I can barely believe how fast time has flown by. I have been traveling for five and a half months already. It is my half way point of the Race. Thus far I have been to two continents, nine countries, and let’s not forget an island!
Throughout this journey I’ve experienced so many firsts!
– First time to Europe: Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and Macedonia!
– First time having between 5 and 44 roommates at a time
– First time on a train
– First time giving my testimony in front of over a hundred people
– First time working on a farm
– First time on a ferry
– First time on an Island: Lesvos, Greece
– First time working with Syrian Refugees
– First time seeing the Acropolis
– First time working in an actual orphanage
– First time feeding a bear (hello Macedonian zoo which let’s you set your own boundaries with the animals)
– First time to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Lesotho.
– First time on a Safari (Kruger! Saw the big 5!)
– First time trail riding an elephant
– First time playing guitar in front of a congregation
– First time hammocking (sleeping in my hammock – Yes I choose this over my tent! It has been my saving grace).
– First time camping longer than a weekend
– First time going over 7days without a shower (yay bucket showers)
– First time giving a guitar lesson
– First time teaching Sunday school
– First time bungee jumping
– First time to go to Victoria Falls
– First time being a 1st grade teacher
– First time playing Tetris with bodies inside vehicles
– First time riding a horse up and down a mountain (practically scaling cliffs)
– First time being away from my family longer than two weeks!
The World Race has accounted for a lot of firsts in my life. It has also made me grow in really unexpected ways. I now believe because of the constant community I am forced into – I am more introverted than I ever have been. I actually get energy when I am purposely hiding from people/avoiding them. Example: While writing this blog I locked myself inside our shower room, and put ear plugs in.
I have also been forced to be uncomfortable in so many unimaginable ways. But the great thing about being uncomfortable for almost six straight months is; it forces growth.
I always use to say “growth comes outside of your comfort zone” but these last few months I have experienced the hard truth behind that statement. Not only when I am uncomfortably sharing vulnerably, but also when I am teaching unexpectedly, or extending grace for the umpteenth time. Growth also finds you when you are willing to die to yourself, and to let God lead you. I have had to die to myself so much on this trip, and I am so grateful for it!
Back home I also used to talk about how “the people you are around form you”, but I’ve actually seen that on this trip. I am around strong Christian men and women, who are in the word daily, who hear from the Lord, and who are living their lives in complete abandon and obedience to the Lord – and I never have been so on fire for God. I am the closest I ever have been relationship wise with Him. I am seeing different facets of Him that I didn’t even know existed prior to the race.
Even though these last six months have been challenging, they’ve been worth it.
The Race has also helped me find joy in the little things:
– Like on your birthday when your team buys you pickles, brownies, and chips! Plus, you get to go into town and get wifi.
– When there is cloud coverage, and it is the one day that week where you aren’t sweating in areas you didn’t even know produced sweat before the race.
– When you are traveling countless hours to get to the next country, and the bus actually stops to let you get a warm meal (even if that warm meal is a fast food substance you wouldn’t eat prior to the Race).
– When you get protein with any meal that day.
-When you actually go to the bathroom, and you can flush the toilet paper! Or it is a bonus if the toilet flushes at all.
– When there is running water to wash your hands, and you rejoice because they feel so clean!
– When a mango falls from a tree, almost hitting you on the head, but you get to eat it.
– When the church floods, and your tent is still standing afterwards only having a little of water in it!
– When you get to pick peaches for ministry one afternoon
– When someone gives you the hug you didn’t know you needed
On the world race I’ve realized that it is the little things in life that count. It isn’t how many new clothes you have, what type of car you drive, what job you have.
It is talking to your family. Getting a full nights rest. Most importantly, it is having friends that care about you, and that will encourage you in your relationship with Christ.
I’ve realized that as much as I love my friends and family – that I am called to put Christ first... And not just to say God is number one in my life, but to truly believe it and to act on it. Choosing the Race was one of the first times I legitimately put God’s wants and desires above my own – and it has turned out to be one of the best things that has happened to me. Not because of all of the firsts I’ve experienced, but because of the growth I have experienced spiritually. I know that if God calls me to be a missionary away from my friends and family, that is where I’ll go. If He calls me to stand up and pray even when it makes me uncomfortable, I will listen. Whatever He calls me to, even if it is not what I want, or I don’t understand it, that is what I’ll do.
Because of the Race can actually say with full confidence that I am a women of integrity, strength, and vulnerability. Instead of boasting in my independence, I can say that I am proudly dependent on my Lord.
