Nestled in the mountains of Cape Town, merely minutes from the sea, you can find a community called Ocean View. The houses are colorful, the landscape is breath taking, and the people are bright and leave you smiling long after you've left their company. The weather this time of year makes you shiver. The cold wind bites your neck if you leave it uncovered for too long. Nonetheless, the children still run wild, kicking soccer balls, screaming and giggling. It's an entirely different pace from last month in Vietnam. Our month was quiet and chaos was available only when you chose it. There were no muddy feet traipsing through our hotel rooms. There were no little hands reaching toward us. There were no calls for tickle fights or adorable accents struggling to pronounce our names. Last month was beautiful, but so different.
You see, visiting 11 countries means leaving 11 countries. Meeting wonderful friends inevitably means saying goodbye to wonderful friends. And saying goodbye to Vietnam was overwhelmingly difficult for me. Vietnam left me longing for more. Stories didn't fully unfold. I didn't get to hear the happy endings. I left Vietnam with tears and hopes that I will return one day. But saying hello to South Africa reminds me of why I'm here.
I'm on the World Race for the smiles that melt my heart when I meet a lonely soul, longing to be noticed. I'm on the World Race for the teenage girls that have never been told they are beautiful. I'm on the World Race for the outcasts, the misfits, the renegades, the hopeless, and the misunderstood. I'm on the World Race to be like Jesus. So, while the goodbyes may be heartbreaking, every tear is worth it. Every friendship, although short-lived, is well worth the sacrifice. Pouring my heart out eleven times is much better than keeping my heart intact for a full year. So I pour out, knowing the more I pour, the more I'm poured into by a well that never runs dry.
When the Race first began, I used to ask God why I was chosen. God could have asked anyone to travel the world doing the same things I am. But God asked me. I have spent so much of my life messing up. I haven't always been the best friend to those around me. I haven't always spent my time selflessly. I haven't always lived up to even the basic standards of a Christian. At times, I've been overwhelmed with doubt, anger, and pride. So, why was this mess being sent to represent Christ?
This month, I feel like I've gotten my answer. There's a story in the book of Luke where a sinful woman washes Jesus' feet with her hair. Jesus takes this opportunity to tell the Pharisees that she is forgiven much because she loved much. Never in my life have I been more in need of God's love then on this trip. And He has given it to me. The more I fall in love with Jesus, the more I recognize how desperate I am for Him. I'm completely, utterly, and hopelessly dependent upon Him. I'm not chosen based on my merits. My personality, strengths, or passions alone aren't enough to be called and equipped. They aid in the calling, but they aren't the reason for the calling.
For the first time since the start of the Race, I can confidently say that I belong on the Race. I, Karah Park, play a vital role on my squad, team, and ministry. There are things that I have to offer in every country because of the Christ inside of me. I belong here. And I need your help to stay here. I want seven more goodbyes in seven more countries. I want each goodbye to be harder than the last because with every country, I pour out more than I did before. I want seven more hellos, seven more months of tickle fights, intellectual conversations, prayer circles, and dance parties.
Truth be told, my support account is low. Like, really low. If I may be frank with you, I have until the end of October to raise $2,000 or I'm going back to the Show-Me-State of Missouri. Altogether, I'm $3,700 short of my October 1st deadline and $8,250 away from being fully funded.
So I need your help. $2,000 stands between me and the next country. Any amount, $10, $20, $50, or $100 helps keep me where I belong, with the people I love, and the countries I'm crazy about. If you'd be interested in hosting a fundraiser, please feel free to e-mail me at [email protected]. If you have any questions or just want to chat, I would love that too.
Thank you for reading. To my supporters, thank you for investing your heart, your prayers, and your finances into the journey I've been on for these last four months. I promise to give everything I have to every location I'm placed in. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I love you.
