The magnitude of 11 months of anything seems so vast.
Eleven months of continuous travel to share life and the love of Christ with people all around the world seems like one of the most stretching things you’ll ever do…
Now, this vast and stretching 11- month long journey is wrapping up, and less than 11 weeks remain.
As I look to the remaining weeks of my Race and seek what things lie beyond it, I want to reflect on all I’ve walked through which has led me to this point. I never want my World Race to seem so grandiose that I fail to take the time to strip it down to the essentials.
During these last 11 weeks of my Race, I’m focusing on sharing big lessons I’ve learned through small moments in each of the countries I’ve ventured to.
Week One: Reflecting on Month One – China.
A documentary about foot binding in China first sparked my heart for missions. At the age of 8 or 9 years old, I remember sitting with my family in our living room one night, watching a National Geographic special about bound feet. As the camera crew made their way to a particularly sequestered region in China to interview one of the last living women with bound feet, I recall distinctly thinking, “If this camera crew has to go through all this to get to this lady’s house to meet her and see her feet, I bet she’s never had anyone go through all that to meet her and tell her that Jesus loves her.” I then distinctly remember the voice of God to my spirit immediately after my thought saying, “Then go. Tell her.” Even as a 9ish year old, I knew it wasn’t, “You’d better get on a plane and go tomorrow and tell this specific lady, because you can tell from this documentary that she’s pretty old and might not have a lot of life left…” but a, “Go. Tell. Let this mark your life.”
Fast forward to February of 2013: I was considering the World Race, and looking at the various routes and countries where a Racer would share life and the love of Christ with the people there. One of the reasons the route I chose captured my attention was its inclusion of China. The memory of that documentary and God’s appeal to me flooded my thoughts and I knew this was the World Race route for me.
Seven months later and I was in China, beginning my World Race in the bustling educational capital of this nation – Harbin. My squad and I enjoyed very comfortable accommodations that month in subleased apartments.
From my journal on September 15, 2013:
“The motion sensitive lights in the apartments here in Harbin remind me of some “Christianity.” Only when you move, and move quite a bit, are the lights roused to illuminate.
We are called to be the light of the world. Yes, motion sensitive lights are helpful, but it’s most helpful for light to shine even in the stillness. Yes, when provoked, we are specifically encouraged to be bright. But being an unveiled city at all times much better reflects the steadfastness of the glory and the intimate longing of our Father.”
Stay tuned for more of my reflections during the next 10 weeks.
Many thanks to you for sharing in my journey.
From my heart,
Erika
