One of my dearest friends, Wendy Vanden Bosch, was in town visiting me and my family this past weekend. There’s almost 2 years difference in age between us, but I really look up to her and have grown a lot by her friendship since the first day we met in Missoula 3 ½ years ago. It’s a special friendship, the kind you only make once in your life. Sometimes she even knows what I need to say before I myself know.
Well, at the end of the crazy-short weekend, a couple of hours before I was to take Wendy to the airport, we were in my car on the way to have one last lunch together. There was nothing noticeably special about the setting or the moment. It was pretty ordinary. But Wendy asked me a very important question, one that’s still following me around. She said, “Krista, what do YOU want people to know about your trip?” In the moment, I had a hard time answering. I’d think of something, but my words seemed to fall flat once they left my mouth. I hadn’t thought about it before…
What do I really, deep down in my heart want people to know about this upcoming trip?
Possibly already-known facts about World Race aside, I think there’s several things I’d like for people to know before I leave.
#1) Know that I’m considering the costs and consequences. Honestly, I feel like I’ve been considering them for several YEARS now. There’s costs to myself, to my parents, to a future career, costs financially and relationally. I understand that I will be missing some rather big moments in friends’ and families’ lives. I’ll miss family holiday parties and birthday gatherings and weddings and babies being born.
In the meantime, my church will keep serving and loving without me. My neighbors will find other capable people to pet-sit for them. My job will be hiring someone else once I leave. Taxes will still have to be paid. Driveways will still get shoveled, lawns mowed.
And there’s risks and uncertainty while in the field! Nighttime safety, iffy food/water, theft, allowing the other people on my team to really get to know me, hatred against Christians, powers and forces outside of my control…even the possibility of getting physically hurt permanently. There’s a lot of costs to consider. Yet, the one idea I’m wanting to throw everything into is this: knowing and following Jesus is worth it ALL. It may seem kind of radical, but I challenge you to consider it.
#2) Know I will still be fundraising through April 29, 2016!! If you’re wondering whether I’m still fundraising, the answer is a resounding YES! haha Also, if you plan on writing any checks after I leave, please please make them out to Adventures in Missions with my name in the memo line. If you make the check out to me, I won’t be able to endorse it. *end nuts-and-bolts talk*
#3) I understand that I will need supporters on the other side of this thing, too. I assure you this journey is already longer than 11 months, my friends, and saying it’ll end when I get back to America is incorrect. A year from now, I will need people who bravely want to re-acquaint themselves with a potentially-different Krista and to perhaps affirm new things God has ministered into my life. I’ll need people to give me the freedom to walk in whatever new gifts, passions or perspectives God gives me. I understand that you may have changed quite a bit too during this time, and I will want to learn how. Ultimately, I desire some grace and willingness for us to rediscover each other again.
#4) I really don’t want people putting me on a pedestal for doing this. To me, it’s just a simple act of obedience. Please don’t make an idol or a set of standards out of me. Don’t be fooled; you will be sorely disappointed when I mess up or don’t meet your expectations. I am the CLAY, not the potter.
#5) I am CLUELESS as to what we will be doing on a day-to-day basis and even what part of each country we will be in each month. I know for those who, like me, want to visually picture daily life, my lack of specific knowledge doesn’t help much. I can make guesses, speculate and tell you as much as I’ve been told by my World Race spiritual authority, but beyond that…I’ve no idea. Our journey will be discovered as we walk it out.
I CAN, however, tell you the names of people on my smaller team who I will be spending the majority of my time with. The links to their blogs are below.
#6) My squad (“1st Generation Expedition” or “F squad”) is doing some stuff a little different and little more daring. One of these things includes looking to create new ministry connections to World Race with people in the community that have never heard of “World Race” or “Adventures in Missions” before. Our squad gets to be the first impression locals have of future WR squads and of the parent organization. We’re pioneers, in a sense. It’s a big responsibility!!
Finally…
#7) I “launch” January 3rd for Atlanta, and January 9th is when we officially exit America. It’s almost in sight, right around the corner. What’s more, this will likely be my last blog post before we arrive in our first country (Indonesia!). Waaaaay crazy, folks. This is happening. It’s becoming real. PRAAAAY!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
🙂
