In the beginning of the World Race, I
prayed that I would grow to see the people of the world through God’s
eyes. I prayed that my eleven months of experiences would give me
genuine unconditional love for the people in each country. Its been a
simple process really, you just look beyond a person’s circumstances
and in never fails, you always see a person who deserves to be loved.
But let’s go back to the circumstances
for a minute. I want to take you back through the memories of
injustice and poverty I have from this race. When I stepped onto a
plane 8 months ago with 74 strangers, I made a decision to leave the
comfort of my home and face the world and everything that comes with
it. I have seen quite the variety of circumstances.
Children living on the street with no
food or clothing.
Hundreds upon hundreds of tents turning
into permanent homes.
Mothers having to choose between
walking all day to get water or working all day to get food.
Pockets of extreme poverty within
cities of great wealth.
Racially divided countries in which
people from different ethnicities have drastically different
opportunities.
Whole countries being ravished by AIDS.
Homeless populations suffering from
addictions with nowhere to turn.
Teenage prostitutes surviving by what
they do in hotel rooms with old men.
Whole families living in houses smaller
than a full size bed.
Being surrounded by these circumstances
has opened my eyes to their severity around the world. These things
are SO much more common than most people would allow themselves to
believe. But I’ve seen crazy circumstances everywhere I have gone,
and I believe that these experiences have given me a responsibility.
8 months ago, I left my comfortable life. I used to be able to choose
to be blind to these things when I wanted to be, but it is not a
choice anymore. I have left that behind forever. My eyes have been
opened to the circumstances of the world, and I cannot come home and
ignore them.
