My World Race journey has come to a close and I am now living back home in the states. This last year of my life is one I will never forget, I got to experience God work in my life in ways I could have never imagined. Being back in the states this first week for sure has been a reverse culture shock, it has been challenging, emotional, stressful, confusing and I often find myself overwhelmed at times. But I am starting to see the way God has molded me these past 11 months and I am excited for what He has for this next season of my life.
Below are a few questions that I have gotten since returning home and preparing for home. The most common question I get is:
How was your year? I find this question very difficult to answer, a lot has happened in a year both in my life and the life of others. So to sum it up; it was challenging, it was amazing, it was hard, it was stressful, it was rewarding, it was refreshing, it was draining but yet filling, it was scary but yet full of freedom, it was lonely but filled with loving community, it was full of mixed emotions, it was rediscovering passions, it was removing old habits, it was setting new habits. It was all and everything you can think of.
Do you have any concerns about readjusting back to the states?
Yes, after living in 11 different cultures and constant Christian community for nearly a year readjusting to the states will be a little difficult. Not only have things changed in me in this year but things at home have surely changed. We have a new president, people have gotten new jobs, gotten married, had babies and moved away. A lot can happen in a year.
How has this trip changed your relationship with God?
My relationship with God has increased beyond what I have imagined. I began to understand the importance of dependency upon God and what it looks like to grow in a deeper intimacy with Him. I hear is voice more clearly an I see Him at work more often than not.
What has it changed about you and your perspective?
This journey allowed my perspective to change in many different ways about many different things. It gave me a deeper perspective for global/international missions, it allowed me to see the importance and urgency for the gospel to be shared and it helped me see areas in my life I take for granted and areas that still need to be surrendered to God. Another perspective change would have to be the term “Missions”. Most people when they hear the word missions they resort to thinking of going to a third world country somewhere overseas, but for me the term missions means stepping out and living a life on missions wherever you are. Whether, that be work, school, neighbors, the mall or traveling to another country or not.
What did you find most rewarding, surprising and challenging?
The most rewarding thing would have to be the way my relationship with Christ has increased in these 11 months and the desire to continue doing global and local missions. The most surprising thing would have to be when a blind women in Lesotho received her vision after praying for her three times. The most challenging thing for me was when I got sick and had to spend a week in a Thailand hospital. I was diagnosed with Typhoid Fever and in that time all I wanted to do was go home.
What were some of the hardest things on the race?
Getting sick in Thailand, Swaziland living conditions, saying bye to my friends in each country, living in community 24/7 and missing friends and family back home
What are your plans once you return?
When I return home I plan on serving along side of my pastor and his wife with the church and their international ministry. I am not sure exactly what that will look like yet though.
I also plan to go to Whataburger right when I get off the plane in Texas, then eat some Bluebell ice-cream and watch netflix for a week.
How do you know the impact you’ve made is still there? Is there aways to follow up?
Each country is a little different. In some, there are tangible things to measure the impact. Things like; building a house or stairway in Costa Rica. In others, it’s not my place to measure the impact that happened. My job as a missionary is simply to live obedient to what God asked me to do and allow Him the space to make the impact. God has asked me to disciple people for the duration of some months, so I did, and I saw how God impacted their life through it.
Yes, I am still in contact with many people from the countries I have visited and often follow up with them about their lives or the continuation of the work we have done. For the men that I have discipled in each country I still follow up via whatsapp, facetime, facebook.
Which was your favorite country and why?
There are many countries throughout the race that could jump up to the top of my list of favorites based on different aspects of the country. But if I were to choose a favorite, I would pick South Africa, Specifically the city I was in. This is was month three for my and I was in Jeffreys Bay (Jbay), South Africa. Jbay, was a rather westernized culture compared to most African countries I have been to, so naturally it was refreshing speaking with people who primarily spoke english. This month, I was able to make a lot of friends who I am still in contact with to this day. The Lord revealed more of my passion for discipleship and how he has called me to disciple the youth not the kingdom calling. We lived by the beach, there was an awesome coffee shop and the church there was amazing.
What was the most bazar food you ate?
In Vietnam, my teammate and I went out with some friends we made and they took us to a market that sold “Stinky Noodles”. Although, the noodles did not taste all that bad, it sure did smell awful. But the most bazar food for me would have been in Cambodia. This month I tried; cricket, tarantula, snake and a small fish that was still whole.
These are only a select few question I have received and I hope I answered them well. I will forever be grateful for my time on the World Race and the people I got to meet around the world.
God Bless!
