The other day, a group of us were cleaning out a storage room for our ministry hosts. We sorted through miscellaneous store inventory and fabric scraps; all piled under 30 years worth of dust. It reminded me of cleaning out my grandma’s garage this summer to prepare for her move and that time I helped my mom organize our storage room in the basement, playing Tetris to make all of my belongings fit. It felt pretty normal.
Month 2 on the Race is a weird time. Last month, our whole squad was together in the DR. We worked on projects in large teams and had nightly sessions on the roof. We prayed at scheduled times and ate meals when the cowbell rang. Everyone would wake up early and scatter across the compound for quiet time. It was a month that just felt like a mission trip.
But now the Race feels different. It feels normal. It feels like my life.
When Month 2 rolled around and we stepped off that bus onto Haitian soil, I felt like a seasoned traveler. I felt ready to do what we did last month, again. But this time, I felt like myself, not ‘Katie on a mission trip.’
When I sit and think about how I have 9 more months of being on the field, I laugh. Not because I’m afraid or apprehensive. But because keeping up a “mission trip” mindset for 11 months is surely exhausting. But acknowledging that this is what my life looks like right now–that’s pretty refreshing.
Being on mission is life, not just a trip.
That’s why it’s really confusing for me to respond when people tell me to “have fun” on the World Race or ask if I’m “having a good time.” As if it could be compared to a vacation to Disney World. I feel like I’m just going about my life–cleaning out storage rooms, talking with Haitians, making sure our squad doesn’t miss our flights, hand washing my clothes, drinking lots of coffee, dealing with sickness, searching for wifi, going to the grocery store, wishing my friends happy birthday. And yes, it’s apparent that my life now looks very different than it did 3 or 4 months ago, but it’s still life. It’s not a trip.
By no means does this mean I’ve disregarded having a missional mindset. In fact, if you’re reading this, I would love to encourage you to pursue mission wherever you are-at work, the grocery store, TJ Maxx (gah, I really miss it!). Sharing the love of Jesus is the whole point of why I’m sitting here typing this in an unfamiliar room on the top of a mountain in Haiti.
The Lord called me to the World Race. I have no doubt in my mind about that. But I’m in this for the long haul. Mission trips are what brought me to this point, and I’m so grateful. But a trip feels like an interruption to normal life, a break. The World Race is my new definition of normal. And I’m praising Jesus for that!
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A little update on what ministry looks like right now: My team is paired with another team this month, the Gospel Girls. All 14 of us were in Titanyen, Haiti (right outside of Port-au-Prince) at Mission of Hope Haiti for about 5 days. We spent our time going into villages to meet with families, collecting data on their homes and access to clean drinking water as well as checking in on their relationship with the Lord. In the evenings, we’d hang out with the interns, go to church, or spend time at Madame Cheap Cheap’s. However, last week MOH approached us about transferring us to a different mission up in the mountains. They needed a team to be “guinea pigs” so that the mission could have experience with hosting short-term mission trips. And we said “yes.” Because when God brings a new opportunity into light, and it makes you a lil nervous but also excited, you take said opportunity.
So now we’re here in the mountains on the opposite side of Port-au-Prince. It’s pretty chilly, and I’ve been wearing long sleeves and socks–which I never thought I’d be doing in Haiti of all places. I’m not sweating when I go to bed, and that has been a HUGE blessing. Our main role here is to help the mission sort through and clean out inventory. And really just to be available to help with whatever. And give feedback on our time here so that they can be prepared for future teams. It’s not what I thought we’d be doing, but it’s still good.
We’re here until October 4, and then we’re South Africa-bound! Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. Please remember that none of this is possible without you.
With love,
K
