Why the World Race?
If anybody knows me they know I have a way with wandering, whether it’s to state to state or airplane to airplane. The past two years I’ve been moving quite frequently. It’s comfortable and something I thoroughly enjoy. I have noticed though that this didn’t just come about two years ago. A lot of this came from when I was younger. My family moved four times for the first 12 years of my life. Not just new houses but new cities. I changed schools in 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade and 5th grade. I had to adjust to new teachers, friends and neighborhoods. I HATED it growing up but I look back on it now with great joy and thankfulness that I got to experience change at such a young age. I never knew that change would describe me yet again in my early adult life but I am thankful that it is something so comfortable to me.
With all this said since living in Boulder City, NV for almost the last 12 years (with the exclusion of college and a missions program) I have finally been able call a place home. Boulder City has shaped me into the woman I am today. I am thankful for this small town and the lovely people that reside in it. I have some of the longest friendships and awesome memories from this town that will stay with me forever. But as life happens and we get older we move on from our land of comfort. We take jobs. We move across the country. We start families. For me, I am graduating college. The restless feeling and that big question has been in my thoughts, “What are you going to do after school?” The thought of it scares me but I am so thankful that I finally have an answer.
I returned home from Uganda this last summer with my mom. It was a three-week trip and it was extremely hard to leave. The relationships and family I have made in Uganda is one of the most wonderful blessings in my life. I am thankful for beautiful souls on the other side of the world praying for me on a daily basis. I am truly blessed.
On this last trip, I met some more awesome people and my love for Uganda grew. I wanted to go back after I graduated, work with a few non-profits and be in the land I love. So you might be thinking, “then why the World Race?” Well, remember that change that I was ranting and raving about up above? That change needs to happen yet again for me. I am restless and ready for something different and challenging. I love Uganda and it challenges me but I have grown to be comfortable and can easily fall back into running my own will while there. I am striving for a change that I need God to direct me everyday, a change hat I need His presence in the morning to get through the day. Frankly, it’s much easier to feel God when you need Him rather then when you just want to. (at least for me) I plan to make this preparation for the Race about that and to be grounded in His promises through out this journey of life.
All in all, I have chosen to go on the World Race. I have chosen to take that leap into the scary unknown. I have chosen to leave my world of comfort. I have chosen to leave the friends and family I love, not only in the United States but the ones across the world in Uganda. It terrifies me, to be honest. I have cried over it 6 times since being accepted (not exaggerating) and will continue to struggle with the thought of not seeing people for so long. But I know that God is near and present. I have felt His peace in this decision and know it’s going to be rough but it’s worth it. I am excited to see the person I am on the other side of this and see the impact that this close community and constant change has on me. I am excited to choose something that I am not so sure of rather than something I know all too well. I am excited to be changed & to change. I am willing and ready for this opportunity. Will you join me? Please contact me for any more questions! Love you all.
Courtney
