I’m writing this blog in the Johannesburg airport in South Africa, 5 hours before we start our long journey back to America. When people have asked me how I’m doing these past couple of days all I can say is I don’t know. There are too many emotions too process, so much joy but also so much sadness. The World Race has changed me forever, but the World Race isn’t my forever. This year isn’t going to be the best year of my life, because it has just been a launching pad for the rest of my life.
These past 9 months I have seen people who couldn’t walk get up and run around, infections disappear, and sprained arms healed. But I have also seen hundreds of starving kids, beggars without any limbs, decaying feet, and one of the men my team prayed over die. I have seen churches who have nothing but still worship with everything within them. I have seen the injustice of human trafficking, kids who are abused daily, and whole towns run out of water so no one was able to drink or cook food for 4 days. I have seen the Christian movement sweeping through Buddhist Thailand like a river, Buddhist teenagers worship with us in Myanmar and young men turn from alcohol and to the Lord in Guatemala. I have seen such extreme poverty, but I say with more confidence than ever in my life that God is so good. He is good in all of those moments. He is good in every smile and every tear of my kids in Swazi. He still good when thousands and thousands of people go to Buddhist temples everyday in Asia. He is working in more ways than I could have ever imagined.
If I’m being honest, I am terrified to come home. Home is no longer just Portland, Oregon. Home is Parramos, Guatemala; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Mandalay, Myanmar; and Nsoko, Swaziland. In each of these places I have had to say goodbye to kids who don’t have any one at home to love on them, adults who have a hunger to learn more about the Lord but have no one to tell them, and amazing missionaries who are so selflessly serving the Lord by pouring into World Racers. Home is where T-squad is. I have never been a part of a community that chases so hard after the Lord’s heart. I have never seen a group of 35 girls who only support each other and don’t let gossip or comparison take hold. I have never seen a group of men who respect women and walk in such an incredible amount of honor. They are my family.
This past week our squad had our final debrief, a week of rest and processing these past 9 months. The whole time I kept wanting a couple more months. Just 2 more months to serve the Lord overseas. Just 2 more months with my squad. Just two more months with my team. But in the wise words of my squad mentor Kacie, we have gotten everything we could have out of these 9 months, and it is time to move on. That was a harsh reality to be hit with, but it holds a lot of weight. Our squad is a squad of World changers. And we are going to sweep America like a storm in just 2 days. It is time for our generation to rise up and make a change, and I know that my squamates will be leading that movement. The race has been amazing, but as I said before, it is just a launching pad for life. And I am ready.
To all my supporters, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me go on this amazing and beautiful journey. Thank you for constantly praying for me and walking along with me in the great times and the hard times. It has truly meant the world to me.
And to T-squad, thank you for the best 9 months of my life so far. Thank you for loving me so well and always meeting me where I am at. Thank you for saying the hard things and pushing me into growth. It has truly been an honor to walk out this journey with all of you. I see the Father so clearly in each and every one of you, and I love you all so dearly.
One thing that I am so excited to do at home is to share so much more about what the Lord has done in my life, other’s lives, and in your lives this year. No matter if we have talked 2 times or 2 hundred I would love to sit down and talk with you (maybe over coffee!!) so please feel free to reach out to me anytime. See you in less than 48 hours!!
Much love,
Michelle Moxley
