When applying for the World Race, I had no idea which route I was applying for. For some odd reason, I didn’t know I was even supposed to pick one. I thought AIM would pick me a route after going through the application process.
So during my interview, you betcha I was surprised when the woman on the other line asked me which route I had chosen for my Race. I blurted “Not sure. I think the one with Ukraine on it.” It was the only country I felt called to.
And you betcha I was even more surprised to find out I had apparently picked Route 4. A route where Ukraine was nowhere to be found and where no other countries really sparked my interest.
I was kind of confused.
I wrote down the countries in a post-it note and put it inside my bible. I prayed over that list for a few days. Thinking [hoping] that I would hear God calling me to change routes.
And then I heard God’s voice:
“Child, you didn’t pick this route. I picked this route. Child, this isn’t your race. It’s my race.”
How does one argue with that?
From that point on, I owned my race. I read every blog and watched every video about each country on my list. I pursued the heart of those countries in prayer. I googled their downfalls, their languages, their people and their attractions. I fell in love with my route.
Did you hear what I said? I broke a rule…
AIM says all routes are subject to change. And as Racers, we’re taught to stay FLEXIBLE. Completely. All the time. And to never, ever create expectations for anything.
So yeah…sue me.
At training camp, as other squads found out their routes were changing. We went home with flying colors and a squad t-shirt with all of our countries listed on the back.
But two weeks before launching we found out our first three countries had completely changed. Due to security reasons, instead of going to East Africa, we would be going to Southern Africa.
South Africa, made for a comfortable month. As I expected.
But as I sit here in Nelspruit for our debrief and catch up on last month’s news, I come across an unending thread from a headline published on September 21, 2013 that reads “Kenya’s terrorist attack: Hostages in Nairobi Mall. Many Killed.”
There’s no denying we are meant to be here and not in Kenya.
The morning I deleted my route from my home page saying to myself, “Screw it. This means nothing.” I walk into our morning session only to find out there has been more changes.
Our first 8 months have been COMPLETELY changed. Our route looks NOTHING like its original list.
Then I remember Him saying, “Child, you didn’t pick this route. I picked this route. Child, this isn’t your race. It’s my race.”
He makes known to me the path of life;
In His presence there is fullness of joy;
at His right hand are pleasures forever more.
(Psalm 16:11)
