Shortly after I was accepted to the World Race, I saw a blog about Parent Vision Trip (PVT). Parents had met their racers on the field for a week together. I didn’t know much about what PVT would look like for my race or if it would even exist for my race, but I informed Mom of the possibility. Her response: Where do I sign up? What country will you be in? When is it?
So it was with great anticipation that I awaited the arrival of Mom on September 1, the beginning of month 9.
My mother and the parents of 17 other of my squadmates came to join us in the Philippines for a week. They had the chance to experience the World Race alongside us.
We started the week in greater Manila. We were allotted free time to spend with our parents, since for most it was the first time we’d seen them in 8 months. We also oriented to our ministry and to what life on the Race looks like. To be honest they got the cushy version of the Race. While in Manila we stayed at a nice facility that is a part of Wycliffe and ate healthy, nourishing food. (Veggies!) When we moved to Angeles, we stayed at a nice hotel (very nice from my hostel/floor-staying view) with a meal budget that was equal to our normal two days budget. No complaints on the racers end, though!
As far as ministry goes, our parents (and some of us racers) were thrown into one of the hardest but most rewarding ministries. That story will come. First, some thoughts on having parents here with us.
My mom is an awesome lady. I told you a little about her in a previous month’s post. She has visited me overseas in different settings, but this one takes the cake. For starters I am not the same Anna who left the States in January. I was able to bring Mom into my current life and share how I’ve grown and what God has been doing in my world. Before she arrived I had used words and pictures to tell about life on the Race. Seeing it through experiences, though, adds a much deeper dimension.
Time spent with Mom wasn’t the only awesome thing about PVT. For 8 months I have been traveling with my fellow racers. For 8 months I have seen their personalities and witnessed their quirks. I have heard them talk and watched them walk. For those 17 racers whose parents also came to PVT, greater understanding dawned as I watched their parents talk, walk, and smile in the same way. It was like watching doubles! I had heard stories of many of the parents through the testimonies of the racers. Now I got to see in real life the people who impacted my friends. Seeing them jump right in to this lifestyle with gusto was amazing. And seeing them walk into an unexpected and difficult ministry was even more amazing!
Throughout the week each of the racers shared a quick word about what we had learned/experienced so far on the race. It was our way of letting the other parents know who we are. And it was our way of giving glory to God for what He has done this year. At the end of the week, the parents also had a chance to share part of their testimony or how God had touched them during the week. Not a single person walked away from the week untouched. Myself included. The parents stepped up, poured out their hearts into the people we met, and joined us in ministry and prayer. The changes did not stop on Saturday when everyone left Manila. Parents left with dreams of how to continue partnering with the ministry and rejoicing at the fruit of our conversations.
