Dear Future Gap World Racer,
First of all, hi. Nice to “meet” you.
I probably know what you’re thinking. You’re so excited. Doing that gear research. Following them actual adventurous or artsy Racers on the Instagram. Looking at all the prettiness and excitement and fun and adventure. Imagining yourself doing all the things and adventurous and the pretty stories…
It’s not what you think.
But I think you knew that. Obviously, if you’ve applied and been accepted you know it’s not gonna be all fun and games. It’s a mission trip for a reason. You have a mission to love God’s children. But the Race isn’t easy. If you’re in it for the adventure and not in it with Jesus, then what are you in it for?
I’m sure your first attraction was the adventure. The chance to travel the world. Not that that isn’t attractive to anyone else, either; we have an innate desire for adventure. It’s engrained in our hearts and souls for the glorious chase. But don’t sign up because you think its gonna be a cool adventure and solely for that. (Now I’m not gonna say that my squad wouldn’t testify that this might’ve been a motivation for all of us to apply too. So you’re human, congratulations. But, be better than us and check you’re heart.) I know for myself what it was for me; a balance between wanting to leave home on an adventure and because I knew God was pushing me to grow and go. You have to know what God wants for you specifically.
There can be a problem with pictures. Pictures speak a thousand words, so they say. But I speak as a photographer when I say that pictures can be deceiving. Pictures only show what the photographer wants you to see, or intrigues you to look for the story in the picture. And if you only see the good and beautiful, you think all is good and beautiful.
The real World Race. The things you don’t always see. You don’t see the pictures of being sick with a local disease. You don’t see pictures of unshaven legs, super greasy hair because the waters been out, or the weird sun lines. You don’t see the tears crying for home. You don’t see the scary moment with the scary person. You don’t see team times or feedback. You don’t see the dehydration, the stomach aches, the food. You see smiles with wind in your hair talking about all the good you feel and the good you’re doing. And it’s not all like that either, not to scare you. There’s so much good that happens too. It’s not like I always remember every day and define my Race that I had Dengue month two. Sometimes you have it really good with hot showers, a bed, great food and you’re happy. And sometimes you don’t.
It’s not perfect. It’s not glorious. But it is beautiful.
You saw adventure, and there is some of that, it’s also the main promotion. You can make everyday an adventure no matter where you are. Attitude.
You saw the sweet moments captured by camera. You didn’t see the heart that had to push themselves to take action and be courageous and brave in that way, instead of being nervous.
There’s a reason it’s hard, it makes you rely on God. Literally every day you wake up.
Now, if you’re at all like me before my race, you’re afraid. Maybe you’re even super anxious like I was freaking out about fundraising, getting the right gear, and leaving home. You’re not alone on that. I guarantee that every racer feels afraid. You think you’re the only one feeling so much about certain things, but you’ll be surprised to get out here talking to you’re squad realizing you’re like the same person as each of them. Its bonding. But don’t let the fear drown you. Don’t let anxiety take over you. What does the Bible say? Don’t be afraid, do not be anxious about anything, and don’t worry. DON’T. Like, that means it’s a sin, right? We are human and we all mess up and its super hard. But, like, you got the biggest dude in the universe planning your every future moment and got everything under control.
But also know this: don’t leave the Race if you’re afraid. Fear is a huge weapon of the devil. HUGE. He wants you to be afraid. He wants you to run like Jonah from the place where God has called you. And he instills it in the hearts of many. But fear was defeated on that cross long ago and you don’t need to feel that anymore.
I am only five months into my gap race of nine months, and my first month feels like forever ago. I’m not saying I’m an expert, I’m not even exactly half way through yet. But I can testify that the World Race ages you…in a good way. You don’t realize all the things you’ve learned until you just sit down one day and realize you see things differently now and you’re a different person.
Advice:
Trust Jesus.
Take one day at a time.
Keep moving forward.
There’s a reason for everything.
It’s actually good to not know what’s next and just learn to be flexible.
It’s okay to feel.
It’s okay to hurt.
Let your team in. Let them speak to you. Take their advice. They should be speaking honestly and with your best at heart.
Lean on God’s strength.
Pray throughout the day.
Laugh about it. Learn from it.
Deal with it now, or it’ll come back to you.
Push yourself to do the things you wouldn’t normally do.
Let Him love you.
If you are now an accepted World Racer, with your name on a blog(how exciting, right? So official and important.), then congrats to you. I hope you were following God’s call and took the leap of faith for obedience even though you were afraid every leap of the way. That was me. It’s an honor to be a Racer alongside you. As a Racer, I’m not gonna lie to you. It is tough out here. But it’s real and good and a different sort of adventure, you’ll learn. Something to be appreciated all in itself every step of the way. I know I’m acting like a know-it-all about the Race, but I know I still have a lot to learn being only half way there. But I just wanted to share with you what I’m learning. I hope we meet one day and talk about our Races and adventures. If not, there’s always Heaven.
Hey, you’ll be okay.
Sincerely, Em. An alumni month five gap racer.
P.S. – When you launch, start counting stuff like how many buses you’ve been in, planes, ice cream consumed, other stuff like that you desire because its so cool the numbers it adds to. Just for fun. Do what I wish I had done.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
