My TL (for those who don’t know the lingo TL=team leader) and I were up late last night chatting and reminiscing our race thus far. It inspired me to do a recap blog, so here it is:
Let me start from the beginning – taking the World Race quiz…
I can’t even count the times my mom asked me after signing up for the World Race,
“Are you sure you can do this?”
Of course my answer was yes! But man oh man…looking back. I was SO. NOT. READY! (Like “freakin’ no!” Hahahaha.)
I took the quiz online as soon as I saw it. Of course everyone “has what it takes,” because you have an e-mail address that they want. Lol And if you want the truth, no one can possibly be “ready” for the race. The race presents challenges and situations that you could never imagine! Challenges that rock your world and grow your faith. Situations that push you past limits you never knew you had in the first place.
THAILAND
Where it really all began. Unlike other squads, Fusion is special. For those who don’t know, we do training camp on the field. Through the mile hike with all our packs and gear, through the restroom being the tree or bush next to you, through the setting up of your tent in the dark and tearing it down at daybreak, through the “mash-up” meals made up of whatever you can get, through the sharing of your life secrets with 22 strangers, through it all… I remember pushing through because that’s me and what I do, but I also remember thinking, “What the heck am I doing?! I have lost my ever-loving mind! God what were you thinking bringing me out here?”
Hahahahahahahaha…I’m sorry I can’t help but laugh. I thought I had my life under control. I thought I knew myself. I thought a lot things but turns out I was flat out wrong about it all. Man… I’ve come a LONG way.
Our ministries the first month only lasted about 10 days due to training camp and launch, but in those 10 days we – my team (shoutout to Avanti) – made some amazing friends! We talked with monks at Buddhist temples. We prayer walked streets filled with prostitutes and bars. We met some of the sweetest people who loved for us to sit and talk with them – even if charades was the language we had to use. Thailand is one of those countries that steals your heart. Not because of the culture, but because of the people! You southerns know how there is a church or McDonald’s on every corner? Well, replace those with Buddhist temples and you’re in the environment that Chang Mai, Thailand presents. It was hard. But the relationships were well worth the spiritual darkness! No doubt about it!
CAMBODIA
Cambodia felt like my first true month on the field. Thailand was great, but we didn’t get the full month experience that comes with the separation of teams. Cambodia gave me that and more. My team was actually split between two ministries. I was with 2 other teammates at a christian school in the middle of Siem Reap, Cambodia. We were surrounded by students learning English using the Holy Bible as their textbook! It was amazing. They weren’t much younger than my teammates and I, and we bonded like family. The heat, the dirt, the lack of a/c, the lack of a shower (at least as we know it), the dress code, the language barrier, the food (don’t even get me started on the food), along with so many more factors put me into a very uncomfortable place. Granted, I had expected that, so struggling with the physical uncomfortableness was not all that bad. There were other obstacles that month presenting much more heaviness and frustration. All for the glory of God of course. The work God began in me in Cambodia – patience, love, joy, gentleness, self-control, flexibility, etc. – has brought forth fruit here and now. Not only that, God is still using it to teach me, just in different areas and at different levels. When we left that school, the tears streamed down my sunburnt cheeks that were expanding and calapsing from my lack of breath. Those “kids” touched my heart. And as much as I wish and hope I could say God touched them more than God touched me through them, I don’t think I can. I had never felt the pain of the realization of leaving someone being 99% positive you would never see them again. It hurt. Because I loved. I loved deeper and drastically different than I had ever loved before. I had practiced loving the way God loves – unconditionally.
VIET NAM
De Nang, Viet Nam housed the breaking point in my identity crisis I didn’t even realized I had. As much as I had fallen in love with my teammates and their hearts, I struggled living in community with them 24/7. It was hard. I didn’t understand the unrealistic expectations I placed on my TL because those same unrealistic expectations I had placed on myself. I had completely forgotten about lies from the enemy that I had agreed with way back when, and therefore they still played into my personality. I hadn’t tried to figure out my introvertedness; I just tried to excuse it and push it onto others. The false identity I had taken on, came off. And just like smashing a piggy bank to get to the treasure inside, God shattered my false identity to rediscover the beautiful person He originally created me to be. It was painful, but now it’s one of the moments I’m most thankful for. Thank you God and team Avanti for helping me rediscover my true identity in Christ!
