My last post was looking backwards at what I’m going to miss. This is looking forward to what I’m anticipating. This is twenty-five things I’m looking forward to, or hoping for, in the year ahead. Like with my last post, this is a mix of serious and ridiculous, but I guess that’s just who I am as a person.
Again, in no particular order:
- Hearing from the Father. I’ve written about this more in depth before, but having actual conversations with God is really a foreign concept to me, and the more I experience on the field, the more I wish I understood about what this looks like. I knew going in that this was going to be one of the biggest stretches for me, and that has been continually confirmed over the last few days of ministry.
- My storytelling team. At training camp, I was given a leadership role to be in charge of storytelling on my squad of forty (read more about that here). Each team of six or seven people has its own storytelling coordinator, and I get to work with them over the next year to communicate with everyone’s supporters back home, and to make sure updates are being sent out regularly, and to ensure that our squad’s story is being told on a global level instead of just individually.
- Deeper relationships through community. I have been a part of some truly incredible communities in my past, but I have also been a part of several that were less than ideal. Training camp in October introduced me to the best one yet (read more here) and I could not be more excited to continue growing in those relationships over the next year. If this last week has been any indication, it’s only going to keep getting better.
- Relearning all the Spanish I’ve forgotten. I studied Spanish for four years in college. It was actually my minor. However, in the last two and a half years, I’ve had very few opportunities to maintain that. Being in South America has made me realize just how much I’ve forgotten, but I’ve also realized how much of an asset I can be with the little I know. Three months here is going to make a lot of difference.
- Experiencing new cultures. I love traveling. Obviously. The best part for me, at least when I have the chance to immerse myself for an extended period of time, is to learn about the culture and how the people live in each country I visit. Each country I visit is so unique, and taking time out of my agenda to just sit and observe is an important part of each trip I take.
- Seeing missions in new cultures. Even more interesting for me is seeing how missions organizations work in each culture, and how they differ from America. That’s one of the main reasons I signed up for the Race, and I’m excited to keep learning more with each new country. This is also directly related to the type of work I want to go into when this is all over, so it’s a win-win.
- Disconnecting. In a few days, I’m going to post more about this, because it’s one of the biggest areas I need growth in. I don’t even want to think about the number of hours I spend at home scrolling through endless social media streams. On this trip, there will be far less opportunity for that kind of nonsense, and I know I will come out on the other end all the better for it.
- Releasing control of my schedule. I am the type of person that needs every day to be planned to the minute, and, believe it or not, most cultures don’t actually work like that, and as a result, neither does the World Race. I learn the next day’s tentativeschedule every evening at dinner, and it’s driving me nuts. Another growing opportunity, for sure.
- Selfies all over the world. One of the things I love about travelling is the opportunity for beautiful photos. Obviously, I need to be in some of them to prove I was actually there. I’m blessed to be on a team with some amazing photographers, so maybe they don’t all have to be selfies. Either way, get ready to see me in parts of the world I probably don’t even know exist yet.
- Creativity in boredom. There is a lot of downtime on the Race, or so I’ve heard. I haven’t experienced that yet, but I know I will. When Wi-Fi is inaccessible and transportation is unreliable, I’ll have to make do with what I have if there is no planned ministry on some days. Several people on my team brought games, but I have a feeling those will get old before the year is up.
- Tourist highlights. This is not a vacation. I feel like I need to reiterate that every so often, just in case anyone has forgotten. Most days are filled to the brim with ministry opportunities. However, we do get days off, and we will be near some incredible places. I’m not going to miss the opportunity to visit the main attractions if I have the chance.
- Parents week with my dad. At the beginning of September, there is a Parent Vision Trip organized by the World Race. We have the opportunity to invite our parents into our ministry for a week, and my dad has already enthusiastically accepted. We will be spending a week working together in Ethiopia with my teammates and their parents, and I already know that will be a highlight of the year.
- Calli visiting me in Romania. This one is a little way off – all the way into October, actually. My sister will be studying abroad in Spain around the time my squad moves into Europe, and I’m already planning a couple off-days to meet up with her. I know after being gone that long, I’m really going to miss her.
- Learning how to evangelize. A huge part of this year will be spent spreading the Gospel in settings I really am not used to. I can teach and preach all day long if you give me the chance to prepare, but hitting the streets and witnessing to the outcast communities (homeless, drug addicts, transgenders, prostitutes, etc.) is way outside my comfort zone. We’ve already done it, though, and I’m excited to experience more and share it with you.
- Growing in photography and storytelling. If you’ve spent any time with me over the last seven years, you know I don’t go many places without my camera. I’m looking forward to growing this skill and using it to tell stories not just about my squad, but about the ministries that we will be partnering with and the people we will meet.
- So much good food. New countries, new cultures, new food. I’ll never pass up an opportunity to try something weird, even if it turns out being gross. I’ll also always make time to go out to a good, culturally authentic meal everywhere I go. I love food. So much.
- Travel days. Our first travel ‘day’ lasted forty hours and included a fifteen-hour layover in Miami. It was exhausting, but it was also an incredible time of getting to know each other. We won’t always be together this year, all forty of us, so I will cherish the times we all get to come together.
- Releasing control of the language barrier. I speak a little Spanish, but the language barrier is already frustrating in what I have forgotten or never learned. If I’m frustrated now, I know once I leave South America it’s only going to get worse. Yet again, this is a growing opportunity that I am looking forward to.
- Dependency. I like to think that I am a fairly independent person. However, if you read my last blog, there are a lot of modern conveniences that I’ll be leaving behind. A part of me really will miss those, and after a week of cold showers I’m already looking forward to the hostel I’m staying in tomorrow night, but leaving them (mostly) behind is something I truly am looking forward to. I came on this trip to grow, and what better way to do that than to separate myself from a life of convenience?
- Getting lost in new cities. Some of my best travel memories come from times when there was no agenda, and we just started wandering. We never stayed lost for long, but we always found wonderful, off-the-beaten-path restaurants or attractions we never would have found otherwise.
- Regular time in prayer and scripture. I spend almost no time at home doing either of these things. It’s a problem that I have recognized for quite some time and never dealt with. This year, as I run away from the US and disconnect, I hope to make this a non-negotiable part of my daily schedule.
- Children’s ministry. I love children’s ministry. I worked in the K-2 room at my church at home, and this week I’ve already had the chance to work with our host’s VBS program. I love it, and I love that the kids truly do not care whether or not I speak Spanish well. They just want to feel loved and cared for, and that’s what we are here to offer.
- Creating content for Partners. Even though I quit my job, I still have the opportunity to work for them later in the year. They are in need of content from South Asia and the Horn of Africa – both places I’ll be visiting. Even though I won’t be visiting their ministry partners, even stock photos of the region are better than nothing. I’m excited to continue working with my team back home, even if it’s just in a small way.
- Bringing my supporters along with me. I’m passionate about telling stories. I did it for almost two years for work, and now I have the chance to do it on my team. I have so many people back home who have told me over and over how excited they are to follow my journey, and I’m just as excited to bring them along for the ride, even if it is remotely.
- Seeing the world through God’s eyes. I’m tired of being trapped in my American bubble and my daily routine. I needed to get out and take a step back. I’m tired of my tunnel vision and only focusing on me and what I need. This year is about learning to see people, and the whole world, the way God sees them. It’s time for a reality check, and it’s already starting.
