The World Race is not an all-expense paid vacation. It’s true, I get to travel all around the world and see and do cool things, but let me explain a few things to skeptics and future Racers.
This is a missions trip and I am a full-time missionary.
As a missionary, we do ministry anywhere from 4-7 days a week (depending on the month). Our days are filled with intentional prayer time, team time, ministry (however that looks), and errands. Our living conditions are more times than not, comfortable or convenient. All of this together can be very exhausting physically and mentally, not to mention, spiritually.
Physically, we are getting up and going to bed at strange hours. We are living in extreme heat (or cold) without the resources to make us comfortable to fully relax. Hygiene typically isn’t up to par. We wear and wear and re-wear our clothes out. And lack of nutrition and proper meds on a regular basis all play a huge role into our overall physical well-being.
Mentally, our patience and sanity (and really our overall attitude) are tested constantly. We work against a language barrier with the natives, never (ever) know what’s really going on, interact with contacts, plan and carry out ministry tasks (teaching being the most difficult and exhausting, personally).
Spiritually, you’re not on a Jesus-high 24/7 that you would likely get during a christiany conference or sweet worship service. You might think that you’d be a happy livin-the-life-Christian while being a missionary, but that’s not always true (though I wish it were). Don’t get me wrong, there are amazing, Jesus-take-me-to-heaven-right-now-I’m-in-awe-of-You highs on the Race, just like life, but there’s always a valley to the mountaintop. Living in spiritually oppressed areas, having to answer challenging questions when confronted about your faith, bible study, and sermon/testimony prep are all at work. And on top of all of that, God is most-likely doing an intense tear down and rebuild of your heart inside you, which can really hurt. God will break your heart and open your eyes to the people He’s created and placed in your path. Whether that be strangers, children, or even your own teammates who you will learn to love and have a passion for. These blessed people who you now call family will call you into greatness and encourage you to grow closer to the Lord through “positive” and “constructive” feedback. Positive makes you feel good. Constructive doesn’t always…. Then comes praying those bitter feelings away, seeking God, setting your pride aside, repenting, and stepping deeper into the good things God has for you. It can be exhausting…. Trust me.
Quick parallel: I used to work at Disney World. People would constantly think that by working there I was just on this big, long, constant magical vacation. I wasn’t. Yes, it was awesome and there were days I was high on life and had a blast working. But it was also still a job and some days were so hard and frustrating I just wanted to quit.
This is the World Race.
Just like life, no matter your job, you just need a break from it sometimes. You have to get away, clear your head, get inspired, and refreshed. So sometimes on our off-days of ministry, if we have the money and opportunity we’ll travel a few hours away to do something touristy or relax: beach, cave, hike, buy Starbucks, go shopping, ride elephants, take a tour, or visit a monument. We never compromise our ministry or use our supporters’ money to aid our personal activities.
I get to see and do lots of cool things during ministry too, not just during our “off” time. My favorite is just building relationships with people. Talking, laughing, playing games, and sharing Jesus. I get to laugh my head off trying to teach English and sing silly songs. I get to go on adventures with little girls through rice fields, eating fresh fruit off the trees as we laugh and I take in the beautiful creation of God. I go on prayer walks with my teammates and bask in God’s presence as I pray over His people and His land; this is probably my favorite way to see the world!
Doing and seeing cool things comes with the job. It’s a blessing. God’s beauty and world is out there for us to explore and enjoy! So I’m going to take full advantage of it every moment I can.
The World Race is just a huge adventure in missions. (get it?)
