Hi hi hi! In this here blog I wanted to talk about the parts of the race that go unseen, and things that people don’t realize about it.
Oof. That sounded way more serious than it needed to be hahaha!
But seriously, the race is a wonderful thing to be apart of and I have loved it with all of my heart— BUT I think it is soooooo over romanticized. Like I cannot say this with more honesty, it’s just life. I know before I did the race and when people said that I was like “YEAH THE COOLEST LIFE EVER??!!! HOW COULD YOU EVEN SAY THAT???” But like really…it is just life lol
So! Here is the good, bad, and ugly truths of the Race. An inside scoop if you must.
1.) The biggest lie I believed about the race was that every single day would be JAM PACKED with things to do and that I would just be in amazement of the Lord every single day of my life. Incorrect. It literally is like life at home! Some days are super duper fun and great, and some days I have to force myself to get out of bed. Some days ministry is exactly what my heart needs, other days I have to make myself to serve the Lord with gladness. Our ministry was literally miscellaneous things for 3 months in South Africa, and here sometimes they tell us they don’t need us and we stay at home and do chores. It is not always the exciting things like evangelism or children’s ministry or whatever it is that you have in mind when you think of mission trips! I’m not saying I am disappointed, I am grateful for what the Lord is gonna teach me in it all, but to future racers or anyone else wondering about the ins and outs of the race, best way I can describe it— LIFE.
2.) You do not like every single person you live with. I know, I know, all the Instagram posts saythe sweetest darn things things like “sisters for life” or thangs like that but like……theres just no way you are gonna like 40 people that you see every single day. You love them of course! But just like in the real world, you do not get along with every single person all the time. Community is hard. Like so hard it has me doubting if I am an extrovert lol— I mean I wouldn’t trade it for the world because it has taught me a lot!!! In allllll that being said— everyone here is so freaking genuine. I was so blessed with the people that surround me. You learn to adapt, you learn to choose into hard relationships. But I just wanted to acknowledge the fact that it is a real thing to not like people and it is okay! It is not okay to mistreat them, but you can have real feelings hahaha
3.) It’s pretty hard to talk to people from home. I know that is NOT what I wanted to hear when I was about to do the race, but just being honest! I have been pretty lucky as far as like actually being able to get wifi goes, but like every time I go I have stuff to work on or the wifi is not all that good. Also, it just ~stresses me out~ to have like 5 seconds to talk to my family and friends and usually my conversations are like “hey how are you good how are you awesome thanks” and that’s it. It’s hard because I feel like everyone is so behind on my life because I can’t accurately describe life here. And bruh I am so behind on their lives too, it stinks! Like how on earth am I gonna catch people up on 9 months of life and how are they gonna catch me up??? Major bummer. Also, a common thing I have heard is like “OH people at home just don’t understand!” but for me it’s more like “Ah people at home are trying so hard to understand me and I don’t have time to understand them or let them understand me!” Ahaha— this low-key turned into a rant I’m not sure what people are gonna be able to do with this but I just had to POP OFF! Do with this what you must
4.) Omg I am so sorry to share this but the amount of times we have all had diarrhea is RIDICULOUS. Like…. I feel like I am either constipated or I have diarrhea there is just no in between here. 9/10 if you go in the bathroom you hear someone say “I’m sorry…having diarrhea” HAHA it has just become so normal. I thought that I would just take medicine for this but I want whatever it is to get out of my body so I’m like???? But anyways— this life isn’t all kicks and giggles. Had a few nights where I was SO MAD AT MY BODY LIKE WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!!!!! But yeah lol thats a reaaaaaallll one.
5.) This may be a surprise, but you have to choose to pursue Jesus everyday. You gotta to wake up early or stay up late to catch some time with Him. You gotta make a decision to include Him in the hard times. Everything that is a struggle at home does not disappear— life is still busy. Things are still hard. It is 100% a choice.
6.) You mayyyy not like your ministry. You may get stuck doing something you realllllyyyy don’t want to be doing. For example, a team on my squad are all assistant teachers again….after doing it for 3 months. My team was cooking and cleaning for a while. Another team organizes clothes and cleans their ministry base. You are allowed to not like your ministry!!!!! I feel like I thought I was not allowed admit that when I was struggling with it. I was allowed to be frustrated or not like my ministry— but just as everything else, it is how you handle it. It is one thing to not like it and serve with a joyful heart, and another to not like it and make that known. Besides, it isn’t about you anyways. Haaarrrddd pill to swallow. It is all for Jesus. Something cool my SQL Marissa said to me that stuck was “If your best friend called and asked for your help, wouldn’t you go do it no matter what it was because you love your friend and want to help them???” And we should be serving Jesus the same way! He is my best friend and heck freaking yeah I wanna do anything I can to help further the kingdom and help Him out. So yeah, ministry isn’t always fun or exciting or life changing but it is so necessary.
