14 days. I come home in 14 days. It is a very surreal thing that this journey is almost over. But praise God that my journey with Him will continue forever!
This month in Indonesia, God has continued to reveal things to me, teach me things, and grow me in many ways. He was not kidding when he said he needed the entire 11 months to finish what He had planned for me this year. He is so, so good. And that is no surprise to me anymore.
As the race is coming to an end, I feel like I am on a roller coaster of emotion. And because I am a deep feeler, it has been very intense and super overwhelming at times. But Jesus is continuing to walk with me and help me process everything that is happening.
I’m so excited to come home and hug all my people! I have missed you all so dearly! But please be praying for my squadmates and I as we end one season and begin another. Everything we know will be changing soon and it will be a challenge.
Below are some things to be aware of as we come home. This list is a combination from Britney Meyer’s and Blair Guerry’s blogs. They went on the World Race a couple years ago. Britney wrote her’s in third person and Blair wrote her’s in first person so you will notice switching back and forth, but I resonate with all of the things below.
– Reverse Culture Shock is Real. Have patience and grace. You’re racer has been gone for 11 months and has had to continually adjust to new cultures and environments. They’ve been constantly surrounded by 5+ other teammates, lived in uncomfortable living environments and mastered living on $5/day for food. Their normal is being surrounded by people who don’t speak English and who constantly gawk at them wherever they go. Their normal has become a wardrobe of about five shirts, slow internet, and patient attempts at communication. They’ve heard re-entry stories about people who have broken down crying in the salad dressing aisle at the grocery store because there were so many options (your Racer probably hasn’t had many salad dressing options let alone a good salad in months). Don’t make them feel ridiculous for feeling overwhelmed. Re-entry home is month 12 for your Racer and it will require time to re-adjust to the norms of their native environment.
– Ask Specific Questions. Don’t be afraid to ask about your Racer’s year, but try to ask more specific questions than “How was your trip?” It’s hard and overwhelming to try and summarize a whole year’s experience in one sentence or with one question.
And this was more than just a trip, it was my life. It will mean the world to me if you ask me specific questions, but give me the grace to go on a complete tangent. I want to share the people and the places that have stolen my heart with you.
– Don’t Panic if Your Racer is Struggling Being in America. Your Racer may struggle being back in America for awhile, but don’t take it personal or be offended. Your Racer has grown a lot over the year and wants to be that person back at home, but they will be returning to an old environment. It’s going to take time to adjust and a lot of grace. Your Racer will need to grieve losing the World Race and the life that has become their norm. The World Race was more than a fun vacation or mission trip. It was a transformative year and one that will be a big part of your Racer’s life. Your Racer’s squad has become a close family over the year and when they arrive home they will be losing that. Losing that community will be hard because it’s very different from the community back home. Allow the time and space for your Racer to mourn and don’t tell them to just “get over it” or “move on”.
– Encourage Rest. It’s been 11 months of growth, challenge and being uncomfortable. Your Racer has been pushed physically, spiritually and mentally and needs time to rest and process the year. Help your Racer process by encouraging them to spend time reflecting on the year. Pray with and for your Racer. Quality time is important. Ask about and listen to them when they share their experiences.
There will be days that I will need to escape and process. Encourage me to do this. There will be days that I hate being home. Encourage me to bring those frustrations to the Lord. There will be times that I say something in a random language, or throw toilet paper in the trash can, or eat with my hands, or play with someone’s kid in a parking lot and get strange looks. Give me grace.
– Encourage the Change You See. Your racer has grown and matured throughout the year, just as you have. When you see a good difference or a good change in behavior, say something! Let your Racer know how they’ve grown and that you’ve noticed. Often times it’s hard to see how one has changed, so vocalize it! It’ll mean a lot to your Racer.
– Don’t put Pressure on Future Plans. Some Racers have plans for after the race, while others don’t. If your Racer doesn’t have a long term plan, don’t think that they haven’t been thinking and praying about it. Many Racers are entering a season of rest and a time of processing the year, which in the American society may be perceived as laziness. It’s not.
– Your Racer Wants to Know About You. Your Racer wants to hear about your life! They’re not the only ones who have grown over the last year and experienced new things. Tell them what has gone on and how you’ve changed and grown. How has the Lord been working in you? Your Racer truly cares about your life back in the States.
Invite your Racer. Your Racer has been out of their social circle and neighborhood for almost a year. They’ve been able to keep up to an extent, but there is a lot that they haven’t been able to stay up to date with. Invite them to things because more than likely they want to be a part of it. Even if you don’t know if they can make it, invite them. Reach out to them and include them in your community. Community was very important on the race and they will be missing it upon return.
Ask me to be a part of your world. I need help figuring out what our relationship looks like again, and I feel like I’ve missed so much. And I’ve missed YOU so much. At the same time, understand if it’s too much for me that day. Understand if maybe all I want is to be with my mom, or sit with my dad and read, or even just escape and be alone.
I will arrive in Chicago on June 25th! Please pray for safe travels and a very fruitful end to our journey. I love you and cannot wait to see you!
Below is my one (or two) seconds a day from Vietnam!
