As the World Race comes to an end and we prepare for re-entry, mixed emotions and thoughts about our futures can be a constant looming cloud.
There are parts of the Race that I won´t miss at all, like intestinal worms, constant diarrhea, wierd insect bites that cause scarring, dirty broken glass on the side of the roads that lead to stitches, tick bite fever, tenting for months, long drops, etc…Then of course there are parts of the Race that I will desperately miss, like meeting new people from different cultures every month, orphans climbing into my lap for comfort, children´s laughter filling the silence, seeing people fall to their knees out of desperation for the Lord, intimate friendships of fellow World Racers and friendships from those we have met around the world, just to mention a few.
The World Race has become life for us. At this point, it´s not a trip and it´s not an adventure. It´s now a way of life. After 10 months of living this crazy intense spiritual close knit life, our definitions of life, ministry, authority in Christ, friendship, love, fear and even God have changed and evolved. Walls have been broken down, deliverances have occured, hearts have loved more then ever before, hearts have broken repeatedly, comfort levels were stretched and fears faced. All of this has occured so that we could become the people God created each of us to be.
The scary part of this is now the World Race ends and life truly begins. The World Race isn´t an ending to our ministry, it is hopefully a beginning to an amazing journey that God has before us.
Over the last few months we have had an opportuinity to find our callings and giftings and then step into them. As of May 1, 2008, what we have learned on the Race will become our past and serve us as we begin a new life with new prespectives, new dreams and new hopes.
As scary as it was to `give up our lives´ to come on the Race, it is even more scary to leave. So many of us don´t know what we´re doing and of those who do, some aren´t sure it it´s right.
From June 4, 2007 to April 30, 2008 my dreams and hopes have almost completely changed. I have no idea what my life will be like in 6 months or even 6 weeks and that´s okay. God knows and He´ll direct my path. Do I like not knowing where I´ll be or what I´ll be doing? Hmmm…No! But that´s where trust and faith come in.
To think that in almost 11 months God took me to 13 countries, introduced me to the most amazing people, created friendships with people across the globe and allowed me to be a part of leading people to the Truth and even smuggle Bibles and Sunday School supplies into a closed country just stuns me. I´m not worthy of these last 11 months, but for some reason God allowed me to experience His love for me and the nations.
I can´t believe how blessed I have been. Before turning 30, I have completed so many of my life goals. Sometimes all of this can be overwhelming, if He has allowed such amazing things to happen already in my life, what does He have in mind for my future and will I be able to step into His plans?
My prayer for myself and all the other World Racers is that none of us will ever settle for what is easy and attainable but instead step into the future that God has for us. And as our lives will all take very different turns in the next few days, I thank God for these past 11 months!