7.) You may have a crush on someone on your squad. And omg. It is ok. Do not fret. You are human. We are wired for these things. BUT LIKE I HAVE SAID 1 MILLION TIMES!!!! It is nottttt the feeling that is wrong but what you do with it that could be potentially bad. Sure, we are all around the same age and there are some awesome people pursuing the Lord and it is really cool, but what is even cooler is the life we are living right here with Jesus. Keeping your eyes on things above is not always easy but always worth it. ALSO! If that happens, do not try to stuff it down and not allow yourself to feel all the feels! It is so valid. Pray through it. Process it. Why do you feel that way? What do you like about him/her? How can you honor their Race and honor your own amidst these feelings? Tell someone SAFE (like an SQL or your Squad Mentor!) Hold yourself accountable. Set boundaries for your heart. Understand your intentions when you are around him/her. Realize that the Lord does have someone wonderful set out for you, even if it is not them! Love is sweet and the Lord wants you to experience it, but also….He IS love. So experience THAT first.
8.) Being sick is not as scary as you think hahha!!! At least for me, before the race I was SO freaking worried about being sick on the race. It’s ok, you willlll be okay. Yeah, I wish my mama could take me to the doctor and give me a hug. But like— my SQL is pretty sweet too and the clinic trips are always an adventure. You will get the treatment you need and the rest as well. DO not fret.
9.) You gain weight. A sister has gained 15 pounds. Everyone has gained somewhere around that. I mean, I am blessed because I was underweight and I feel healthy now BUT like everyone expected me to lose it….uh uh. Future racers be prepared though hahaha, a lot of girls have been working out now though so it is possible to lose it!!! It also depends on the countries you go to. But the BREAD intake is legit in both places we have been so yeah that’ll do it.
10.) It is so easy to spend a lot of money. So many things are easily accessible. Snacks are a big thing that I freaking always waste my money on. Also coffee and matcha lattes and all that good stuff. And it is really hard to find the balance of “I am in another country I wanna make the most of it!” And “Girl stop you better cool it with the money spending” Ya know???? Lol, but yeah we are not off the grid, and I do still like spending money as much as I liked it in the States.
11.) Do not be too worried or attached to your clothes. Mine have shrunk in the wash. I have dropped stuff to make room for new clothes. I share everything anyways! When I was packing I was freaking out about what to bring, and I thought I would not drop ANYTHING like I was attached to my stuff. But TBH—it isnt as deep as I thought. And I am a girl that loves to dress up and all that stuff so I promise if I feel this way, you are likely to get here too!!!
12.) You will be walking a heck ton! Like literally everywhere. The fitness hike at training camp is not in vain. It’s not too bad though, I have grown to like it actually!!!
13.) if you have been running from a problem, it’ll catch up to you on the race. We do a lot of processing and working through stuff and you have free time galore to get in your feels so yeah…..better work through that one thing you can’t stop thinking about before you head out!
14.) You most likely will pick up on the WR lingo without even realizing it. There are some words that are just said all the time and they become part of your vocabulary. But! It’s fun.
15.) We do this thing called feedback. I have never heard of it before the race, but it is essentially where we get together with our team and discuss ways we can grow! we give each other affirmative and constructive feedback. Just a way to remind each other of how we can look more like Jesus. But shoot I was surprised by this at training camp and wish I knew about it so yeah!
16.) YOUR FEET WILL NEVER EVER BE CLEAN AGAIN THEM BOYS STAY DIRTY. Bring socks galore! They will help with that and also they get lost so you’ll want a few pairs
17.) At least for me, the race is nothing like I have expected, so I would encourage you to go into it with an open mind because expectations have probably been the number one hindrance in my growth! Just live <3
There are so many things I wish I could let you all in on. But, future racers, you will experience these thangs yourselves and supporters…..I sorry hahaha!!! But thank you so much for reading. Please comment any more questions you have down below and I would love to give you the scoop! Xoxoxoxoxo
