For those who don’t know, I am currently on day 2 of my world race training camp. I will be here a total of 11 days until I return back home. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about what the world race is and what it will be like, and I’m obviously in no way an expert since I haven’t even completed training camp yet; but today during our storyteller workshop at training camp, we were challenged to write about why we are doing the race. My very first blog ever was about this, but I wanted to elaborate more and even list reasons why I am not doing the race.
1. I am not doing the world race because I want to get a year-long vacation to travel around the world.
When I tell people about the race, I get a lot of responses about the really cool things I will see. And yes, I will see some cool things. But I am also going to see shocking, terrible, painful, dark, heart-wrenching things. The race is not about getting to travel and sight-see. That is not why I am going. It’s hard work and love and sacrifice and joy that will be so worth it. It’s about walking in the freedom that the Lord gives to us and sharing that freedom with those around us. Even cooler than foreign monuments or landscapes, I’ll see redemption and salvation from Jesus that lasts longer than a moment, a day, or even a lifetime.
2. I am not doing the world race because it’s just a mission trip.
The world race is more than just a mission trip. It will be my life for the next year. I get the opportunity to step into the lives and communities and homes of others in 11 different countries. I get to be a part of what the Lord is doing around the world and how He is working. I get the privilege to love on others. Sit with them in their pain. Cry with them. Laugh with them. Sing with them. Pray with them. Dance with them. Praise the Lord with them.
3. I am not doing the world race because I want to be looked at as a hero.
The purpose of the race is not to go into these places and whitewash people into being like North Americans. That is actually extremely harmful and not freeing at all. Our purpose is to live authentically and intimately in community with our brothers and sisters around the world. Our purpose is to share their stories with others. Our purpose is to share the hope and healing of Jesus Christ that will empower them.
4. I am not doing the race because it will be easy.
It will not be easy at all. Just in these last 22 hours at training camp, the Lord has already spoken to me. He is already breaking down walls in us racers. He’s showing me that it’s okay to feel things and be vulnerable. It’s okay to cry in front of people (even if it makes me very very very uncomfortable). It’s okay to need a hug from your squad-mate even if you don’t admit you need it. We will meet people around the world who are so strong but are hurting so, so bad. I’ve seen that already in all of the videos we have been shown from some world race alumni. It’s also going to be uncomfortable and a little (or a lot) smelly. I’m already covered in sweat and dirt and I stink.
5. I am not doing the world race because I have a perfect relationship with God.
I am not a perfect Christian. What even is a “perfect Christian anyway”??? A perfect Christian doesn’t even exist. I suck at reading my Bible and sometimes I forget to pray. I have a long list of mistakes and failures. But what’s really cool is that God still loves me for me, just as I am. He hasn’t called me to be a missionary because I’m perfectly qualified. Not at all. He doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. I want to be part of the generation that lives radically for the Lord. I want to grow deeper in my relationship and my dependence in Him. I want to have a spirit of saying yes.
With love,
Hals
