Carmen asked me awhile back to write a blog. There was so much running around in my head that it was hard to narrow down my thoughts, so this is my feeble attempt to get some of those rambling thoughts down in writing. Let me clarify before I get started that I am not a writer and I would never claim to be a writer, but I have so thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the blogs this year from so many of the racers & keeping up with so many of them. They have been such an inspiration to me.
What a year this has been! I seriously can not believe that our racers will be back on american soil in just a few short days!
When Carmen first shared with us that she was thinking about & praying about going on the World Race, I said what exactly is that? 🙂 She explained it a bit, but once she said ’11 months’, I kinda zoned out and just asked for the website so I could look it up on my own! I then spent some time reading all about it and reading about the AIM organization. I thought that this World Race thing sounded like a really cool idea, but I wasn’t sure that it was for Carmen. I knew she was praying about it and I told her that I would join her and pray about it too. She was 24 at this time, getting ready to turn 25 & I trusted her decision making process. During this time though I was still reading about all the different routes to choose from & all the countries she could be going to as well as all the money each racer had to raise to be able to launch into this ‘trip’ known as the World Race & again my thoughts were, just not sure this is really what God has for Carmen at this time. 🙂
So, I just kept quiet & prayed. Next thing I knew, she was telling us that she had applied and had chosen the route that she felt the Lord was leading her toward. My reaction was kinda like, really? you’re really gonna do this year long ‘race thing’? Her close friend Abby was also applying for August launch, but choosing a different route. So I knew at that moment that Carmen was feeling led to say yes to the WR & who am I to question what she knew the Lord was calling her to!
Through all my prayers, I had complete peace & I knew God had a special plan for her throughout this year long journey. Even though it’s 11 countries in 11 months, let’s be honest, with training camp & all the preparation before launch, it’s really a year long journey or more.
As she began to share her story with friends & family, her fundraising got underway. I saw her step out in faith and be bold when she shared with people about where the Lord was leading her & how He was preparing her for such a time as this! My eyes fill with tears even today as I think of the amazing year she has experienced & the fellow racers/teams/friends/community she has experienced it all with! Incredible is about all I can say!
The peace I felt never wavered. I knew this was where He was taking her for this season of her life. When friends & family would ask me, ( and I did get asked this many times), how I felt about Carmen leaving for a year and that she would be in so many unknown places, I just kept saying: She has sought the Lord on this and if she is seeking & and He is leading, how can I want anything else for her? My prayer for all 3 of our children since they were babies has always been for them to seek the Lord in all that they do and to grow in Him always. So Yes, I was at peace with this whole Amazing Race journey. That is not a typo: I know the amazing race & the world race are 2 completely different journeys, but if you ask me, this year has truly been the ‘Real’ Amazing Race! It has been so so much more than a ‘trip’ or an ‘adventure’. It has been a life changing year for our racers!
To hear the stories & to read the blogs & see the pictures & view the videos, I would sit at my computer in tears and just weep in awe of what our God was & is doing around the world in & through our racers. They have been involved in so many different ministries whether they were in the city, or a remote village, or even the jungle, they were touching lives & being touched all at the same time by the people they were serving, living with, ministering to, worshiping with, praying for, or just meeting along the way. God has gone before them every step of the way & walked alongside them on this amazing journey. He brought so many people into their lives this year just travelling along the same path. I fully believe they have all been such divine appointments set up by our loving heavenly Father! Praise Him!
We had the privilege of going on Carmen’s PVT to Rwanda in February & share just a glimpse of what these last 11 months have been like for these racers & what a powerful time it was for me. To meet these amazing young people who Carmen has been growing with & serving along side throughout this last year was unbelievable & then to meet and share time with their precious parents from all over was just an added treat! The cherry on top was meeting so many wonderful people from Rwanda and hearing their incredible life stories! It was a trip I will never forget!
This has been a year of growth for our racers for sure, but I also feel like many of us parents have had a year of stretching & growing as well. Growth is a beautiful thing. It’s not always easy while going through the growing pains, but I am so thankful for what our Lord has shown me this year. I am thankful for all the parents that have shared this journey with me I am thankful for the parent FB page. It has been so comforting to know that there are other parents asking the same questions and having similar thoughts and emotions. We have been able to pray together, pray for one another, encourage each other, & just stay connected throughout this incredible journey. What a blessing that has been. I also want to thank the entire organization of AIM & their staff for all they do to prepare our racers and to stay on top of all of the many climates, riots, protests, dangers, political uneasiness, etc…. in all of the countries before our racers even get to their next destination.
And even with all of their help, some of the best stories come from their long travel days! 🙂
This will be a year full of God sized memories for our racers for sure, but we parents will have our own memories of this year & I will treasure them in my heart always! I pray God will continue to lead you & guide you W squad as this season ends & the next wonderful season begins!
I love you Carmen Hope & I can’t wait to hug you in just a little over a week!!! 🙂
Love, Mom
