What a whirlwind these last few days have been.
On August 1st, my family and I arrived in Atlanta for World Race Launch. I was appointed to be treasurer for my team, so us treasurers had a couple days of specialized training to learn about all the money stuff we’ll have to deal with this upcoming year. I’m excited to serve my team in this way, and it’ll also be a healthy challenge for me personally before I’m in charge of my own adult finances (a scary thought, as of now).
The next day, the rest of my squad arrived in Atlanta for Launch, and we spent the next couple of days receiving training to add onto what we learned at training camp earlier in June (check out my previous blog to read about what that was like!). It was refreshing to be back with our whole squad once again and to set goals together, worship together, and pray for each other before the start of our adventure together. God truly could not have put together a better family!
After saying hard goodbyes to our families (I miss you, Mom!!!), we leaned on the Lord and each other for comfort through heartbreak and transition, and set out for the Atlanta airport early early (and I mean like 1:15am early) Monday morning. We had an idea about what the next few travel days would like, but at the same time, we had no idea.
Lots of waiting.
Waiting for 2.5 hours in the airport lobby before our squad could check in, waiting in the security line with our whole squad, and waiting to board our plane to Boston, was only the beginning of our journey of waiting. Hurry up and wait seemed to be a consistent theme.
But the Lord spoke to me in these moments. Lamentations 3:25 says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him”. Patience is a virtue, and also a gift of the Holy Spirit. While it would have been easy to be angered by the travel circumstances or get annoyed by things my squadmates or airport employees said or did, I chose to lean on the Lord instead. Because in Him, I have joy, and peace, and patience, and kindness, and gentleness, and all of the things I needed on this long journey across the world. I chose to seek the Lord, and in return He generously poured out blessing on these days of travel.
When we arrived safely in Boston (hallelujah!), we dropped our bags in a hotel room and split up to take on the role of tourists for the day. My group decided to walk the Freedom Trail. As a history junkie, I was pumped! We ate lunch at Quincy Market (our last American meal for a year!), saw the Paul Revere House, Old North Church, USS Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument, Boston Commons, and so much more. It was a beautiful day for sightseeing, and spending it with new friends who felt like old friends made it that much better. It was a long day, but in the best way. We were ready to sleep on our long flight to Doha, Qatar.
After our 12-hour flight to Doha, complete with two full meals, a great movie selection, and some 9 hours of sleep (praise Jesus!), we arrived in the Middle East at the 4th best airport in the world! Super cool. Our layover was a short two hours, with just enough time to transfer to our next gate and use the restrooms, and we were off to Johannesburg.
Another 8 hours later, and we landed in SOUTH AFRICA!!! We were all stoked. It took awhile for us to wrap our heads around the fact that we were standing on African soil. So surreal. I kept being reminded of my supporters and their generosity. I am here because of YOU! The flights, the food, the reason I’m sleeping in a warm bed in South Africa is because you chose to support this mission. I am so unbelievably grateful for this blessing.
My team and another all-girls team said goodbye to our other squadmates staying in Johannesburg and Pretoria, and waited another 12 hours in the airport for our bus to Port Elizabeth. Boy were we tired. Trying to sleep in the airport, getting yelled at to move. Trying to take out money from the ATM and upload receipts, on the verge of tears from a pounding headache. We were cranky, we were stinky, but we carried on.
Taking an Uber from the airport to the bus terminal was humbling. Johannesburg is an impoverished city, and you can tell just from driving on the outskirts. The bus terminal was a bit unnerving, so we were glad to quickly board our bus.
16 hours later (but who’s counting at this point), we arrived safely in Port Elizabeth. Let’s just say, we’re going to do anything we can to take a plane on our way back to Joburg at the end of the month (HA!). We were warmly greeted by two of our hosts for the month who drove us in vans to our final destination, Jeffrey’s Bay. Meeting and conversing with them on the drive to our ministry site was like a breath of fresh air. A warm hug.
45 minutes later and WE MADE IT! We drove down a long dirt driveway to the campus of Global Leadership Academy and pulled up to the sweetest, most quaint log cabin I’ve ever seen. I almost cried tears of joy. My heart was content!
Several days later while writing this in the living space, I feel at home. This place bleeds peace and welcoming. Our hosts are so sweet and generous, and I cannot wait to see what the rest of this first month on the Race brings for me and my team.
How grateful I am. Thank you, Lord!!!
Quick update: I AM FULLY FUNDED!!!!!!!!!!!!! Over $19,200 has been raised in 9 months. I am floored. At the beginning of this fundraising journey, I prayed that the Lord would provide more than I would need financially for this year, and He did just that. Just about $20,000 has been provided as support for this mission, and once again, I am reminded of the Lord’s faithfulness. Thank you to all who have loved and supported me during this season.
Keep an eye out for more blogs soon!!
With love,
Allison
