As I am writing this blog, I am at final debrief in Guatemala, and I will be in America in less than 4 days. During these 9 months, I have come to the realization that this is not the adventure of a lifetime that is portrayed on social media. The world race has been real life, just happening to be in different countries than usual. It has been hard, amazing, fun, boring, awful, and everything in between. Crazy things have happened on the Race- I made my bed almost every single day, I started flossing, and I’m even taking a painting class tomorrow. But I’m here to talk about the deeper things that God has done in my life. I was not sure how to go into everything that I have learned while on the race, so I am going to cover things briefly and easily.
In Swaziland, God answered my prayer of putting relationships over tasks. I was homesick beyond anything I can even imagine now, and I learned how to find my comfort in God alone. I trusted God as I cast out fear of the future. God also started me on the journey of serving out of obedience alone, not for myself, when the purpose in ministry could often be hard to find.
Nepal, oh Nepal. This was a very difficult month on the race. We spent the week of Christmas in the mountains in Gorkha- and I struggled with not being happy at all, and the Lord took me on a journey of finding true contentment in Him.
India was nothing like we had expected. We imagined sweating bullets, eating curry, and not being able to speak the name of Jesus, but instead we were in a village in northeast India that is 100 percent evangelized. In India, things were pretty easy, but God revealed a lot to me about His will, and that I could still honor Him through going to college.
Guatemala has been my very favorite country on the race. We experienced amazing community through the AIM staff and Shoreline City Church. At the beginning of Guatemala, I realized how I had been distant from God and not giving Him the glory that He deserved.
I have made lifelong friends, seen things that people only dream of, and experienced life deeper and fuller than I ever could have imagined. This experience is much different than my expectations, but God has blown me away in the growth that I have seen in myself, and my teammates. God has used these 9 months to mold and shape me, to look more like Him. Putting this experience into words on a blog post has been pretty difficult for me, so if you have any questions at all, I would be happy to answer them.
Thank you to everyone who supported me on this journey- financially, through prayer, and encouragement. I could not have done it without y’all. Now I can’t wait to see everyone in a week. I am so excited for the next season of starting college at FSU.
