One week ago I left my family, friends, and the comfort of the American lifestyle to bring hope and joy to the broken-hearted around the world. I gave up all the rights I’ve had for 22 years to see if there’s something more out there- if I could live for a purpose bigger than myself. I packed one 50-pound backpack, attached a tent to it, loaded up on malaria pills, and caught a flight to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for the start of an 11-month journey.
I’m a World Racer.
After a couple flights, a 14-hour layover in the airport, and a 4-hour bus ride (and apparently that’s short for the World Race), we got to our house in San Juan D.R. We have 32 girls living in a 4-bedroom house at the corner of Mariano Rodriguez and the 16th of April, and we’re all sleeping on mats on the floor. We only have two bathrooms, so the reality of someone walking in on you to take a shower or brush their teeth while you’re on the toilet is always a very real possibility. It doesn’t even phase me that the showers are always cold because I’m so busy thanking God when the running water actually works. Needless to say, I’m learning to appreciate a good bucket shower. Oh, and it’s 85-90 degrees so I’ve gotten over the fact that I just smell bad half the time because I can’t even grab a bucket shower with the 16:1 girls to shower ratio. The electricity only works for 12 hours in any 24-hour period so I always have my headlamp handy and I have bug bites in places I didn’t even know bugs would want to go. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m a World Racer.
Our Coaches and AIM staff have been here all week for our launch training. Intense is a mild way of putting it. I didn’t think it could get any more emotional than training camp in October, but again I am proven wrong. We need to be whole emotionally before we can go serve the needs of the needy and oppressed. That whole is coming. I am still processing it, but I am thankful for the little things like having a roof over our heads and that my team is bonding really well. I could not have picked six better people to fight with.
This month my team is working in a slum by my house. Our first official day is Saturday but we visited it yesterday. There are a lot of good things happening there but fighting for these people is going to be a battle. Please pray for that. My heart already breaks for the people of this village and longs for them to know hope.
I’m a World Racer.
It still hasn’t hit me that this is my life for the next 312 days. It hasn’t hit me that I am living on a $7/day budget and will be traveling the world. That I will come home completely changed by what I see and experience, and that God is moving. This is my reality. I finally made it here.
I’m a World Racer!
P.S.- Happy Birthday Mom. I love you a lot J
