Going out on the race again makes me think back to the first time around. I found a list of the things that I needed to get done before taking off on my year long journey. The list is the same as the list I have this time around. There are a couple of things that I had to do last time that I don’t have to do this time, like getting shots and getting extra passport pages. But this time I have two months to get ready, last time I had almost five months.
I can remember the pressure I felt last time. I didn’t want to forget anything. I had to make sure that all of my paper work was in. I needed to get all of my gear, and make sure that everything that I wanted to take would fit. I was trying to get into shape so that I could lug my backpack around the world. I was trying to communicate with as many people before the race so that they would know what I was doing. I’m sure the list of things I was trying to do went on and on. The thing I remember the most though is a looming feeling that I wasn’t doing it right. A constant worry remained in the back of my mind. It increased after I returned from training camp with the knowledge of being my teams leader. With that came a new list of things to do and unnecessary pressures to fulfill.
It’s only been four weeks since I found out that I was going to be a squad leader. I have my checklist sitting beside me of things that need to get done. I’m not overwhelmed. I know that everything will get done. The things that don’t get done will be those things that aren’t as important. After a year of traveling around the world I know what I need. The World Race taught me that worrying is pointless. Even the unexpected things will work themselves out.
I know that my squad feels the pressure that I felt the first time around. The worry is evident in their blogs. I would love to be able to give them the right advice that would ease their struggles, but I also know that some things need to be experienced. I am living this right alongside of them. I do not have the financial support in my account that I need to cover all of my expenses yet, but I know that it is on its way. God is stirring hearts and preparing miraculous blessings, for me, those who give to this journey, and for those that will be touched this next year through this trip.
Please pray:
- I am very busy up to training camp (May 19-30), pray that I get done what needs to get done.
- Pray that training camp goes well, their will be over 150 racers training at this camp. It will be crazy!
- Pray that I get to talk to everyone that I want/need to talk to before the race.
- Pray that my squad takes time in all their busyness to talk to Jesus and that they would have a supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding.
