I have just entered month 6 of my race (insane, I know), so I thought it’d be interesting to reflect and share 5 lessons I’ve learned from living 5 months on the World Race! Enjoy 🙂
Colombia: Obedience and to surrender
Month 1 was full of newly introduced rules and restrictions that came with our new environment. Such as –
- The buddy rule. We are required to have a fellow racer with us at all times. To the grocery store, a coffee shop right down the road, running, and sometimes even the bathroom. The freedom to go off by yourself when you just needed a break no longer was an option. However, forced bonding creates incredibly strong friendships.
- Dress code. Trying to show and tell Christ to people around the world means adopting and integrating into different cultures as much as possible. Dress code in Colombia meant strictly jeans at ministry and covered shoulders. Off days allowed for shorts to be no shorter than 4 inches above the knee (aka no Nike shorts). I got dress coded a multitude of times for having shorts that were too short, too much of my chest showing, the slits on the side of my favorite dress, and the straps from my sports bras showing until I finally surrendered the freedom of wearing what I want and things that I feel comfortable in.
- No phones or wifi. During the first month, my squad went on a phone/social media fast. No contact with friends or family back home, no Instagram, no Facebook, no Netflix. Completely present at ministry and with the squad at all times. This was such a challenge for me as my mom underwent her mastectomy in the middle of Colombia and I often found myself desiring more than anything to check in and make sure she was okay. Persevering in this allowed for a deeper reliance and trust in the Lord.
I could name off a number of more things that were asked of us during month 1, but I think y’all get the point. At first, I thought some of these rules were so dumb and found myself to be overly and immaturely defiant. I was frustrated that my newly found independence after just turning 18 and leaving home was rapidly being stripped, but God humbled me so much in this time. He gave me the revelation that we weren’t created to be independent. Instead, He calls us to be dependent on Him. He also brought to light that it isn’t about me. I came to serve others, not myself. Month 1 on the race taught me to walk in humility, and obey and submit to the Lord. Even if that means giving up my Nike shorts.
Ecuador: Drop all expectations
When you envision a mission trip, you usually think of feeding starving children, building a house in the slums, playing with orphans, or teaching at a small village school. These are common expectations of a mission trip, and while these things are incredible types of mission work, missions also pertains to those that aren’t dirt poor. Mission work comes in so many different forms and is needed by all types of people, and I really came to understand this idea during month 2 in Ecuador.
I came into Ecuador expecting to be doing work in a small village or the slums or with at risk kids, and was thoroughly shocked when we walked into the prestigious private Christian school attended by pretty well off kids. I remember close mindedly thinking, “Why are we even here? These people don’t need any help.”. In reality, so much confusion and brokenness consumed those halls. Jesus is needed by everyone. Christ asked me to lose all expectations of what I think ministry is suppose to look like and see every situation, environment and person as an opportunity to share His love and His word.
Thailand: Psalm 139 isn’t just about me
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:13-14
Thailand was where I learned to love people well. For the longest time, one of the biggest compliments others would give me was that I excelled at loving people, so overtime I just started to see this as truth. But in reality, while I have always been good with people, I didn’t love people that well. Coming into Thailand after living in community and never having any alone time because of the beautiful buddy rule, I began to realize how much I had started thinking about myself and meeting my own needs. I was tired of constantly serving and got upset with myself for how selfish I was starting to become. Again, God humbled me and showed me so much truth through this. He put a crazy passion on my heart to get to know Jesus, the best and most perfect example of loving people well, deeper and more intimately than I ever have before. To learn from Him on how to love His people more perfectly. He reminded me that not only did He uniquely, wonderfully and purposefully create me, but He also uniquely, wonderfully and purposefully created everyone else on this Earth. And the first step to truly love others like He loves us is seeing them as beautiful creations of the Father. Just l like critiquing myself is shaming the Lord’s perfect works and creation, so is critiquing others.
Thailand Month 2: Urgency
During the second month in Thailand, I was having an incredible time making relationships with my students. They were and still are truly my friends. As our time in Thailand started coming to a close, I began to become aware that I may never see these people I had gotten so close with ever again. The urgency of the sharing the Gospel started sitting heavy on my heart, and that I could be the only chance some people have to hear about Jesus. I had gotten so caught up in the relational aspect of our ministry at the school (which is so important, don’t get me wrong), but had yet to use those beautiful relationships and newfound friendships to talk about and introduce Jesus, my savior and creator that has brought me freedom, forgiveness, joy, relentless love – all the things that my students had noticed in me and longed for. Month 4 on the race taught me to never lose sight of why we’re doing what we’re doing – to bring Jesus and His word and truth to everyone we meet. That passing up on that opportunity could mean robbing someone of the incredible and beautiful gifts knowing and loving Jesus brings.
Cambodia: Just show up
I talked a lot about what Jesus has been teaching me through my new role as squad Storyleader and as I step into videography, something that is beyond my expertise. In addition to this, 5 full months on the mission field brings exhaustion. Lately, I’ve had the desire to just lay in my small inflatable sleeping pad all day and watch Netflix. I’ve been longing for alone time to attempt to renew my energy levels and spirits. Some days, the exhaustion hits me and I just can’t seem to give my all at ministry or to my team, leaving me beating myself up for seemingly wasting time. However, Jesus recently spoke some truth to me about this – just show up. Try. Be there. As long as I try and I’m there, He can use me. Messing up a lot and not feeling like I’m giving my all will happen. But showing up is the most important part. This gives the Lord the opportunity to work through me, whether I know it’s happening or not.
I praise Jesus everyday for giving me this insane, adventurous and beautiful experience. Here’s to 4 more months of learning, loving, and living.
