I am sitting in my hotel room at the end of a long day at launch for The World Race! It has “officially” started now. All eight of the September 2015 squads are here in Atlanta for a few days of last minute training before we head out on the field. It has been a little nuts with so many racers in one hotel, but we’ve also been given a whole lot of time to think about this last month.
Many racers will tell you one thing about this month between training camp and launch: it’s tough. And they’re right. One by one, during the whole month of August, my friends left home for college. I had to say a lot of really hard goodbyes to each of them. As they started their new lives, I felt somewhat stuck, ready to leave.
On the other hand, the concept of what it meant to leave home really started to hit me. When I signed up for the Race, I didn’t think much about that part. But after living the last 18 years of my life in one place wiht my family, I am finding that completely leaving all of that behind is much easier said than done.While I was still home, I tried to squeeze in all of the coffee dates and college visits I could.
The day I left for launch was really hard. Leaving my home (and my cats… I’m pathetic) was a tough thing for me to do. My family got to stick around for a few days here with me at Parent Launch, where they got some special training of their own. Having my family here with my squad in Atlanta felt like I had my feet in two separate rooms. My season of living with my parents was not quite over, but it didn’t feel like the Race has truly started yet.
It seems like the ending of a whole season of life, and it hurt to think that even upon returning, very little will remain completely unchanged. I know I am going to grow in a lot of ways this year, and I know those I’m leaving for this time will be different by the time I return.
Right now, I am essentially leaving to go. I am in sort of an in-between stage here at Launch. I’m realizing that in order to go on this journey God has called me to, there are some things He’s asking me to let go of. There are a lot of heart ties I’m going to have to loosen in order to fully step into what The Lord has for me in this season of serving on The World Race.
Today at lunch, I had to say my final goodbyes to my wonderful parents and sister, It was a lot harder than I’d anticipated. However, I know that this is where we need to be- that I need to go, and they need to stay. God has something right now for me overseas, and I know He’s got something just as amazing stateside for everyone I’ve had to say goodbye to.
In other news… I AM FULLY FUNDED!!! I am in awe of the Lord’s faithfulness and provision through this season of fundraising. I have learned so much about what it means to trust Him. Thank you to everyone that’s supported me and prayed for me.
Please be praying for my family and I as we get used to this season of living apart form each other. Pray also for my squad and I during these last few days of training, and for smooth and safe travels on Wednesday.
We will be staying in Bangkok for our first few days in Thailand, and then team Breath of Life will move two hours south to a YWAM base. I don’t know much about our ministry yet, but we’ve been told it involves evangelism and encouraging existing believers in Rayong, Thailand! It is surreal to think that I am actually doing this thing- it is nuts. Jesus really does like to take us on crazy adventures. I am ready and willing to walk with Him into this new phase of life.
“Jesus, take my all. Take my everything. I’ve counted up the cost, and You’re worth everything!” -The Cost, Rend Collective Experiment
