The World Race is not only a sacrifice for the people doing it, but also their close friends and family. One of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make was if this journey would be worth everything I would be giving up. I was leaving life changes, milestones, joys, sadness, and much more.
i Asked Cady to write from her perspective how this journey had been for her… and this is what she wrote 🙂
Courtney asked me if I would be interested in writing about what it was like for me to have my best friend on the World Race for 9 months, so I’m going to try to put into words all the feelings and emotions I’ve experienced over the past 8 months. When she first left, it never hit me right away that I wouldn’t be seeing Courtney for the next 9 months. I definitely knew she would be gone, but I didn’t understand what that was going to look like for me and for our friendship. I had spent the months leading up to her departure trying to mentally prepare myself, and also form a game plan with her of how we were going to keep up with each other’s lives. After she had been out of the states for a while, any text or call from her was like Christmas. I always looked forward to hearing her many stories and adventures and crazy things she was doing. Throughout the many months, there would be so many more of these stories shared from her, but the reality of missions and just the reality of life, is that there are hard things too. Courtney would text or call me asking for prayer for many different things. From prayer for a teammate, someone they met during ministry, or the children they are with, to prayer for herself and the spiritual warfare she was experiencing personally. It often would be things I could never understand, but I knew that God had a plan and had her and her teammates in His hand.
Very quickly I realized how hard it is not having my best friend living 20 minutes away. Before she left, there were nights I would bawl my eyes out because I was terrified of not having anyone else to confide in while she was thousands of miles away. Courtney had been (and still is) my closest and dearest friend for the past several years. I had no idea how I could go through my second year of college without her being there through it all. But we serve a good, good God. He provided so many people in my life this year to not take the place of Courtney, but to love and take care of me, and be genuine friends while she was away. One of the biggest things I wish she was here for was to meet my boyfriend. Her and I would spend hours in my room talking about our future boyfriends and husbands. I have never been in a relationship and the last thing I was expecting was to start one when my best friend was thousands of miles away. I wanted her to know him and like him and tell me she approved, but that was so hard with her being gone on the World Race. Thankfully, technology has provided a way for me to keep in contact with her and I could FaceTime her a couple times so she could “meet” my boyfriend…and she could creep on him via social media.
Although it’s been hard having Courtney gone for so long, I have loved being here in the states supporting her and cheering her on. I’ve been here for her along the way and she has for me. Even with the ups and downs that this year has brought us, we have been able to be there for one another. Courtney is the greatest friend I have ever had and I am beyond proud of her for following God’s calling for her life and going on this trip. She has grown so, so much in her faith since the first time we became friends. I’m so blessed by her friendship and I’m SOO ready for her to be home! But in the meantime, stay strong Court, keep listening and following God, and keep on loving those around you like you do best! I love you and I can’t wait to see you! – Cady Jones
