The reality of the World Race has been so far from any expectation I had. When I thought about life on the field, I imagined tough manual labor, adventures around every corner, and fulfillment. I do realize that my last few blogs have been full of reflection, but when something as big as the World Race comes to an end, it calls for such things.
I am in the middle of month 10 in the tiny, yet incredibly beautiful country of Moldova. From the weather, to the people, I really can’t imagine a more lovely place to be today. I am doing life with Team Wildflowers (Kenna, Kirsten, Kaitlyn, Mack, and Susan) and we live alongside one of the hardest working and caring young families I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Life is good. I think we all appreciate the labor of life on a farm and I find myself looking forward to the tiring work. I could stay here. That thought has crossed my mind several times on the Race, in different capacities and actualities. As this thought surely raises fear in my mother, it swallows me in a warm hug. The fact that I’ve been to 11 different countries, lived life with 10 different hosts, and somehow found a way to call each of them home truly blows my mind. It has been one of the many sweet surprises that happens on this journey.
Another sweet surprise was that adventure is, in fact, not around every corner. Why is this sweet? Well, my friends, it is day 278 of this thing and I am a bit tired. A lot happens on the Race. All from the good, bad, traumatizing, funny, hard, sad, silly, and fun. And adventure came in all shapes and sizes. I’ve built a road in Colombia, I’ve swung off the side of the Earth in Ecuador. Peru was full of adventure (look my videos about Rainbow mountain and Machu Picchu). Ask me about travel through Indonesia sometime…that is quiet the story. In Cambodia I got to visit Angkor Wat and in Thailand I saw my momma! Adventure also looked like trying new and interesting foods, not always out of choice or for fun, but because that is what your host prepared for you that day. Adventure also looked like taking on a new role in month 5 and, in a way, starting a new Race completely. While this year has certainly been adventurous and wild, more days than not it looks pretty ordinary.
Once in a new country with a new host, we quickly find our routine. We eat breakfast (sometimes making it ourselves, or having it prepared for us) and drink whatever coffee we can find and we start our day. A lot of my time on the Race has been spent waiting on transportation, riding in a car/bus/van/train/tram, and doing our work (whether that be teaching English or leading kids club or cleaning). A day to day explanation would actually be very boring to talk about. The thing is that the adventure that I imagined coming into this thing does not happen every day, or even every month. And praise the Lord for that! Now, I find adventure in the much smaller, but arguably more impactful, things in life. I find adventure in the hour long rounds of Nertz that I play with my squadmates. I find adventure as I talk with a friend about her plans for after the Race. I find adventure in the thought of being home in 42 days.
The biggest surprise of the Race is…ready for it? That I did not find complete fulfillment in these 11 months. SURPRISE! Okay, let me explain. Whether I knew it or not I walked into the Race expecting it to be the time of my life. Nearly every time I get a message from someone back home they say “hope you’re having the time of your life” or “looks like the time of your life”. Okay, fair. Some of the things that have happened this year have been peaks in my life thus far. But the thing that the Lord keeps reminding me is that He is just getting started. (Imagine the shocked/scared emoji face here.) This is crazy cool to hear, but also a little terrifying. Cause let me tell you, Papa has been at work this year. How much more can ya do?? Well the World Race for me was a stepping stone into the wild ride ahead. Fulfillment was not found. Look at it like this…I am filled up by the Lord. I then take what he gives me and pour out to those around me, all the while also continually being poured into by my sweet people. It is continual. It takes commitment from everyone involved and the goal is to never top off. If I keep seeking after the Father and continue to pour out what he gives me. I’ll never be completely filled, not until Papa calls me home or comes to get me.
I am thankful for this reality and that it was in fact so far from my expectation. I have 42 days left of this thing and then a lifetime. Here is to a lifetime of having the time of my life.
with love,
Lina
