To anyone involved with The World Race:
Hi, I am Joy’s sister Bethany, and I wanted to let you know exactly what The World Race means to the families of the people going.
First off, I’m not sure if I’m even allowed to be posting here since it is Joy’s blog; therefore, if this causes any problems it can be deleted.
Anywho, like I said, I am Joy’s sister Bethany and I am so excited for each and every person who is going on the trip. It will be a life-changing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you. You will learn to push aside all differences and learn that the only way forward is through trust and faith—trust and faith in yourself, your team, your squad, but most importantly Trust and Faith in God. You will be pushed and pulled through some of the most difficult challenges that you will ever face in your life within these coming 11 months. And when you think that you are at your very end and cannot go on anymore, you will find the strength to continue—this strength will come from within yourself as well as your teammates, deeply rooted in your Faith and Trust in Christ. It is at that moment where you are feeling all of the pain and hurt that is out there in the world that you will learn to love as Jesus has loved—unconditionally and without abandon.
I pray that the entire team, and squad, will be safe throughout their entire journey, wrapped in the solid protection of Christ. Knowing that no matter what, you are safe as long as you keep your eyes on Him and your hearts open to hear His calling. This will be my continued prayer until all of you are back home next year.
I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, as I’m sure you know, that this will be one of the most challenging years of your lives out in the mission field—yet, this will also be one of our most challenging years here at home. Now, I may be bias, but if any of you going out into the mission field has relationships even half as strong as the bond between Joy and I, know that it is ripping out your loved one’s hearts every time they even think of you being gone for so long.
Every time that I think of Joy leaving it brings tears to my eyes (and trust me, it has come at some of the most inconvenient times… specifically while I’m at work). Although this song isn’t quite in the right setting, or the words coming from the right point of view; however I wanted to point it out. If anyone has not heard it “Miles Away” by Memphis May Fire, it is about the singer going on tour and having to leave his wife back at home.
I pack my bags and say goodbye to my wife for what seems like the millionth time.
They said it gets easier, but they lied. She looks at me and says, “Really, baby, I will be just fine.”
But then she looks away so I don’t have to see her cry. And that is when I ask myself.
How am I supposed to be everything they expect me to be when I feel so alone,
‘cause I left my heart at home?
She needs me, but I know they need me too.
So, God, give me the strength to do what you created me to do.
Really, I’m so thankful for the people I meet, the places I’ve been and the things I’ve seen,
But when she’s not here it doesn’t feel like I’m living my dream.
I know they say that no one is perfect, but I swear she’s perfect for me
And that makes it so much harder to leave.
How am I supposed to be everything they expect me to be when I feel so alone,
‘cause I left my heart at home?
She needs me, but I know they need me too.
So, God, give me the strength to do what you created me to do.
If you miss me, I’m just a phone call away. Please be strong, be strong for me.
I need you to show me how to change the inside of me. For my heart, for their sake.
Be strong, be strong for me!
How am I supposed to be everything they expect me to be when I feel so alone, so along?
How am I supposed to be everything they expect me to be when I feel so alone,
‘cause I left my heart at home?
She needs me, but I know they need me too.
So, God, give me the strength to do what you created me to do.
In my opinion, this song shows many of the emotions shown from both ends here. It shows the struggle that you all are going through/will go through with leaving behind loved ones to follow what God has created you to do, even when you may think that you are not strong enough to do. And although you all are not “just a phone call away” we will stay at home knowing that you are following God’s calling for your lives where there will be pride and joy heavily mixed into our sorrow.
To everyone directly on Joy’s team:
Please know that I am willingly giving you a part of my heart and with that I expect you to take great care of it. Joy is not only my sister, but she is also my best friend, roommate, other half, and due to the fact that I am currently an engineering student, she is also my social life. Despite the fact that I am not physically going on the trip with all of you, you are taking half of my heart—please take care of it.
