To my Mother and Father
As world racers, we frequently get comments like “I don’t know how you all do what you do.” But I think the real question is “How do my parents let me do what I do?”
It all started in November of 2006, I called home and said “Guess what? I got accepted to the World Race! Isn’t that exciting! Be excited!” My mom said,
“What about more school?” I said, “I can do more school when I get back… maybe.”
Since then I have called home and said:
“Guess what? They are sending our team to the middle of nowhere, don’t expect a call for a couple of weeks.”
“Guess what? I took a girl to the hospital this weekend, but we forgot to take enough money with us. It got late and we got stranded, but don’t worry God provided a great free place tor us to stay.”
“Guess what? We get to go to Victoria Falls this weekend, but our bus ticket only gets us half way there. The plan is to hitchhike the rest of the way, pray that God sends us a good ride.”
“Guess what? I won’t be able to communicate with home for a month, no not even on Thanksgiving.”
“Guess what? My foot looks like a grapefruit again, but don’t worry I think I might go to the clinic tomorrow, maybe.”
I also say thing like
“No, I don’t know what country, I’ll be in next month.”
“No, I don’t know when I will have a phone again.”
“No, I don’t know what I will do after the race.”
or
“I don’t know if my teammate have enough support to finish the race.”
But to all these statements my parents say,
“I’m sure God is in this.”
“I know it is hard, but there is a lesson here.”
“Have fun.”
“Trust God and wait, he will tell you what you do next.”
So this is what I love about my parents
My dad is an amazing man of God. No matter how busy he is, my brothers and sisters and I all know that we are his priority. Growing up, he used to read the bible to us every night. I love talking to my dad about spiritual things, when there are passages in the bible that I don’t understand, I love getting his perspective on what they mean. I love how when my dad prays, he prays what the Lord has put on his heart to pray. On the race, he sends me e-mail telling me what he is praying for, and it is always exactly what I need prayer for.
My mom is one of the most selfless servants in the whole world. She would do anything for my brothers and sisters and I. Growing up, her entire days we spent caring for us. When i got accepted to the race, it didn’t take long for her to become my number one supporter (I’m sorry to break this to the rest of you). She used to get excited about days when she could substitute teach, because that would mean she would have a paycheck to send in for me. She has helped me mail more letters than I can count. I think she has read every blog that has every been posted on the world race site. Sometimes she knows more about my teammates than I do, and she always sends my fellow Lego’s birthday cards.
So to my parents (and all world race parents and all parents who have released their children to live recklessly for the Lord),
Thank you. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your faith.
Every good thing that God does on this race, every person freed from bondage, every soul won, every sick person healed, every orphan fed happens because you selflessly give your life to us. I am blessed beyond words to have parents who love the Lord like you do.
I don’t know how you do it, but thank you that you do.
