Woah….I leave for the World Race TOMORROW! Where has the time gone?? As the summer comes to an end, students are packing up and getting ready to head to school and I’m thinking, what a minute, I’m done with school, I don’t have to go back. On one end it is exhilarating being done, knowing I do not have to do homework, sit in classes, or write essays; on the other end I miss my college life, miss my friends and miss playing soccer.
Students going back to school are starting a new chapter of their life, but then again, so am I. I can be sad, reminiscing about the past but I could also be super excited for the future and what my World Race has in store for me. When the summer began I had started a new job, started fundraising, and started mentally preparing for the World Race. It was a lot to take in at one time, but I couldn’t be more grateful for what the past four months have taught me.
Too keep this blog semi-short I have learned about patience, trust (a big one), love, partnership, friendship, freedom, devotion, conviction, guidance, who I am, and the Holy Spirit (I couldn’t possible say them all but you get the idea). Before this summer, I did not know how to trust the Lord completely. During these four months, I had to trust He would provide financially and mentally for my trip because there is no way I could do it on my own. He provided me with a job, supporters, and prayer partners which shows He is faithful and trusting in him will always lead to a wonderful outcome.
Fundraising has been a blessing in disguise. I felt super uncomfortable asking people for money when I really had nothing to give back to them besides updates on my trip. Through fundraising, I have been able to create close bonds and friendships with people and share my story which lead to them giving. I thought I knew who would support me financially and who wouldn’t, but I have been totally surprised by people, some I don’t even know, willing to fight for me in prayer and give financially to my trip.
During the summer I went to a 10 day training camp in July to meet my squad a future team members. Now racers can do a whole blog just on training camp alone. A mere 10 days was filled with team bonding, lessons, worship, sleeping in tents, taking bucket showers, no running water, morning workouts, Atlanta heat you know…the glamorous life. In the midst of all the tough elements we were facing each day, you could see how God was transforming lives of racers. I would call it soul searching, at least that was what I did. I had to deal with situations in my past that were still bogging me down. I had to stop believing the lies the devil was telling me and know that the Lord saw me and I was worthy. I had to find who I was, not putting on a fake-self for others to see. Overall it was fantastic learning opportunity which freed me of the fears I had previous to camp. It was one of the most eye-opening ten days of my life.
Recently I have been asked, “Are you getting excited or nervous?” I might have been asked that about 20 times in the past 48 hours and my answer is always, “I’m more nervous than excited, but I’m a little nervous.” If someone would have asked me that 3 months ago my answer would have been something along the lines of, “I’m so terrified, I don’t know how I will be away for that long, and how I’m going to raise that much money.” Throughout this summer, I have stopped relying on the things of this world and started relying on the Lord, once I was convicted and started to look up for answers on fundraising, my new job, and spiritual questions, I was blessed beyond belief by what God had been wanting to show me about him and about myself.
So all in all it has been one crazy summer. As I depart on this new chapter of my life, it sure will be a whirlwind but it will be so worth it because I know for certain I am supposed to take this journey.
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