As this year comes to a close, I have had a lot of time to reflect on my time with the World Race. What a year it has been!
Let me make something perfectly clear: the World Race itself is not an adventure, although there have been adventurous moments. Yes, I hung out with elephants, explored the ancient temples of Angkor Wat and navigated the streets of Bangkok. I repelled down Table Mountain and watched the sunset from atop Lions Head. I went shark cage diving and on a real African safari. Tomorrow, I’m going volcano boarding in Nicaragua.
But the World Race? It’s just life. You live in a country for one or two or three months, and it becomes your normal. You eat dry cornflakes for the 10th morning in a row because that’s all your food budget allows. You take a “baby wipe shower” before you crawl into bed so you don’t get the Cambodian dirt all over your sleeping pad at night. You hang out with kids in Westlake and help them with their homework daily, just like you’ve been doing for the past five weeks, and it just feels like usual life. You become used to having to fill up a bucket with water every time you go to the bathroom so that you can flush the toilet when you’re finished. Most days on the World Race are just ministry. It is incredible how quickly it all just feels routine, rhythmic… normal.
This isn’t the trip of a lifetime, it is simply a radical, different lifestyle that God has called me to live for a year. I have a lot of life yet to live, and this is not going to be the best year of my life. However, in the 19ish years I’ve lived so far… It has been the craziest, hardest, strangest, most independent year yet. I have peace in the full confidence that this was exactly where God wanted me these nine months. I have learned and experienced more than I could have ever imagined… And in a different way than I could have imagined it to begin with.
The World Race is not the adventure of a lifetime. Life with JESUS is the adventure of a lifetime.
One of my favorite verses is John 10:10, where Jesus promises that life with Him is “life abundant” or “life to the full.” Walking in my relationship with Jesus has been the biggest thrill of my life. Nothing in this world can even compare.
However, I am thankful that God allowed this year to be full of some incredible experiences and the chance to see more of His beautiful handiwork that is this world. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Even if you’re not on what some would consider to be a “grand journey,” you can take hold of that full life He offers you! Walk in relationship with Him daily, moment by moment. He wants to use you in big ways. He may ask you to cross oceans, and He may ask you to stay put. Either way, get ready for the adventure of your eternity.
Nicaragua is great! We are still doing construction, and we are working to build our pastors house. We have fallen in love with our hosts here! I’m getting very tan and very good at moving mud (that’s right, it’s rainy season now). We don’t have much time left. Continue to pray for strength and wisdom and safety as we finish out our time here! Three more weeks. See ya soon, ATL.
Here’s to new seasons, new kinds of adventures, and more Jesus.
