The World Race is not what I expected it to be.
When I signed up for the World Race back in January, I was simply obeying the conviction God had placed in my heart four years ago as a freshman in college – to serve in the nations for at least a year. When God reminded me of that conviction this past December, He told me, "I gave you a passion for missions, a passion you seem to have forgotten about. You've been caught up in preparing for grad school, pursuing your career, you've forgotten about the heart I gave you for my people."
And so I put everything on hold, and I applied for the World Race. I was ready to serve in the nations, ready to get messy, ready to sacrifice, ready to suffer, ready for God to use me.
Fast forward 8 months, the race has begun.
Mid-September. The Zambian bush. We walk miles from village to village sharing the gospel. We drill wells to provide access to clean water. We break ties of bondage and witchcraft. We preach and bring crowds of hundreds to Christ.
October. Cape Town, South Africa. We run an after school program to get the local kids off the drug and gang infested streets. We play sports and have bible studies and dance classes to give them positive influence. We visit homes and pray for hurting families in the neighborhood.
November – Manzini, Swaziland. We visit cancer and HIV/aids patients, spend time with them, and pray with them. We help out teaching pre-K students at local carepoints. We throw Christmas parties, serve food, and play games with primary school students at rural care points.
And now I am here in Hong Kong, serving here before entering into China. I cannot believe the places I encounter at times. The people I meet. The crazy I experience. I feel like I'm in a movie sometimes. Is not real life..
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And yet all of this, all this good, all this awesomeness.. it's all in vain. It's all a waste. All a waste of time.
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That is..if you want it to be.
We hop from country to country, meet new people, speak into their lives, and get spoken into. We serve with children, hospitals, schools, construction and orphans. We are all giving up a year to serve the least of these. We're doing good aren't we? Why is it a waste of time?
God doesn't want laborers. He wants hearts that seek after Him. This is something I've been learning on the race. He could have used anybody- anybody in the world, if all he needed was someone to feed a child, dig a hole, or teach English. But He chose us for a reason, He chose ME. He brought me on this race not only to show His love to others through me, but to reveal more of Himself and show His love to me.
The past three months have flewwwwww by. I feel like I left the states yesterday. I am constantly reminding myself to slow things down and take time to realize what God is teaching me every day, every week, every month.
There are a few times in ones life, a few milestones that you can look back on, where you can say that was a turning point in your life. And if you go through this year with the mindset that this is a year long mission trip where you can serve in 11 different countries in 11 months.. that's all it will be. The year will pass by in a blink of an eye and all you'll have to show for it is a trip around the world where you "did some good stuff."
But if you take this year, and seek to be intentional with what God is doing in your life.. Take time to see what God is teaching you.. This year may be one of the most transformational times in your life. He may take you places you never dreamt you could go. This race is what you make of it, and it can be as amazing and incredible as you want it to be.
Seek God. Seek Him. And this year just may be the craziest adventure you've ever experienced.
