So … change of plans. Although we were originally supposed to spend October in Egypt, we are now headed to Bulgaria, followed by Israel (November) and Turkey (December), and then we begin our African portion of the Race. We were briefed this morning on the do’s and don’t’s of the Middle East, and I am really looking forward to those months.
But my team is equally as excited about Bulgaria because it will be vastly different from our first two months. In Bulgaria, we are essentially “preparing the way.” Remember when Moses sent spies into Canaan to see if it was ripe for the taking? Well, that is pretty much what we will be doing this month. We are exploring a country that no World Race team has ever set foot in, and our objective is to learn the culture and find opportunities for future ministry. We’re looking for potential contacts who have been praying for help and could use future teams to further a ministry … or to simply spread the Word of God to a region starved for hope.
This is where the World Race really begins. Along with Team Fuel (rest of J Squad will be in Albania and Montenegro), the 14 of us will travel to Sofia, Bulgaria where we have no contacts. We have the packs on our backs and each other. We have no knowledge of campgrounds or hostels. If a park is the only available place to pitch our tents, then guess what … I’m sleeping in the jungle gym. It’s going to be a challenging month, but this is what we all signed up for, so bring it on.
Anyway … this week’s Awakening conference in Brasov, Romania has been a huge growing point for me. Very uplifting and humbling … which got me thinking about the 10 most humbling moments of my first two months on the World Race. So without further ado …
10. Losing to (of all people) my teammate Anthony Ardino in J Squad’s Fantasy Football League just one week after scoring the most points and letting my mouth run amok with trash talk.
9. Being blessed with phenomenal contacts (Alan Duigan in Ireland, Scott and Paula Dunn, Spencer and Lynsey Ball in Romania) who see us as more than just workers and have a genuine concern to help us grow in our faith.
8. Not knowing the words to my team’s Boys II Men sing-along on the ride to Budapest. … Oh wait, I’m OK with this one. Never mind.
7. Being chased down by a hotel receptionist with a key to the laundry machine just seconds after walking out of the establishment and voicing my frustration over her lack of knowledge as to the whereabouts of the key.
6. Watching teammates/squadmates put others above themselves every single day. Shannon even bought our entire team a Bueno Bar three days ago. If you don’t know what a Bueno Bar is, just think about the worst candy bar you’ve ever eaten and imagine the exact opposite.
5. Being shown no mercy by Romanian football players who were delighted to rough up/mock a few Americans who were expecting a laid-back, friendly game of soccer.
4. Having the football ripped out of my hands by Bethany Brueggen on a Hail Mary pass at camp. Seriously though … she is really strong for a slender, 22-year-old nurse.
3. Listening as teammates say they see strengths and characteristics that you never saw in yourself.
2. Viewing my support status Web page and seeing the financial sacrifices friends/family/complete strangers are making to fund this missions trip. Thank you all very much.
1. Being served refreshments in a one-room gypsy house, knowing the host family makes less money in a year than I had in my back pocket.
