When I signed up for the World Race, I’m not quite sure that I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. I knew that I’d be sleeping in a tent. I knew there’d be bugs. I knew there’d be no hot water or coffee. I knew about the port-a-potties. I knew my vegan diet would be high maintenance. I knew about the bucket showers. Now that I’m sitting here at training camp, there’s an odd sense of emptiness that has come crashing down on me. All I can seem to think about are all of the things that I’m going to be missing out on while I’m gone. This time every summer, I’m usually chaperoning my youth group for our mission trip. What about Christmas with my family? My friends’ birthdays? My dog? All of these experiences that I will be missing, and why? To hang out with a bunch of strangers?
In less than 24 hours, I have been reminded of why I’m here. I am here to serve others and to grow my relationship with Jesus. These people, whom I’ve never met, are here for the same purpose. While we’ve all traveled different journeys to get here, we have all arrived at this destination together. And that’s how we’ll survive these next 11 days and then 11 months—together.
I must push through these moments of doubt, fear, and loneliness, because it’s during the silence and the emptiness when His voice becomes most present. Jesus gave his life for us. The ultimate sacrifice. I will be doing the same. Giving up life as I know it to serve others.
