The World Race involves a whole lot of waiting! You submit your application and then have to wait to get accepted. You get accepted then you have to wait before they set up your blog so you can start fundraising. You get your blog and then you have to wait for people to give. You see pictures of your squad but you have to wait until training camp to meet them. You go through training camp and then you have to wait to go to Atlanta. You FINALLY get to Atlanta and you have to wait before you go to the airport and board that first flight.
That whole time, I’m thinking, I’m just ready to go!!!
“Unfortunately” even after I board that first flight and get to that first country, I will still have times where it’s a whole lot of waiting. And when I get back home, it will involve more waiting. Life just has a lot of times where I will be waiting.
It’s easy to get frustrated in those periods. It’s easy to get impatient. It’s easy to sit around and waste time. It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to doubt that God is present and working
But He is!
When I was waiting to get accepted to the World Race, He was there. He was using that time to teach me patience. When I was waiting for people to donate, He was there. He was using that time to teach me trust in Him. While I have been waiting in Atlanta to board my flight to El Salvador and officially be on the World Race, He has been here. He has used this time to teach me more about evangelism and studying His word. He has used this time to teach me that I am weak in the area of intimacy with Him. He has used this time to help me grow in community, especially with my team. He has used this time to teach me that I am not equipped for the Race; I am not prepared (But He is, and I have Him dwelling within me!).
As hard as it is, I have to embrace those moments where I am just waiting. I have to appreciate those moments. I have to press into those moments. Because, He is present and He is working, even if I don’t realize it right then. He is in the waiting.
Updates:
I am officially boarding my first flight in just a few hours! I will be leaving the hotel at 1:30 am and my flight leaves at 7:something am. I am super pumped!!!!!
I am still fundraising. I have about $6,000 more to raise before November 30th. My hope is that I can be fully funded by the end of month 1. Please consider donating!!!
God Bless,
Chelsea
