Regardless of what social media shows, the world race isn’t all peaches and cream. It may seem like we’re just a bunch of young adults having fun traveling the world taking pictures with little kids. That is true, but it’s so much more than that. To start off, we live without a lot of the things that make us most comfortable in the US. I’ve dealt with no air conditioning in 90+ degree weather, ice cold showers (not an exaggeration) while living in the mountains of Honduras, sleeping on the floor, rarely ever having time to myself, no running water, no electricity, hand washing my clothes, and all my belongings being in a backpack for 11 months. So far, I’ve also had a parasite and lice (two of my biggest fears going into the race).
The hardest part, though, by far is the personal growth we go through. When applying for the world race, you know you’re signing up for a journey that is designed to grow you to be more like Jesus, but you can’t really comprehend what that is going to be like. Every day, each team does something called “team time”. During team time, six days a week, we give feedback to one another. This can be encouraging: things we see in a person that exemplify Jesus. Or this can be constructive: patterns we see that are taking them farther away from the person Jesus is calling them to be. Although this is all intended for good, it can be nerve wracking. I still get really nervous for feedback. The thing is, once you give your life to God, He wants to make you the best version of yourself that you can be. This means He begins revealing sin to you that you never really knew you had before beginning to walk with the Lord. He is calling us higher so that we are living out who we are: children of God. Although the growth can be really difficult, I am SO thankful for it because I’m growing closer and closer to Jesus.
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”
- Galatians 5:24
My teammates and I have discussed how a lot of people back home think what we’re doing is so courageous. We are humbled but we laugh because if anything, this journey has taught us how weak we are in our flesh and how desperately we need the Lord. It’s truly all through God’s power that we are able to impact the people we minister to.
You don’t have to be on a mission trip to be living in a mission mindset. We’re just normal people who have chosen to give our lives to Jesus. In turn, His power manifests through us. This month being Ask The Lord, the phrase “life is ministry and ministry is life” has really come to life. Everyday should be a day filled with ministry. If you’re walking with the Lord, then He wants to use you. He will place people in your life He wants you to talk to and place you in situations that He wants you to impact. We only need to be obedient. Praise Jesus for His power is made STRONG in our weakness.
