I am in month 9 of my Race so far, and I have dragged my guitar from home every place that we have been.
If you play the guitar, bring it on the Race. No question.
Having my guitar has opened up the door for so many ministry opportunities, conversations, and discipleship moments.
My most recent encounter was last month in Cambodia. Sara and I were prayer walking, and felt led to go into a bar. A man was playing the guitar and singing. I made a statement to a woman working about how the music was good, and Sara and I both sing and I play the guitar.
The guy finishes his song and asked us to come up. The only song I could think to play was one I wrote in Botswana. Sara sang a prophetic worship song and an a cappella It is Well. People stopped and stared, and I firmly believe it was because the Lord’s presence in our worship.
(If you want some others, flip through my blogs, you’ll find a few other stories. Lead Nations Into His Presence.)
I have been trying to teach people on our squad how to play as time has gone on, but I have also improved dramatically. I have been able to lead worship for our squad, for the three teams that I have been on, and in churches that asked me to along the way.
Why am I telling you to bring your guitar?
Because I didn’t want to. My best friend told me to bring it because I would regret not having it, and she was right.
I would have been lost without it. When I have free time, I play the guitar. I write a new song in every country with the Lord’s guidance.
I would have regretted leaving it home.
Is it hard to travel with?
Sometimes, but it’s worth it.
Here are some practical travel day tips.
1. Go hard case if you care about your guitar.
2. Try to get a good quality backpacker guitar. (They are smaller and easier to tote)
3. Ask at airports when you check your pack, if they can take your guitar. If they say yes, ask if there is a charge. Usually, they will say no, and you can check your guitar for free and pick it up in oversize baggage claim. If this can’t happen, your case will fit in overhead compartments.
4. Busses. Often, they can stow it underneath, sometimes, they won’t. Try your best to get it in the cargo spaces underneath, but if you can’t, it’s not super difficult to store in the overhead space on the bus. I have been charged twice for my guitar with Intercape in South Africa. They have a policy that if you travel within country, you can have two checked bags totaling at 20kg. My guitar put me 7kg over and it costs me less than $3.
5. If you play another instrument, try to find a way to bring that. Same rules apply. Ukeleles can go in soft cases because they come on the planes and busses with you. Never seen a keyboard, but it could probably
6. Hold your guitar with an open hand. God can and will ask you to do a lot with your guitar that you won’t expect. I’ve heard of people loaning theirs to squadmates, giving them away, and people just being super generous with it.
7. Bring a ton of picks, strings for the year(extra if you go to Asia because humidity), strap, capo, and batteries if you have a tuner or built-in tuner.
8. Download the Ultimate-Guitar app and make the Tools in-app purchase. You’ll spend $10, but every chord chart you save to your favorites will be available offline. The tools part has a tuner, metronome and chord library.
The way that you get to bless your team and squad, and the ways you grow with the Lord are definitely worth the minor hassle of bringing your guitar. Seriously. Bring it!
