I’ve been home for about three weeks now and feel like I’ve really settled back into the rush of America and ‘normal life’. I took a bit of time to rest by painting, writing, and sleeping off the jet lag before jumping back into the hustle and bustle of things. After a week of adjusting to time zones and creative projects, I felt rested and ready to get into the swing of things. In the past two weeks I’ve had a few small adventures with friends and family, started a program that teaches writers how to navigate the publishing world, have reconnected into church and am looking to join a women’s Bible study soon, got a job running social media and redesigning a website for a local business, am looking at mission trips for down the road, and I’m gearing up for school in a few months! It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but it reminds me of all that can happen in just a few weeks…much like life on the World Race.
I was decorating my bookshelves and walls with the tangible memories I picked up this year and I ended up reading through the journals I toted around the world for a solid couple hours. I was flooded with the ‘warm and fuzzies’ reading about the travel days with my wonderful squad (that I miss oodles!), the last minute border crossing opportunities, friends made around the world, funny moments with flying cockroaches, ministry of all different types, and the little things that became normal like night markets and eight cups of coffee a day.
These past eight months have been something simply life changing and fulfilling for me. I’ve had tremendous growth in my faith, my relationship with God, and how I see Jesus in my life. I made some of the best friends and gained mentors that I love so dearly and I know love me. I tried loads of new things from food to what I came to consider normal (think squatty potty *jazz hands*). I pushed myself to further my knowledge of cultures, languages (I know a bit of a lot now!), and Christianity. I worked with religious leaders all over the world that demonstrated such dedication to the kingdom. Each day was wildly different, the statement ‘the days are long, but the months are short’ became a reality way too fast, and it was one of the most marvelous experiences of my life. I would never take it back and I’m eternally thankful for each moment, the people that supported me, and for everything I learned.
I’m rooting my squad on as they continue their journey and am continually praying for big things in their lives and the lives of the people they meet. I love all of you and am so happy to know each of the people I met this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
This will be my final blog on the WR page, but I will still be blogging on this site, so I hope you will follow me there! I’ll be sharing moments that I didn’t get a chance to write down while on the race, short stories and excerpts of chapters to books I’m working on, and a variety of other fun projects. Thank you again for all of the support and I hope to continue sharing stories with you!
All the love in the whole wide world,
Candace
