can lag behind.
When you live your life sharing Jesus, praying in villages, singing with kiddos, and asking the Lord for Scripture for feedback (explained soon), it’s challenging to remember to spend intentional time with the Lord.
10. It’s hard to choose joy when you’re uncomfortable.
On the Race, you’re often uncomfortable. It’s hotter, there are more mosquitos, you wake up with spider bites on your body and lizards on your pillow, you eat intestines for dinner, and there are people everywhere. While these things are so insignificant, they’re little distractions from remembering to be thankful.
Raddest:
1. Community is a beautiful thing.
It’s stretching, but it’s so cool to be surrounded by people wanting to bring Kingdom to earth.
2. FEEDBACK!
On the Race, we get to give feedback to and receive it from our team members every day. This is a chance to encourage each other in gifts and character traits and to challenge others by pointing them higher. It’s great and I love it.
3. I’ve learned to appreciate the little (actually huge) things.
Tap water that is potable? Finding an extra pen? No line to the bathroom? Wow wow wow, huge blessings.
4. Jesus transcends color and culture and language.
Even when kids are scared of me because of my skin, when my hips don’t allow me to dance like my new friends, when I don’t understand anything the preachers are praying, Jesus is still universal and it’s so cool to see.
5. I’ve seen so many animals!
You know, tarantulas, scorpions, elephants, zebras, baboons, and the most exciting animal… dogs. I’ve gotten to pet a dog in every country so far, praise the Lord.
6. I’m learning to listen to the Lord, not just talk to Him.
This is a new exercise for me. I’m used to reading the Bible and then journaling my prayers, but He’s teaching me that He shows me who He is in other ways.
7. I’ve gotten to hold a baby in every country.
I’ve made a baby best friend, Prince, in Botswana and he’s the most precious adult-looking baby in the world.
8. I’m being molded into the person the Lord wants me to be rather than who I’ve wanted me to be.
9. I’m largely out of the political/news loop in the States and only get major highlights, which lessens my stress levels immensely.
I did really miss voting though. November 8th was probably one of the days that made me miss home the most.
10. I’ve gotten to see more of the world in the past four months than I had ever seen in my life.
I’ve always been intrigued by different cultures, and had my interests piqued in college (shoutout to Drs. Triplett and Doughty) and I am so very thankful to have this opportunity.
Thank you all so very much for supporting me!
So much love,
Amy
