This blog has been intimidating me, and I don’t know why. For the last 2 weeks, I’ve forgotten how to talk about myself, forgotten how to ramble on about my journeys; and for anyone who knows me, a lack of words is a pretty rare thing for me. It usually means that I’m sick. For some reason, I tend to get quiet when I’m sick.
Am I sick? NO! I am going on The World Race, and I am ready to rock! So I guess it’s time to bust out. . .
Dictionary.com offered me the definition of TRANSITION as a sudden, unprepared modulation. I love dictionary.com, and I feel this sums up my current status. I’m unprepared. While my squadmates are buying tents and setting them up in their living rooms, cooking meals from 11 different countries and blogging about it, or regularly creating Google docs to pray for our team; I have been trying to both physically and mentally transition from my life teaching in Atlanta to this short swim in Salt Lake City to an adventure around the globe. I’ve yet to buy my tent or my sleeping bag, I don’t even really know what I need for training camp or The Race, and I am now praying my passport arrives by next Friday so that I can get my China visa. This is where I currently stand, unprepared.
So let’s talk about these transitions.
After college, I spent a wonderful year in Salt Lake, working for a non-profit and leading in a youth group. Shout out to all my Victory homies and Camp K rockstars! You make me proud every day, and inspire me to continue to live my life for others!
Then, in 2009, I eagerly picked up the life I so loved in Utah to move to Atlanta to be a Teach for America corps member and teach in urban South Atlanta. While I’m still having a lot of difficultly reflecting on this experience, not a day goes by that I don’t believe, with all my heart, that it was exactly where God wanted me. I followed Him there in obedience, and each day was an absolute blessing. Walking into that high school, every day my life was changed, every day my heart broke for a new need I wasn’t big enough to meet, and every day I was inspired both by children who overcome incredible odds and teachers who work endlessly to make that happen. It was painful and unhappy, and a complete fulfillment of everything I aim my life to be, a selfless sacrifice. Teachers work all day and all night, all so that their work can go to the success of 30-70 little individuals. I commend every single teacher and staff member at South Atlanta High School, and I’m so glad to know that the kids I have come to know and love remain in your hands.
Now, I have picked up my life once more. Not because I hated Atlanta or my job, but because it wears down your heart to be so far from the people you love and my commitment to God’s calling in Georgia is now complete. More importantly, God is now calling me into a new journey.
I’m excited to tell you all that I have committed to The World Race! Launching in September of this year, I will embark on a journey around the globe to 11 different countries in 11 months, serving communities wherever we land. Tentatively, we will be going to The Philippines, China, South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Bulgaria, Serbia, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. We will doing anything from manual labor to evangelistic relationship building, and I can’t wait to see all of the awe-inspiring things God’s going to do!
At Christmas, as I was culminating my decision to apply to The World Race, Eric Van Rhee preached, “a radical disciple answers a radical call,” and then the service was closed with the band singing, “YOU won’t relent until you have it all.” It was then that I knew. I knew for sure, that this little idea Danny Gutman put into my head 4 years ago was about to become my reality. I would absolutely describe the last 2 years as radical, and I’m not about to stop there. I want to be radical so I’m answering this call.
The World Race, here I come!
