It is hard to put into words what it is like to be on the World Race. It has been the hardest yet the best year of my life. I have made a new family composed of people from completely different lives and states, yet we compliment one another in every way. This blog is me attempting to give you a glimpse into my world for the past year. Here are some pictures and lessons from months one in India, and month two in Nepal!
MONTH 1: INDIA
1. Fresh from the states, our squad was filled with excitement and anticipation at the thought of the months ahead and what they held. It is amazing how fast these people have become my family. Q Squad [Manipur, India]
2. For my team, India was filled with trying moments of processing what it was like to lose a teammate and struggling to break our down walls. But in this tent we spent time building trust and getting to know one another. The laughter that we shared set us free to love and trust each other. Here is my teammate Olivia Osley in the midst of one of those moments. [Manipur, India]
3. Each morning we woke up to the smiling faces of the neighborhood kids eagerly waiting for us to greet them. They waited for us sometimes to play or to just say hi. India was filled with the joy of getting to love on these kids and many more like them. [Manipur, India]
4. I had heard about the cramped living spaces on The World Race, but I had never imagined that a host would build us that very space. The traditional thatched hut forced my team and I to learn how to function with very little elbowroom. We were pushed to face one another instead of retreating into our own bubble. This was a turning point for our team, among many others during this month, where God used our circumstances to break down the walls we had built up. Here my teammates, Michelle and Liv, and I became close friends with Aaron, one of the boys in the neighborhood. [Manipur, India]
5. At a children’s VBS where most of the children were orphans, I was drawn to these three girls because of their inviting smiles. They tightly held my hand and let me see into a small part of their hearts. I got to experience how in-love they were with their maker and I watched them lift their hands and cry out in worship to the Lord. I was blown away by the contagious smiles they still had on their faces despite their circumstances. [Manipur, India]
MONTH 2: NEPAL
6. We went to a Buddhist community (where Christians don’t normally go) to run a health clinic. This little girl came with her mother. As she waited to be seen, she sharpened a stick with a small razor blade. We feared that she would slip and need more help than what a volunteer health assistant could provide. But her mother stood by and watched. My eyes were opened to how different my upbringing was compared to hers and so many others around the world. [Kathmandu, Nepal]
7. This day, we set out on Nepal’s largest Buddhist celebration, where thousands of people gather and line up for hours at the temples around the country for the chance to offer up a sacrifice to their gods. This 14-year-old boy translated for us as we shared the gospel to those we met during the celebration. It encouraged me to see the younger generation stepping out so radically for the sake of the Gospel. [Kathmandu, Nepal]
8. This was the view from the top of our hostel. I got up early to see the sunrise many times throughout the month. From here I could see the city of Kathmandu, before the smog settled on the rooftops, and the beautiful snow capped tips of the Himalayas in the distance. On the rooftop, we prayed over the city, worshipped God, and had some of the sweetest fellowship with one another I have ever experienced. [Kathmandu, Nepal]
9. One of my favorite things about Nepal was the graffiti. Every day we walked by this wall on our way to ministry and every day it had something new painted on it. Emotions were often expressed through their art; peace, love, and struggles. [Kathmandu, Nepal]
10. They caught my attention right away, a young boy and girl. I could tell they were brother and sister because of the way they clung to one another in the midst of the crowd. They looked worn down and beaten up, not just because of the torn dirty clothes they wore. In the midst of all the children around me who currently were listening to the Gospel being preached, all I could see were these two children. I tried everything I could to get them to crack a smile but their little hearts refused to let me in. But they watched, and they listened as my squad mates acted out the story of David and Goliath. I was encouraged to see them listening so intently to the story, and I prayed that they would receive the message God wanted them to hear. That despite how forgotten they feel, they are seen and that their heavenly Father loves them and has mighty plans for them. [Kathmandu, Nepal]
11. Every Wednesday we carried soccer goals and barrels of food and water to meet with the street kids of Nepal. Our goal was simple: to love the unloved. However, the way the kids played soccer showed me that they had likely not been shown true love. They were rough and mean. I wanted to walk away many times. But the Lord kept telling me to show them how He loves them. So, my team and I pressed on each week, continuing to play soccer, preach God’s word, and feed them a simple meal. Slowly, I saw their hearts being transformed. Boys who wouldn’t even shake my hand after a simple game became my friends by the end of the month. God reaffirmed that simple acts of love can really change a hardened, worn-out heart. [Kathmandu, Nepal]
12. We have had many off days on the Race, but this day is still my favorite! A small group of guys on the squad rented motorcycles with one of our translators and drove into the Nepalese hills. My teammate Liv and I were ecstatic when they had asked us to come along! When I revisit this day, I can still feel the wind pass through my outstretched hands, the presence of the Lord as we worshipped Him at the top of the cloud-covered hills, and the joy as we danced like no one was looking. What a sweet gift! [Kathmandu, Nepal]
These are just a few of my favorite memories and lessons from month one and two of the Race! Looking back and being able to see what the Lord has done through this year is such a gift and I am so excited that I can share it with you all! Thank you again for your continued love and support! More updates to come!!! Yaaaay!
