My parents are coming to Romania to visit me next week!
It’s hard to put into words the excitement I have for their arrival. My heart aches at times when I think about how much I miss the family and friends I left back in the United States. My parent’s upcoming visit will certainly be wind in my sails for the remaining four months of my journey.
Anticipating their trip, I’ve been wondering what The World Race has been like for them back home. What have they been experiencing since I left seven months ago? Have they grown in the same capacity I have? I decided to ask…
Mom
I remember having to catch my breath as I turned the corner after saying goodbye to our daughter, Amy, who had just left for a year on The World Race. It was then that the Lord impressed upon my heart, “this is much bigger than Amy.”
That fall, life seemed to vacillate between trying to be strong for Amy and succumbing to waves of grief. As time marched on, I watched as Amy’s relationship deepened with the Lord. Instead of looking through my selfish “lens” of heartache, I began seeing Amy as the beautiful young woman that our Lord had chosen to send out to the ends of the earth to mend hearts for His glory. She was boldly walking out her faith, and I began to learn from her. She’ll always be our daughter, but my relationship with Amy was transforming spiritually. She was becoming my sister in Christ.
My perspective began to change. Instead of concentrating on missing her, I fixed my eyes on the impact she and her team were making for God’s kingdom. Watching her team intentionally share Jesus’s love around the world constantly warmed my heart.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).” Another tap on the shoulder by the Holy Spirit, “this is much bigger than Amy.”
My personal turning point came right after Christmas when we received a phone call and several pictures of Amy’s Christmas Eve in Bolivia. All month, the team had been investing in young women living in a rehab facility who’ve struggled through abuse and addiction. My eyes filled with tears when I looked at the picture of the Christmas tree that the young women had decorated with the help of Amy’s team. It was meager by American standards but glorious in God’s eyes. When I heard Amy describe that night as “the most incredible Christmas Eve I have ever had,” my heart was at peace. It was then that I thought, “this really is much bigger than Amy.”
Just as only our Lord can do, He allowed me a new revelation. This year on The World Race is not just a year of growing for Amy but also for all of us that love and treasure her. Her journey truly is “much bigger than Amy.”
May my sweet Lord Jesus receive all the glory, honor, and praise for this vibrant, beautiful servant that He has raised up and that we have the honor of calling our own. I love you Amy, Mommy.
Dad
We are now seven months into Amy’s eleven-month, eleven-country mission trip with The World Race. Before this trip started, I had a lot of concerns for her safety and health. In fact, when she first mentioned this, I started contacting medical evacuation establishments and security personnel and found a company that offered Ex-Navy Seals for evacuation in emergencies. I started heading in the direction of securing this plan to make sure she was well taken care of.
Later in the process, I found out what an incredible job Adventures in Missions does in risk assessment and management and realized they do a top notch job in managing safety for young adults going on The World Race. Their care of the racers has eliminated my concerns for Amy’s health and safety, and I am very appreciative of this.
My wife and I will be heading over to Romania in a week to visit Amy. I have some anxiety about this because I’m not a big traveler, and I’ve never been overseas. My love for Amy overwhelms these anxieties, and I am really looking forward to seeing her. I love you, Amy, and I’ll see you soon.
Pictured below is the day I said goodbye to my parents and left on my year long journey. Their love and support mean so much to me, and The World Race has solidified to me how truly blessed I am to call them mine.
Dad and Mom, I love you so incredibly much, and I can’t wait to see you soon!
Your crazy, world-traveling daughter <3
