Life after the Race. University. Struggle. and Cuba!

It’s hard to believe a lot of things. From how good God is, to how many squadmates got married and all the divergent paths we’re taking. 

I’ll give you a little update on what’s happened in my life since the Race finished. I was a little disoriented for awhile knowing so much about the need around the world, a bit overwhelmed by all the possibilities and not sure of my place in the whole thing. I went up north for a few days to pray and seek God and learned some really important lessons. God provided a canoe from a lady I just met at a gas station so that I could paddle out and spend time alone with God. God showed me that I often give up just at the most important point and don’t ever quite give things my full effort. As well I realized that the times on the race and in my life when I felt the most alive were when I was teaching or involved in some sort of discipleship. So I decided to go to University to become a teacher. 

It was a little hard being 24 years old and already having a bachelor’s degree from a bible college but having to start from scratch. Having kids in University who used to be my campers in my cabin at the christian camp I worked at ahead of me in their classes. But sometimes you have to let go of any pride or reputation to get what you really want in life and it’s been so rewarding. I’ve made a lot of friends and am really reconnecting with so many great people in Regina. Tons of doors have been opening up from getting to lead Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship at my University to be a leader with Street Invaders this summer and I can’t even keep track of all God’s blessings. 

I’m so looking forward to a life of teaching and serving God either in Canada or in other parts of the world. But now I found myself amazed and so excited in just the here and now and the opportunities that are around me. I read a book called “The Wisdom of Stability” by Jonathon Hartgroves and it was a powerful reminder of the importance of faithfulness to a place and really setting in deep roots. On the race we were constantly setting roots and getting pulled up again. I want to live a life that absolutely invests in a people and a place and doesn’t give up when it gets hard or unexciting. The World Race was an absolutely lifechanging positive experience for me but it took me a few months to realize that following God’s way isn’t always outwardly exciting. Sometimes the excitement is inward and focused on the vision and outward circumstances are tough. 

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So that’s what has been going on with me. There’s a lot more there too that I haven’t the time to tell. But one of the things that I wanted to mention is that I’ve also gotten back being involved with Bible Quizzing. A great christian “sport” where a ton of teenagers memorize as much as they can of a section of the New Testament and then compete in five quiz meets a year. I’ve joined a team to go to Cuba for 8 days to encourage the churches, help with the quiz meet, bring supplies to those without access to certain medicine and equipment and hopefully to fall in love with the people of Cuba. I realize a bit of irony that I just talked about the importance of committing to a place and not being all short term and then going on a short term trip to Cuba :). But actually Canadian Midwest Quizzing has really committed to Cuba over the last 10 years or more. From sending full time workers there to sending times as often as they can to help and encourage. So it’s all good ;). 

With that being said our team wants each of us to raise $1000 to bring in supplies like children’s medication, quizzing equipment, laptops for poor pastors and maybe some baseball equipment. Any amount that you can give would help a lot and would be so appreciated by me and the team as well as the people in Cuba that we can help support. You can send a cheque to