These are some missed expectations i had and things i have learned living in world race community.
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not going to be like home
I realized coming onto the race, i expected my teammates would know how to love me in the same ways my family and close friends do at home. The reality was, they don’t know me yet or know how to love me well yet, we just met! Once my team knew me better, they were able to pour into me and uplift me in ways i would receive it better.
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laying down your preferences
I didn’t realize how consumed i was in my preference, until i came onto the race. I had to lay down what i wanted, and choose my teammates wishes. This can look like going out to a place your teammate wants to eat at, or cleaning up after a teammate.
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community knows your triggers
Triggers are caused from deep hurts from your past. When something traumatic happens from your past, you have a wound in that area. On the field, if something happens that replicates that wound, you can be triggered and react badly. A trigger from my past, are people not trusting me or people assuming things of me. I am a pastor’s kid, so growing up everyone in school would assume things of me and my home life. They would also be worried to tell me things because they thought i would judge them or tell my parents. Now, if someone doesn’t trust me or assumes the worst of me, i will react worse than the average person because those are my triggers. Triggers are things you work through with the Lord, and they are not a preference.
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have to learn to love people in their way
The race has looked a lot like learning to love. One of my teammates hates being touched, so giving her a ton of hugs will not make her feel loved. One of my teammates is the opposite, if you don’t touch her, she will assume you’re upset with her. People are different, so you have to learn how to love people differently. I had no idea about any of this before coming on the race, so i am so excited to take it home and show my family how to love me best! Google love languages and see what you are! (physical touch, quality time, and acts of service are my big three)
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people want to hold you accountable and to call you higher
When you mess up, it’s your team’s job to call you out. This should not be out of anger, this is solely because you want your teammate to look more like Jesus. That’s all that I want, to look more like Jesus, so if someone doesn’t call me out, it does more detriment to me. Once you know your issues, the people around you can hold you accountable to not do it again. I am still learning this. It is so hard not to get offended, but in the long run, what people are saying is to help you.
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serving when you don’t feel like serving
This is something i learned early on. Sometimes people don’t clean up after themselves, and your left to do it. What God has taught me, is that He’ll bless me with much when I am faithful in the little. When i clean up after someone or do something small, i can see big cool things in ministry: like miracles or salvations.
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finding time alone/ living as an extrovert/introvert
The world race has a buddy system rule: you can never be alone. I thought i was completely an extrovert, but coming on the race i’ve realized i am half and half. I need alone time to feel ready for the day. I can’t actually go anywhere alone, but you can kinda cheat the system i will go to coffee shops with a teammate, and sit on one end and she’ll sit on the other. Another example, the other day i needed to get out of the house and take a walk, so my teammate walked ahead of me while i listened to music. You find ways, but it gets hard sometimes.
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choosing your team when you don’t want to, but balancing loving the squad
Sometimes i’ll go through phases where i want nothing to do with my team, or i only want my team. We live as a whole squad all 47 of us, so it is easy to not spend time with your team because there are so many people to choose from. Ultimately, the Lord anointed my teammates to be with me, so they are the main people i will pour into. However, the rest of my squad is amazing, so i try to balance my time with them. everyone has a piece of Jesus,or a special thing they have in their relationship with Jesus, and i want to hear and learn from everyone!
these are a few things that have been vital to learn in my world race community. Life is really hard living with the same people for 9 months, but they have become my family. This is the best community of people i have ever had; everyone is constantly trying to be better for God, for ministry, and for the rest of the squad. They love me soooo well.
