With only one more day before we fly to Uganda, World Race has encouraged us to take some time before we leave and write a blog to our post-race selves. So here it is…
Dear Post-Race Ashley,
Can you believe that it has already been 11 months and you are now back home!? Time really does fly.
First and foremost, I hope that you have grown deeper in your faith than ever before. I hope that you have learned what it means to allow the spirit to lead you to where your “trust is without borders”. As you enter back into the American culture you left behind, I hope that you do not forget all that the Lord has taught you this year. I hope you continue to carve out time in your day for Him, and that you constantly pursue a deeper relationship. I hope that you have found comfort and confidence in telling people about Christ and that you continue to do so in the States.
I hope now that this year is over that you can celebrate what God has done in your life and be thankful for all the new relationships you built. At the same time, I hope you are not too caught up in the World Race that you can’t re-adjust back into the States. God may call you to go abroad again, where there is obvious poverty, orphans, and needs for the Lord, but He may not. So, as you return, do not forget how much the Lord needs His people in the United States as well.
As you begin to figure out what comes after the race, I hope that you choose to let this mission trip to not only transform your year, but the rest of your life. I hope that you will be open to whatever God has in store for you next. I know when you left that you thought you’d come back, live in MN and work an IT job, most likely in the corporate world. If God calls you there, that is awesome, but if He does not, I hope that you are ready to listen and go where He calls you next.
Just because you are off the race and leaving an environment where it is easy to make time for the Lord everyday and see Him present in your life, please do not stop seeking that. God is present every where you go. He will still call you to talk to strangers and push you to be a light in the darkness no matter where you are next. You had a lot of free time on the race to process things, spend time with God and work on community, but now that you are home, there will be a lot more distractions and that free time will slowly decrease. Do not fill up the bit of free time you have by increasing your time on Facebook or watching TV shows that you missed over the past year. God wants to have an intimate relationship with you, so as you adjust back into being home, do NOT forget that.
Welcome home!
Love,
Pre-Race Ashley
