Team changes are a normal thing on the World Race. Honestly, I can see the good that comes from team changes but that doesn’t make them any easier. It really helps our personal growth to be around different personalities, get to know different people and to be around new people that help you grow and be stretched.
So for our final team changes at the end of month 8 in Thailand, I was nervous because I knew whomever they put me on a team with would be who I ended the last 3 months of the World Race with. So when I first saw my new teammates listed on a piece of paper, I was a little nervous but mostly excited. However, then we had our first team outing…
We were in Hua Hin, Thailand, so we hopped in a tuk tuk and headed to the beach. As we were riding along, I was nonstop talking about the beach, a car I saw on the road, and other things. Then I noticed when I stopped talking the tuk tuk was silent. I looked around and everyone was just sitting quietly looking around various places. Then I thought to myself “Well he is an introvert, she’s an introvert, he’s an… oh my goodness, am I the only extrovert?” Then I yelled to the whole team, “AM I THE ONLY EXTROVERT?” It was still silent, everyone looked around at each other, nodded their heads with questionable faces, and we realized that in fact, I was the only extrovert on a 6 person team. I panicked in that moment. My eyes even welled up a bit and I tried to hide the 2 tears that ran down my face.
On the World Race I have realized how much of an extrovert I truly am. I get so much joy and energy from being around other people. Before the Race, I did not even fully understand the concept of being an introvert or extrovert. But on the Race I have learned a lot, especially from the introverts. I don’t think I ever even believed introverts actually existed. But since day one of the Race I have been hearing how introverts would have a hard time on the Race constantly being around people and not having any time to themselves. Teammates would always say, “I need my introvert time.” And go sit by themselves and do whatever introverts do for a while.
But this day on the beach a couple people on my new team told me “If you ever need some extrovert time just tell me and we can hang out or something.” WHAT?!?! EXTROVERT time? The whole introvert/extrovert spectrum was getting flipped on its head. All Race long it had been, ‘That person needs their ALONE time so give them space’ and now it’s the exact opposite. I could not believe it!
So obviously I was really nervous for my three months ahead. Then, that night at our all-squad worship, we sang a couple perfect songs that God really spoke to me through. One is called “The More I Seek You” by Kari Jobe and the chorus says, “I want to sit at your feet, drink from the cup in your hands, lay back against you and breathe, feel your heart beat. This love is so deep, it’s more then I can stand, I melt in your peace, it’s overwhelming.” Then we sang “Heart of Worship” by Jeff Johnson that says, “I’m coming back to the heart of worship and its all about you, its all about you Jesus. I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it, when its all about you, its all about you Jesus.”
To me these songs were just reminding me that the most important thing in my life is Jesus and my relationship with Him. It doesn’t matter who is on my team and whether they are introverts or extroverts. That night I realized God put me on this team of introverts for a reason. I needed to take a step back from always wanting and needing to be around other people and start being satisfied and energized by spending time alone and with God. This night gave me such a peace and excitement for the next three months.
Since then I have had great introvert times where I have processed through my months on the Race, studied scripture, thought about life after the Race, and just been content being by myself.
So thank you Team Chadash for opening my eyes to how great introvert time can be. (Although, I am still an extreme extrovert and do not see that changing any time soon!)
