Before we leave for the Ukraine on August 8th, we have a bit more training in Atlanta, Georgia. In an effort to save money (and apparently increase the amount of adventure) I asked to road trip with this guy Flick and his dad. Flick is also from Michigan, headed on a different route (read: going to different countries with different people) that I met at training camp back in June.
Check out his blog https://taylorflickinger.theworldrace.org
Strangers
So I’ve known Flick for like a total of 6 days of my life- he kinda died a little bit at training camp and got real sick so went off to the doctor and rested up for some of it. And even though he rejected my idea of staying a castle Air Bnb (which I was only joking when I recommended and was way way out our price range), I had high hopes for this lil’ road trip. His dad, Pastor Tim, also has come along on the adventure and oh did I not realize how much I missed quality dad humor. Like eye roll level jokes and comments and it’s the best.
Hoped in a car with these two guys I barely knew, a whole bunch of road trip snacks and a desire to get to Launch, the name of the lil’ extra training in Georgia before we launch on the World Race. We celebrated ever “border” crossing like crossing into Ohio and into Kentucky., watched (well I watched in the back seat while Flick and his dad listened until Flick fell asleep) the Greatest Showman and we talked loads. Turns out they’re great and it’s been a top notch lovely adventure so far.
Flat Tires
Like even when we drive over a nail, in a traffic jam about a half hour from our hotel in Kentucky, at night and have to pull over to change the flat- it was a still a top notch stellar time. It took us a hot second and some serious googling to find the spare (turns out it can be under the front of the car- who knew?). Some serious team work later and we had a working spare that allowed us to inch along the rest of our little trek to the hotel.
Puking
Around 2 am, I got sick. Chilling in my own hotel room, doing that whole sleeping thing because wow what an adventure ahead and BAM not doing so great. I love running but so did not really love that sprint to the bathroom. There are theories but it was probably something I ate at some point. Doing a-ok now but wow did Jesus and I have a serious heart-to-heart in the early hours of the morning.
Was this worth it? Was following Jesus worth even this? What if this happened while I was on the race, would I still count it all worth it to follow Christ?
yeah.
I could lose all the contents of my stomach, all the contents of my bag (which is carefully packed and weighing under 45 lbs- hallelujah), I could lose it all and Christ and following him with my whole life would still be worth it.
Why?
He is worthy of all praise and all honor. He willingly died on my behalf, surrender his precious and valuable life so that I might have an opportunity to be reunited with God, my sins forgiven. Mercy boggles my mind. Grace boggles my mind. This kind of love that pursues me and relentlessly is just there… boggles my mind. I don’t know if I ever want to escape this space of total awe of my Creator.
There’s this song, ( If… by Beautiful Eulogy) that goes:
What’s concealed in the heart of having
is revealed in the losing of things
And I can’t even imagine
the sting that kind of pain brings
I would never blame you for evil
even if you caused me pain
I came into this world with nothing
and when I die it’ll be the same
I will praise your name
in the giving and taking away.
So that’s a little update of life and the adventure I’m currently on. We’re leaving in a hour to drive the rest of the way to Atlanta where I’ll meet up with my friends, my squad, my team going to the same countries and places as me and receive a bit more training.
I will praise your name in the giving and taking away,
Caitlyn Buell
