It was a year ago this month (February) that I got accepted on the race and realized that this trip was about to become my reality…
And It’s true what people write, I wouldn’t have believed it that this is what my life would be.
The race, it’s not what you expect; it isn’t always the cool Instagram picture (actually less often then not), it’s not always your favorite ministry and it’s certainty not all about being comfortable and clean. Surprisingly, I’m so glad it isn’t. Because you know what… it’s long crammed van rides, with no foot space or A/c. It’s the boys listening to music and dancing in the crammed space. It’s only having each other and God that’s put the biggest smiles on my face. It’s conversations at dinner and water bottle water fights at night that made me laugh harder than I have before. It’s jumping off bridges because you’ll only ever be in that moment once. It’s complaining about bugs for five minutes and then being told you have to say five positive things that make you thankful. It’s letting little kids climb you like a jungle gym and hugging them tight to show them they are loved, despite what they feel at home. It’s picking up rocks in a field all day so the school can put in a field for the kids. It’s dying to self-daily in community living and deciding you choose to love first and be annoyed last. The race isn’t easy. It isn’t some magical real life fairy tale. It’s real life, dirty community living. Where everyone see’s you at your worst and probably never see’s you at you absolute best (in America standards).
But it’s a beautiful thing. A time that lets you break down, build up and realize what God calls us to. He calls us to a life with Him. He calls us to adventure. To stepping out of our comfort zones To turn to him when we’re so dry that we have no other place to go than to him to fill us up.
Something I’ve been going through these past few months is being called to a life that isn’t the “norm”. Doing two years of college and then taking a gap year defiantly isn’t normal. Desiring to live in a third world country hundreds of miles away from home isn’t normal either. God has placed a passion for a life completely opposite of what the world says I should do and it’s a scary thing. With every moment I doubt, he has reminded me that were not on this earth to please ourselves or to look good and preform well. We are here to share the gospel, do his work and further his kingdom. We are his vessels that he desires to use.
That’s what I signed up for when I said “yes” to the race- when I said yes to falling in love with Haiti- when I said yes to God showing me how to love people like he does. I agreed to an unconventional life, despite what the world’s expectations of me are.
You know that tug you feel on your heart to do something? Or that passion you feel every time you see a certain thing? Something you can’t avoid. That’s God. He’s calling you out of your comfort zone, out of the place you’ve built on your own, into a new place where he can use those passions and bring forth his kingdom.
I challenge you this week, step out in faith. When you feel the tug or the urge, whether it’s something small like going to talk to someone, or big like taking that trip or joining a group. Do it! And watch God use that as a way into your life to make it more than you could ever imagine.
Who knows?! A year from now you could be living with orphans in Cambodia or teaching English in Thailand! You could be building schools in South Africa or playing soccer with kids in the Shantytowns!
The decision a year ago to say “yes” to that tug on my heart has lead me on one of the greatest spiritual journeys of my life.
Now it’s your turn. Just say yes!
