I’m not sure how to start this. Maybe because this is my first blog of the whole race *oops*. Maybe because I have so much to process from this past week at PSL, let alone the whole race. Maybe because I don’t know how to put the past 9 months into words.
The world race is over.
That’s hard for me to say, really. The race was the best year of my life thus far.
I’ve learned who I am in Christ and now stand firm in that, I’ve seen miracles, I’ve learned how to cultivate ministry wherever I am, I’ve lived out a true authentic community, I now desire community at home, I’ve seen poverty that doesn’t exist in America, I’ve heard testimonies, I’ve built a school, taught kids English, used a squatty potty, taken bucket showers, evangelized to Hindus, lived in a mountain village, preached in a women’s jail, loved on street kids, etc etc. The list can go on about everything I’ve experienced these past 9 months on the World Race. It’s hard to put it into words. I think I’ve always struggled with putting life changing experiences into words.
I will be coming home changed.
But not by the World Race.
But by Jesus. It’s that simple. Jesus changed my life.
On Friday may 26th we flew from the Philippines to America, and since then we’ve been at Project Searchlight (PSL).
PSL is hosted at Adventures in Missions in Gainesville, Georgia where our training camp was held. It’s weird coming back to AIM after almost a year, ahem…quite the nostalgia. PSL has been a time to process everything we’ve learned on the race, and truly learn how to live it out and apply it to our new mission field called home, college, or whatever the Lord has called us into this new season of life.
We started Project Searchlight directly off the field, which hasn’t been easy, but crazy rewarding.
There are two other gap year squads at PSL who launched a month before us, so they’ve been off the field for a few weeks now. Our squad is what World Race calls the “homeschool squad”; meaning it was just our squad of 40ish people at training camp and launch. We don’t exactly know how to socialize with other squads.
The schedule of this past week has been quite busy. Breakfast, worship, session, session, lunch, break, worship, session, dinner, small groups. Let me remind you, we are still a little jet lag, but we’ve learned to find rest in the Lord during worship.
Let me first start off with food. Yes, of course it would be awesome to have home cooked meals coming right off the field, but PSL food is the next best thing. Tacos, mashed potatoes, bacon, spaghetti, and so much more. Thankful for good food our first week back in ‘MURICA.
Worship. Worship has been amazing this week. I can’t really describe the atmosphere during our worship times but WOW. Imagine this; Jesus is standing in front of a crowded room of 70+ people. Everyone is worshiping like Jesus is standing in front of them. He’s is there and His spirit fills the whole room every time. I’ve found so much freedom in worship on the race, but especially at PSL. I dance, cry, fall to the floor, lift my hands, and dance some more because JESUS is awesome. I love that I can be free and myself during worship. The Lord has really been speaking to me and through me during these precious times with Him.
Sessions. We have three sessions a day. Some are guest speakers, but most our Adventures in Missions staff. I’ve heard so much truth this week. These sessions have changed my life and how I view things. Topics have included transitioning home, how to share our experience, how to evangelize at home, finding community, and about the character of Jesus.
Small groups. I’m not going to lie, at training camp I disliked small groups. It was hard to be vulnerable with people I barely knew. This time is different. Not only have I’ve known these people for almost a year, but I’ve learned being vulnerable is necessary in community. Being vulnerable is a dang GOOD thing. My small group consists of several teammates and genuinely good friends. There are 7 of us and our rocking small group leader, Reid. We share with each other how we are doing, what we are learning, and our emotions on going home.
Project Searchlight is soon ending, but I leave feeling so much more prepared to go home. I feel as ready as I can be. I’m excited for what this next season has for me and where the Lord is going to take me.
As I said earlier, this was the best year of my life thus far. But this was only the start of so many “best years” to come.
World Race is a training camp for life, and Project Searchlight is the launch into what is next. I’m so very grateful for these past 9 months traveling to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Nepal, and the Philippines. But I’m excited to go home and grow even more in my faith and community.
To friends and family: I fly home June 2nd and would absolutely love to share my story with you all. I want to share with you how Jesus changed my heart, and I want to hear about YOUR past 9 months. We got a lot to catch up on. Coffee dates? Yes please.
Thank you to my financial supporters, prayer warriors, friends, squadmates, squad leaders, squad mentor, and my #1 supporters- my parents…and Jesus. I finished the world race!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1
