The line of itchy mosquito bites up your arm. The dryer sheets tucked between the same four shirts that you rotate wearing. The dirty bus with no A/C and just enough leg room to shove your backpack in. The two inches of air in your sleeping pad between your body and the floor you sleep on each night. The fifth pb&j sandwich you’ve eaten that week, and it’s only Wednesday. The lonely nights where you scroll nostalgically through old photos of home on your phone.
Perspective is a funny thing. So is social media. Humans loooove to play the comparison game — I habitually do it on a daily basis! We view someone else’s highlight reel as if it’s what we think their day to day life actually looks like.
The World Race is not a glamorous lifestyle. I almost cry whenever we get the rare chance to sleep in an actual, comfortable bed. Being given ice water in the middle of the scorching hot day in Haiti is like winning the lottery. Sunburned corneas while living in the African Bush is no fun. And don’t even get me started on the odor of a nasty squatty potty in India…
Many people think that the World Race is just a support-raised adventure trip to multiple countries, trying new, exciting things, and occasionally sprinkling some Jesus into the mix. I get it. Look up the hashtag #11n11 and you’ll be greeted with photos of girls posing in front of a beautiful mountain range, someone bungee jumping or eating an exotic food, people playing with kids or petting animals, etc. What you won’t see are photos of sleep-deprived people who have been on and off buses and airplanes for the past 48 hours, or the container of freezing water that will be used to take a bucket shower, or the tuk tuk driver who ripped off a group of Americans by overcharging them. Social media paints a nice, perfect picture of what life on the Race must be like. “Wow, I’m so jealous you’re in Africa!” “You’re living the DREAM right now, appreciate every moment of it!” “I wish I could do what you’re doing!” These are common messages that people back home send me. Once again, I get it. And I agree that I’m experiencing a crazy, memorable, and blessed adventure right now. But I also want to shed some light on the reality of life on the World Race.
It can be hard and exhausting. Changing up your routine every month, constantly packing and unpacking your belongings each time you move to a new location, and trying to maintain a somewhat normal daily schedule is burdensome! After a long day of kids ministry or village evangelism, all you want to do is sprawl out on a couch and watch a movie — but nope, then it’s time to make dinner, have team time, take a shower, etc. And even then, at the end of the day, you don’t really have a “home” to call your own and to find the rest you’re desiring and needing. It’s month 8 for my squad right now and honestly a lot of us are burnt out. We’re just tired. It becomes draining constantly pouring into others day after day, and I’m at the point where I just want someone to pour into me! It seems like no matter how much sleep I get, I’m in a constant state of exhaustion. I’m craving being at my church back at home where the sermons are preached in a language I can understand. It’s draining getting constantly asked to pray over people, to share a testimony, and to always be ready to serve others. Language barriers are frustrating, getting close to your ministry hosts and friends in each country and then having to say goodbye gets sadder every month, and frequently changing up the currency/culture/language you learn every few weeks gets confusing.
Living in community can be difficult. I haven’t had a bedroom or bathroom to myself in 8 months. We are surrounded by our teammates literally 24/7. Instagram will show you the photos of teams hugging and smiling with one another, but it won’t show you our irritated faces when people don’t clean up after themselves in the kitchen or us crying in the bathroom because it’s the only place we can be alone. Ironically, even when living in community all day every day, it can also be lonely. I can’t hug my mom. I can only talk to my best friend through Facetime. My constant community here is chosen for me and I don’t have the choice of who to spend time with. When I wake up, someone is next to me in the room (or tent). When I’m having quiet time with Jesus, someone else is sitting near me. When I’m walking through town, someone is right there alongside me. I love my squad, don’t get me wrong, but man, oh man, do I sometimes just want a break from them.
The World Race is not always exciting and adventurous. Sure, we love to experience the fun, touristy things in the countries we travel to and say yes to opportunities like paragliding, snorkeling, and riding elephants. But honestly many days are pretty mundane and boring. There have been times where our ministry/living situation is in a gated compound and days would pass before we’d be out in the community. Many off days are spent blogging/journaling in a coffee shop, we are limited in our exploring due to lack of our own transportation, and sometimes the most fun thing that happens that day is having a game night with your team.
Instagram won’t show you photos of me getting an IV in a clinic in Zambia due to an awful stomach bug I caught. It won’t show you photos of an angry teammate screaming at your team. You won’t see photos of the fly-infested kitchen we had to cook in in Africa or us saying no to the many marriage proposals creepy men keep asking us. I don’t say all of this to sound negative or ungrateful, but to simply reveal the truth of all aspects of the Race. Being on the World Race is not comfortable, not luxurious, and is definitely not a vacation.
Despite all of this, I wouldn’t trade this experience or lifestyle for anything. I have never felt so alive, purposeful, intentional, and fulfilled before like I do on the Race. I will endure 10 hour hot and bumpy bus rides, getting my hair pulled out by a swarm of children surrounding me, having diarrhea multiple times a month, and sharing a room with too many girls. Because in return, I’m seeing the lost people around the world turn to Jesus. I’m witnessing orphans being loved, homeless being cared for, children being taught about God, and the elderly receiving Bibles for the first time. I’m watching people of other religions accept Christ, lukewarm Christians being fired up and rekindling their faith, and unbelievers curiously asking questions and searching for the Truth. It’s the little moments like these that make it all worth it.
Hebrews 12:1-2, “Let us run with perseverance the Race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
