Dear future racers,
You’re going on the World Race! Woohoo! You’ve probably started fundraising and gathering your gear for the race. Maybe you’ve began chatting on google+ or skype with your squad mates, or maybe you’ve done trips to physically meet them already! The process up through launch is always exhilarating and full of mystery and wonder. Goodbyes start to happen, two-weeks notices start getting turned in, and questions from family and potential supporters are being replied to. I am currently on a plane headed to Zambia, my tenth month on the field, and I can’t help but want to encourage each and every one of you on how wonderful, difficult, but overall incredible experience this is.
By going on the race, you are going to go through what we like to call a “spiritual pressure cooker”. That sounds like a lot scarier than it’s meant to be, but get ready for your world to be rocked. Second, don’t worry about being normal because that label fell off to never get put back on you since the day you chose to apply. Being crazy is a good thing! (Check out 2 Corinthians 5:13 in the NLT version). Third, know that you will have extreme highs and extreme lows and whoever you are, whether it be the most spiritually mature person on your squad with years of experience or the guy or girl on your squad that knows you are a mess and may need a little more grace than what seems normal, your squad family will support you. It won’t ever be perfect, and it may be very rocky at first, but you will be loved. You will be loved well, you will be loved in subtle ways, you will be loved in ways you’re not familiar with, and you will be loved because God first loved us.
Know that when you leave for the race: yes, life goes on back home. BUT. Because you’re on the race, you will have your closest relationships grow stronger, your weaker relationships will have a chance to develop with space, and the relationships that God wants you to let go will be easier to let go because of the support system you’ll have.
Press into your teams. Vulnerability doesn’t just mean be willing to share about how much you actually drink and smoke back home, or how you actually don’t understand the Bible at all, but it also means let your teammates and squad mates see the real you. Be silly. Take ownership of your gas (especially in central America). Laugh at what you think is funny. Share those corny jokes you know. Sing at random times. Dress how you want to dress (while respecting and honoring the ministry as well). Don’t try to be someone you’re not. The best times I’ve had with my team didn’t start happening to me until I was okay with who I was and realized that what some people may consider “annoying”, God loves therefore my team loves as well. They may learn to love those things and grace will need to be extended, but true vulnerability comes from willingness to be open in every aspects of your life; the bad AND the good. If you have done “bad” things (and all of us have), don’t be ashamed of that either! God uses everything for His glory, right?
Don’t be afraid to speak up, but don’t be afraid to be silent either. Got a question? Ask it. Have a preference? State it. You team wants to listen to you because you are an asset and amazing. If you don’t believe me, remember that the God of the universe calls you beloved, son/daughter, and friend. Your voice and opinion are valuable and need to be heard. If you are scared that you have to say or have a response to everything in fear of not being heard (like me), be confident that God is your defender and He will take care of you. If you’re bold, use that boldness to call up those who are still learning to walk in boldness.
If you are coming on this trip to experience the God of the Bible, understand your faith better, serve the poor, hungry, and needy, or simply to come on an awesome 11 countries in 11 months mission trip: be honest with yourself and your team. Whatever reason you’re going on this trip: if God is opening the doors for you to come He is allowing it and rooting for you! The reason I bring this up is because there are a lot of reasons people come on this trip, but no two racers have the same race. It’s okay to want different things from God during your time on the field. It’s okay to pray different prayers. At the end of the day it’s all about Jesus, and as long as you allow God to teach and mold you, you’ll know exactly what I mean soon enough. Don’t judge or question your team/squad mate’s motives on why he/she is here. Don’t be afraid to call them up to be more like Jesus and be intimate with Him, though.
Don’t try to change anyone. Ever.
God is going to show you so many things this year. He is going to prove His love, grace, and mercy to you time and time again. You will be free if you want it and allow God to give it to you. He will forgive you, heal you, and redeem you from whatever it is that you didn’t necessarily tell the truth on in your application or the thing you’ve never told anyone about. If you’re in a fantastic spot spiritually, keep pressing in. Until we go to our true home, we will never stop learning and growing.
Don’t worry about what you did/didn’t pack. God feeds the birds, how much more valuable are you than birds? God will take care of you in ways that you can’t imagine.
The World Race isn’t going to change your life. Adventures in Missions isn’t going to rock your world. Your team and squad mates may influence you; but at the end of the day God is the only one that deserves the glory. This year, you’re going to have the chance to learn and experience the gospel like never before. God will use the World Race, AIM, and the people around you. Don’t forget Jesus is the reason we’re doing this, though. He is the one who will change your life, rock your world, and influence you the most if you let Him.
Persevere and run the good race. You CAN do all things through Christ.
I am praying for you and cannot wait to see how God is going to continue to change lives through the world race.
Have an amazing, rocking, and crazy year! J
Love,
Andrea Sepulveda (S-Squad 2 Gen, July 2013)
