51. Don’t pack all black (Haylee)
52. Leave your expectations at home (Melanie)
53. You don’t need to bring a separate camera unless you are a professional photographer (your iPhone is good enough) (Haylee)
54. A good water bottle is gold (you will utilize this so much) (Joey)
55. Go with your gut (if you think you want it on the race, bring it)
56. If you don’t use it or wear it at home, don’t bring it
57. You can still buy things in other countries (aka don’t bring 14 deodorants)
58. Don’t bring a glass French press (Melanie)
59. Getting piercings and tattoos on the race is a real life thing
60. Bring a head buff; they are good for anything
61. Bring less clothes than you think you need (you will buy clothes in country)
62. Bring lots of underwear
63. Baby wipes are gold
64. Time for Jesus doesn’t magically appear in your schedule (Joey)
65. You don’t automatically become closer to God (Melanie)
66. You will want handwritten letters from home
67. Bring one outlet converter that will do it all as opposed to a million separate ones
68. Go ahead and bring a year’s worth of contacts/prescriptions/anything else you definitely can’t find abroad
69. BRING MALARIA MEDICINE WITH YOU (regardless of what they tell you, it’s been very difficult to find on the race)
70. Always bring a bug net
71. It’s okay to not be okay, but it’s not okay to stay that way
72. Never send your journals home in the mail (they will inevitably get lost, and you will never see them again)
73. Journal every day! (I have an entry journaled for every day we’ve been on the race; I know one day I will be so happy I did)
74. Bring a Kindle instead of 14 books (Danielle)
75. Post card apps are life (aka postagram)
76. Take pictures!
77. …but always ask first because sometimes it isn’t okay
78. Keep your backpacks on your front when in crowded markets or on public transportation
79. Your team is there for you always; come to them first
80. FEEDBACK ISN’T POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE! IT’S POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE! (it’s a way to call people to greatness)
81. When you receive feedback, you must take it to the Lord and talk to Him about it
82. Get a good sleeping bag! Sometimes you use it all month when it’s cold
83. The things going on at home don’t stop; they continue even though you aren’t there
84. Sharing is caring (unless it’s the last Oreo and then I’m keeping it for myself)
85. Bring peanut butter (but not in your carry-on) (Melanie)
86. Be prepared to give away pieces of your heart knowing full-well that you won’t get them back
87. It’s always better to smile than frown
88. Expect the unexpected
89. Some ministry days look like asking the Lord what you should do and then doing it (EMBRACE IT! Oftentimes, these are the most rewarding ministry days!)
90. Just because things aren’t going well doesn’t mean you are doing something wrong (Melanie)
91. It’s okay to sit in the mess of life for a while (it’s often necessary)
92. Your team is a priority; make it one
93. Honor the dress code even if it seems silly; it’s there for a reason
94. Don’t forget to treat yourself every once in a while
95. You will see changes in your body (Hello South American weight), but it’s not the end of the world. You are beautiful in God’s eyes
96. The lies of the enemy don’t stop when you come on the race. If anything, the enemy tries harder to tell you lies and make you believe them. Don’t.
97. Doing life in constant motion is hard (some days it feels like all we do is go, go, go and some days it feels like we should be doing more)
98. Make your alone time with Jesus a priority; you will regret not spending time with Him daily
99. Days are long, but months are short. Don’t take any moment for granted because you blink, and it’s already day 100.
100. Every day on the race is worth it. Even though some days it feels like you want to give up and go home. Don’t give up. Power through. It’s hard, and some days you would rather sit in your home of the month and do nothing than go to ministry. We signed up for a year of ministry and traveling, so that’s what we are going to do. We are going to board that next flight, hop on that next bus, preach at that church in South America, have VBS with the children in Africa, have fun on adventure days, participate in team time, and tell you guys all about it when we get home because that’s what we were called to do. The World Race isn’t easy but with God on your side anything is possible.
PS — Huge shout-out to my first team for their help compiling this list! Love you girls!
