Everyone has their expectations going into the race of what they think it will be like. But no matter what you try to imagine it will be like the true experience of it is quite different.
As I was lying awake last night at about 3am I kept thinking about all the things I thought the race was going to be…
Roughing it– in the middle of nowhere with no electricity, playing games, holding orphans, showers once a week, and internet maybe once a month
Sleeping Mats– if people can sleep on the dirt then me sleeping on a tiny mat for 11 months should be no big deal
Tents– great for privacy
Clothes– When would I ever want to look that cute so why would I bring more than 1 cute outfit?
Ministry– would be fantastic no matter what it was!
Teams– we’ll be best friends forever, and hopefully they never split us up
Feedback– we’ll all be willing to grow so it will be great
So I’m not saying that my expectations are incorrect because most of them are pretty accurate, experiencing them is just completely different. Here’s the reality of those things…
Roughing it– the roughest it’s been was in Kenya where we lived on a farm and had to walk for hours to visit elderly people. Our wonderful host family in Kenya preheated our bucket showers for us, but we've endured some pretty COLD showers on the race especially in Asia. Also Internet is always around and available even if you have to travel an hour to get there.
Sleeping Mats– My sleeping mat has been handy for a little more than 2 months on the race and I’ve been able to sleep on it pretty well but it’s not that comfy. We have had some comfortable beds on the race and some really nice house set-ups as well so sleeping hasn't been all that bad.
Tents– Hot and very small! But an ok getaway when it’s actually in use, I think I’ve only used mine for a month.
Clothes– apparently looking cute and put together is something you can crave after looking shabby for a few months. And all of a sudden your wardrobe starts to change with cheap foreign trends. But somehow you can never manage to replace the amazing pair of jeans that you brought and ripped in the 4th month.
Ministry– it turns out that moving bricks day after day for hours is not really that exciting. And preaching sermon after sermon when preaching is not your gift can get really tiresome. Being asked to sing every time your in church is okay until you run out of songs or start one way to high and it’s too late to go back.
Teams– There comes a point when change is good, and every team will only be what you make it.
Feedback– once in awhile you don’t want to grow anymore! I’ve grown a lot and I'm glad that I have, but a lot of my growth took time and those times were probably some of my lowest points on the race.
The race has made a big impact on my life in many ways, but it wasn’t what I imagined it would be. The only thing that has been correct is that I knew God would stretch me and mold me more into the lovely woman that He sees me as. God has been so good to me, and this trip has been worth all the days of running to the bathroom hoping to make it, every sweat drop in Asia and every plate of beans and tortilla’s. I will never regret this journey and the memories made, or friendships that have been built. Sometimes people wonder or ask; how will it get better than this? But I know that every year in my life it only gets better, God’s plans are always huge and awesome and there’s no way that this will be the best year of my life or the hardest. All I know is that the race has challenged me and strengthened my faith for whatever comes next. And whatever comes next is going to be an adventure because life in God’s will can never be boring or expected.
Take time to think outside the box.
