The world race is not what I expected. they told us at the beginning not to have expectations, but we all know how hard that is to do. There were many times when I though i isn’t have expectations, but then we got to a place and it was not what I thought it would be, and that means that I did have expectations. In some ways I think the world race exceeded my expectations, but in other ways it didn’t meet my expectations.
I expected that I would not miss my home. I don’t often miss people, especially when I can still keep in contact with them and get to see them again soon.But as time has gone on I have started to realize that I do miss people. I think this rooted from a sense of independence within myself. I didn’t want to miss people because that meant that I was weak, but I know now that’s not true. I missed my old normal. this new normal I have grown accustomed to is not like I ever thought normal could be like.
I thought I would always love change. When I was growing up my family moved around a lot, and we even moved to a new country, so I have grown accustomed to it. But as I changed countries, communities, cultures and beds every month, I realized it’s not an easy thing to adapt to so many new things each month. Statistics say that it takes the average person 3-6 months to adjust to a new place, so just as we were starting to get accustomed to a place we are already leaving.
i expected that God would finally tell me what his will for my life is. I still don’t really know, but I do have peace about not knowing.
I assumed that I would love every country. I mean I’ve loved every country I’ve been to before so why not right? Truth is… I did not. I learned that one’s bad attitude or a difficult situation can change how you feel about a certain place. For example, in Bolivia (month 10), it was VERY cold. It got to below freezing and our concrete room never heated up to the point where I would want to get out from under the 5 heavy blankets and a sleeping bag. Honestly, I had a hard time doing ministry that month, I had a hard time connecting with the local people and I had a hard time living in community. I think it was mostly because of the attitude of complaining that I had adopted for the month.
i also thought that all ministry would be the same. over the 11 months I have been a construction worker, an english teacher, a preacher, a bible study leader, a worship leader, a substitute teacher, a photographer, an evangelist, a child-lover, a painter, and the list goes on… Who knew there were this many types of ministry?!
I expected that I would hear God’s voice every day. I mean, I’m a missionary, following after God’s heart, that mean’s he will always be talking right? But the truth is that even on the World Race, christians have ups and downs in the walk with the Lord.
When I look back at my experience on the world race it’s not about whether or not the world race met or did not meet my expectations. The world race did more than that. God did more than that.
It pushed me closer to Christ.
It showed me to be aware of my surroundings and to look for ministry opportunities throughout every day and every circumstance.
It taught me to search people out, even if they think in a very different way than I do.
It showed me how to live in community and to love all people.
it reminded me to be vulnerable and that vulnerability does not mean weakness.
It taught me that it’s okay to not know what God has planned for me.
It showed me how to deal with conflict in a healthy way.
It reminded me how easy it is to bring Jesus into every day conversations.
it taught me to be bold.
But most of all, it taught me that God will not always meet my expectations. But his plans for me are far greater than anything I could ever think up or imagine.
