Welcome. Future World Racers, this is my blog series just for YOU! At Month 8 Debrief they have us start thinking about home, and part of that is this thing called re-entry. Well, I’ve come to realize that I process so much more if I write it out, so in order to come to terms with leaving this crazy chapter of my life in less than 2 months, I will rehash some things I have learned along the way, some practical tips, and some things I wish I would have known. Oh and yes, you read that right … this will be a series so be sure to check back every Sunday and Thursday (hopefully) for the newest installment of The Future World Racers Field Guide. I know it, you die hard blog stalkers may even subscribe to make sure you don’t miss anything. Yes you, the one who has just read the umpteenth blog that looked like it may have anything to do with information about this crazy thing. Or maybe you’re not one of those, maybe this is the first blog like this you’re reading … I hope it’s entertaining enough to keep you coming back, because though I don’t have everything figured out … I have learned a few good lessons in the past 9 months … plus the 9 months I spent from acceptance to launch … and I promise I have Race “cred� … ask anyone on my squad … if you want to know something, I probably have found a way to figure it out before it’s officially been released. Some call it nosey; I call it observant and alert. And to the AIM Staff who may be “peeking in� to make sure I’m not giving away all the secrets … don’t worry, I’m totally going to honor the part of the process where you have to just figure it out once you get there. With that being said, this is my official disclaimer for all the blogs in this series: EVERYTHING I say is based on my own experience and NOT indicative of how your Race will work, my Race is my Race. Your Race will be your Race. So take what I say with a grain of salt, if it’s applicable, apply it … if you’re like “that’s not really helpful to me,� then leave it on the blog for someone who may find it helpful. Don’t try and make your Race match mine, just live it … you only get 11 countries in 11 months once so soak it up.
Also, I do much better with questions so if you have any questions, I love talking to people who are preparing to go on the Race so feel free to leave a comment or message me with any and all questions.
So for this inaugural blog I will not be giving everyone a free speaker (that happened on our inaugural flight with Qatar from Entebbe, Uganda to Bangkok, Thailand), but I will give you the first DO and DO NOT list in this series. With each Future World Racers Field Guide … there will be a complementary DO and DO NOT list.
#11n11/@World Race … For the first installment of this series I would like to share with you briefly about the first step in the Future World Racer process … you know, that time where you find yourself reading the blogs – possibly crying, possibly freaking out, possibly super excited, possibly finally old enough to do what you’ve been wanting to do for years, possibly unsure about all of this, possibly (insert whatever you’re feeling) … and then after all that it’s time to decide … Am I going to do this? No, really. Am I going to do this? Well here is some DO’s and DO NOT’s when it comes to deciding whether or not the Race is for you.
DO:
– Seek counsel and PRAY about your decision
– Expect to travel (duh!)
DO NOT:
– Think this is just another mission trip.
– Let your friends and family be the sole deciding factor
– Let your emotions rule the decision you make
– Think that the World Race is for everyone, but IF it is for you, God will let you know
– Expect to be this long suffering traveling missionary every day for 11 months
I know that is not everything, but for the sake of your attention span, I will limit my lists to five DO’s and DO NOT’s …
So if you are the Future World Racer who hasn’t applied yet, this is for you … the blogs I will be posting later in this series will be helpful, but if you are waiting to know everything before you commit to 11 countries in 11 months, then I would keep praying. I am a detail person… I know the desire to know everything, but if God is calling you to this trip, you can’t let what these blogs say sway you from going or not going. Don’t limit God’s calling on your life … this is one of those decisions where you have to step out on faith and trust that God wouldn’t be calling you to this mission, if He didn’t plan on calling you through this mission.
Matthew 6:33 – The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.
1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
