For me thus far:(And tips for future World Racers)
•You have more gas than you ever thought possible
•You poop way too much
•The food is so delicious you don’t want to turn it down so you just eat it and pay the consequence later
•You’re surrounded by your new family 24/7 -which is beautiful and new for me.
•Sometimes you can go weeks without doing laundry and you just kinda wing it
•Your eyes are opened to a whole new world & you realize how small you really are but how big God thinks of you
•Your heart is affected in ways you prolly wouldn’t of noticed before doing this (If you’re a first time missioner like me)
•You grow in a way with God that probably wouldn’t have happened before coming
•You stress about how different your future is probably gonna look because you know you can’t go back to the same life after this (it’s not okay to stress, I’m still learning that.. )
•You wonder how everyone else has money to do everything and you barely have money to go out to eat. (I’m not envious& I’m happy they have the funds to do such things) for sake of my moms sanity, let me clarify… We are allotted money to eat so we cook and eat in. I just meant for like extra excursions and going out to eat for pricier dinners.
•If you have to say no to a few adventure days, esta bien, that’s not why you’re here. It’s okay to go, and it’s okay to stay behind as well.
•Don’t go shopping in the first few months, it’s unnecessary and can totally be done in the last few months. You’ll thank yourself later (this is advice I didn’t take but wish I had)
•Bring a water bottle!! (More than 1)
•You get to sit down and have a “family meal” every night with your team usually.. definitely a big plus and it feels like home
•There are going to be days when you miss home, and that’s okay. Don’t become so overwhelmed by it that you feel you have to talk to your family everyday. It defeats the purpose of being here. I promise, you’re not missing out on anything and if it’s urgent you’ll be contacted.
•I worry about getting back home and going through all the changes I’ll go through and nobody will understand or care and it’ll make me revert back to old ways. (Also know it’s not okay to worry.. I’m still struggling with that)
•It’s crazy to see Gods works on a daily, I want more of that. Here and at home.
•Love is infinitely small and infinitely big. There are so many things we can do to brighten a persons day. Choose to be a light.
•Journaling has always been something I’ve liked to do… I encourage you to begin now. No matter where you are. Write down your prayers, your desires, your struggles and battles. It’s beautiful to have some to look back on to witness how God answered so specifically and how He delivered you.
•Traveling the world is definitely a plus, I suggest to bring compression socks or you may have cankles the size of your head. (I did not bring these and mine swell TERRIBLY)
•Don’t bring clothes/stuff that you never use back home.
•I’ve been in awe of places I’ve been and places I’ll continue to go. Absolute awe. Sometimes I feel like I’m dreaming. Sometimes I ask “Am I really doing this?” “Is this my life??”
•It’s been such a crazy beautiful ride thus far that I can’t imagine it getting better. But everytime I say that, God shows me something that tops it!
•Press into the hard stuff, I encourage you to choose vulnerability. It’s okay to struggle, it’s okay to not be okay. Even if it seems like everyone else is on top of the mountain and you’re in the valley. That’s okay. God has us each in different seasons for a reason.
•Share your testimony, share your story. There’s freedom in it and there’s parts of your story that can help bring healing to others and your story can touch others that other testimonies never could. So be bold and be free in that. People won’t run after hearing it.
•I’ve been blessed with really good sleeping situations this far. I’ve been indoors and have had a bed but I say bring your tent. Ya never know.
•Bring a good book(s) to read. You’ll thank yourself later.
•Be intentional about talking to the Lord and about listening to what He has to say.
•Choose Joy in the midst of the hard stuff
•You’ll never regret being vulnerable
•This is not going to be the best time of your life, God has way more ahead. This is only the beginning.
•Write letters to yourself about what you’re going through and experiencing & about what you’re praying into specifically.
•Live Missionally everyday. Even on off and adventure days. Even when you’re not at ministry. It shouldn’t look any different.
•Be an advocate for doing ATL(ask the Lord) if you’re ministry doesn’t have much for you to do.
•This is something I’m beyond thankful that I said yes too. I am so looking forward to what God has over the next 8 months and lifetime.
•Keep fighting for the greater you. The YOU that God intended. The YOU that He created you to be.
•Be in love with the YOU that you are now. The YOU that you’ll be later, and the YOU that you were. God loves them all the same. He just has more for you if you’re willing.
•Even if you’re not called to do this specifically, we’re all called to go. Yo love missionally and you can do that at home and abroad. We’re called to share Gods love to the nations… what does that look like for you specifically? Ask God, He will show you!
•Be a light, wherever you are. At home, at work, in your friend group, walking down the street, in the field, in your team, in your ministry, in your day-to-day. Lend a helping hand to a stranger, hug someone that looks like they need it, ask a person if you can pray over them, tell someone they’re beautiful, high-five a kid, pour into people. Whatever that looks like, just do it: you won’t regret it!
•Be the change you wish to see
•Encourage yourself and others
•Love yourself and others
•Drop the expectations because God will exceed them tremendously
•Freedom is real.
That’s all I got for now! Thanks for reading, I want to encourage you that there’s nothing impossible with God. If you feel called to Missions, do it. He will make a way. If you feel called to volunteering, do it. You’ll impact a life. If you feel called to live differently, take the first step. If you want a change, ask God what that may look like. You can do it! You really can! I love you friend, and I’m encouraged by you. The world is waiting on you, Fly free in His love!
