Coming on the World Race was a huge decision. It’s a big commitment people! I had to decide if I wanted to leave my life for eleven months, my family, my friends, my school, my job, and my church to go live out Acts 1:8: to be “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. We were to serve the least of these in eleven countries around the world, and to bring the light and love of Jesus to anyone and everyone who needs it. Making this decision wasn’t easy. I sat with the Lord and asked Him if this was the right path.
I remember driving down San Vicente on my way to work one morning, and asking the Lord to give me a yes or no to go on the World Race. I wanted to know for sure if this is what I was supposed to do. I was getting frustrated because I didn’t get the clean, black and white answer of a definite yes or a definite no. I know the Lord can give us those black and white answers that we would all love to hear but so many times He gives us the freedom to choose and He uses our decisions for His glory.
While on the World Race, I have seen and worked with amazing organizations around the world. In Serbia we partnered with a local church to reach out to the young adults in the city. In Romania we worked with Hope Church, where they were pouring into their community and showing them the Lord’s love through acts of service. In Bulgaria we worked with missionaries who have been there for almost eighteen years, reaching out to women stuck in prostitution, the youth, and the Roma (gypsy) community. We partnered with an international church in Kosovo and worked at the church and the preschool Qendra Shega. In Zambia we handed out flyers to encourage invite people to come to the church and to pray for people. We worked with Kingdom City Church in Botswana, working with their youth and their social media department. In Namibia, we partnered with two South African missionaries, working with preschools in the area. We were Unsung Heros in Malaysia, which means we were able to find and meet churches who are on fire for the Lord to partner with Adventures in Missions. Thailand broke my heart when I met the girls from Sending Hope International, and the staff there. We taught English at New Hope School in Cambodia. Even though I was so sick for most of the month, I still experienced the love and support that the teachers have for their students. And finally ending in Vietnam, we worked with an amazing English school, getting to know the family that started it, and being able to invest in the staff there. These schools, churches, and missionaries are so on fire for the Lord, and the want to see their nation thrive and become Christian nations.
So where does that leave me? Eleven months later, fourteen countries, so many foods, four different teams, sitting on a bus in Vietnam, going to final debrief…
“Are you ready to go home Catie?”
Now that’s the big question of the hour. If you asked me that last month, I would’ve said yes, heck I would’ve been so excited to get on a plane and go home to comfort (shout out to strep throat). But, if you ask me today, now that it’s right in front of me, like five days in front of me, I am still excited. I cannot wait to see my family and hug them and talk to them without my wifi cutting out.
But I’m also sad to leave this season of my life that is the World Race. Sad to finally say goodbye to all the faces and organizations that loved us crazy world racers so well. But I don’t think it’s the last time I’ll see these faces. I know I’ll see them in Heaven (PARTAY!), but I also don’t think I’m done with them yet here on earth.
I’m still sitting with the Lord on what that looks like, but instead of the yes or no I was looking for before the race, I’m praying for opportunities and that I will recognize those opportunities when they are in front of me. My friend and teammate Hannah Reynolds talked to me about the idea of the Lord using our dreams and desires like sailboats (click here to read her blog). There are several different boats I can choose to sail on. They will all take me out to sea, and the Father is going to use whatever boat I choose to sail on, whether that’s going back to Kosovo, Malaysia, Vietnam, or staying in the US. I just have to say yes and walk through the door that’s been opened.
