Things You Wanted To Know
I have sat down to begin answering these questions multiple times over the last couple of weeks and each time I stared at the screen for a couple of minutes and eventually would close the computer and walk away. There has been so much that has happened inside of me over the last seven months, and each month has brought on its own beauty and challenges. I have reflected on each month individually and these questions have allowed me to evaluate these last seven months as a whole. Thank you for asking great questions to help me reflect on my last seven months.
I will be splitting the questions in to separate blogs, instead of one very long one. Please enjoy part one!
What has been the biggest spiritual battle you have faced so far? What is the most difficult challenge so far?
Month 3, in Bolivia, was the biggest spiritual battle I have experienced on the race, and yes when I say month 3 I do mean the entire month in that country. This month was not just difficult for us spiritually, but also physically and emotionally. As a team we were battling illnesses off and on for a majority of the month; some with altitude sickness and others struggled with the food borne illness. In the town where we lived, I felt a darkness unlike anything I have ever experienced. The Christian presence there was very minimal; the church we attended only had 4 regular attendees. A struggle for the community we identified was alcoholism, and at night men wandered around the streets intoxicated. During our time there I really began to learn how to seek comfort in prayer and through time in the Word. I really felt what it is to rely solely on the Lord for strength. This was the month that truly bonded my first team on the race and taught us how to love each other well and be each other’s family. Looking back on that month, it has probably been the one that has most radically changed me.
How will your life be different when you return home?
This is an excellent question and one I can say I ask myself probably once a week, if not more. First of all, my life will be much more simplified; I look at my life before the race and see that so much of what I thought were needs were actually far from it. I want to spend more time making food than buying it, restoring old things versus buying new ones. I want to find ways to be creative and eliminate waste. Ultimately, I just want a simplified life without a lot extra bells and whistles; I just enjoy the beauty of a life without excess.
My definition of what it means to live a life for Jesus is very different than what it was seven months ago. There is a true hunger in my spirit for Christ that I have never experienced before. During the race, I have come to understand a little more of what it means to live in intimacy with my Jesus and I intend on living a life at home that continues to foster this beautiful love and friendship. I will live a life that prays every day, finds joy in the Word, and celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Who do you miss most?
My younger sister, Christine, was the one to ask this question and I know she wants me to say that she is the person I miss the most (hahaha 🙂 ). However, I can honestly tell you this is true. Christine is very much a part of me; it feels strange to be away from her for such a lengthy amount of time. I miss the easiness laughing with her, the comfort of sitting with her on the couch, the grumpy way she asks me to bring her food all of the time and her obsessive texts about her cat. Many days I feel myself missing just doing life with her close to me.
I find this to be true not just for my sister but also true for the way I miss my family and my close friends. Before leaving on the race, I don’t think I understood how truly beautiful it is to have the privilege to do life every day with the people I love most.
With that said, I want to thank the phenomenal people in my life for constantly loving me so well.
To be continued….