As far as ministry in Viet Nam, God allowed my team and I to connect with so many hearts. Many Vietnamese people studied English but were too intimidated to try speaking with us. It took time. Time to build a relationship and grow together through games, smiles, adventures, and coffee. By the time the month ended, we had been able to karaoke christian songs where everyone sang along, share Bible verses, see a soul get saved, and have God show up through this small, christian, English café! The abundance of God and the gospel in this closed country was truly a miracle! To God alone be the glory!
DEBRIEF – VUNG TU
Our first time back together as a squad in Vung Tu, Viet Nam brought excitement and more growth. The logistics leader, squad mentor, and coaches flew out to meet us. As we debriefed the first 3 months team by team with our leaders, we closed out our times together as teams, grew in relationships with teammates, mended any hurt, and pointed out growth we had seen in ourselves and others. A few days to process, rest, and be encouraged with some teaching, breakout sessions, and squad worship readied me for the next leg of the race.
INDONESIA
No matter the age, the religious traditions, the location, the language, nor any other discriminating factor could prevent the love of God to shine and the gospel of Jesus to reign. When the Holy Spirit decides to move through His people, hearts and lives are changed and touched. All other matters fade away, and He outshines it all. In Medan, Indonesia, I visited villages consisting of people from old to young, villages of Muslims, villages tucked away into the mountains, villages with different dialects, and met people within the city with just as much diversity. Each and every person filled with the unique beauty God originally created them with. While close relationships were not formed in attempt to reach as many people as possible, I saw the Holy Spirit show up and touch people. That’s really the only purpose of being there anyways. Ministry was crazy and hectic this, but a blessing and eye-opening nonetheless.
As I mentioned before, in debrief, we were placed on new teams. This was my team for the next leg of the race – team Cosmopolita! Talk about a diverse team! We were the fusion team of the fusion squad. It was an honor to be a part of this team of international sisters! The month presented emotional and spiritual challenges for each of us in different ways, but just as Nina (my Russian princess in the middle) had to cut ties with her dreads due to the lice infestation, I began to renew my mind from the false identity ties in I had cut off in Viet Nam. I remember team times and feedbacks that lasted hours. Sometimes long into the night with ministry starting early on the following day. We are all so uniquely made and at different levels spiritually, but God used that to form a bond between us which enlightened me to see the way He sees every person worldwide. His children. Loved and accepted. Even me.
LATVIA
What a tough month Riga, Lativa presented! Spiritual attacks were daily if not hourly. The spirits of assumption, frustration, anger, and others did not let up for one second. Our TL had one of her toughest moments. My roommate and I debriefed every night – that’s how challenging each day was. Other teammates had moments of strong spiritual battling that brought harsh emotions out among the team. Team dynamics were interesting, to say the least, at times. In other moments when one or two of us were really struggling, team dynamics expressed true friendship. Leaning on one another. Laying hands on each other. Praying over and for one another.
Through it all, the month’s ministry, I believe, was a blessing. The family we lived with and ministered to was precious! It taught a team of women about motherhood that none of us had experienced. It strengthened our spiritual lives. It thrusted us into finding our purpose and valuing spiritual sisterhood. Whether we ministered by gardening, cooking, talking, or cleaning, God had His hand in it. He brought out what true community is, and I pray that forever resonates within each of us – even our host family.
In the end, we got to laugh together through the pure joy that the Lord so gracious brings… Hallelujah!
UKRAINE
You remember those summers going to summer camp? Well, essentially our time spent in Rivne, Ukraine looked a lot like those summers. New people – even a new team (team Third). New country. New culture. New food. Camp. But instead of just doing one camp during your summer break, we did three camps in one month! Our first two camps were English camps. Team Third was split into different classes to teach English. We were equipped with Bible lesson packets by our awesome hosts – Tanya and Tania! Some of our students from the first camp carried over into the 4 day away camp that started shortly after. This let us form some relationships that will now last a lifetime and provide unforgettable memories! The third camp was a disabilities camp. While we didn’t teach English, we were blessed with the opportunity to simply serve others in need. For some, it looked like chores that went unnoticed and unappreciated. But for me, I didn’t need to be noticed or appreciated. I enjoyed the so-called “chores” because they brought me to a place of humility I hadn’t been in before. Plus, serving these people was an honor. I wish I could share each and every story amongst them, but I can’t. These disabled couples are blessed with an amazing God who gave them powerful testimonies! It was an honor to hear from them and be among them serving any way I could!
DEBRIEF – BUDAPEST
Here we are in Budapest, Hungary at debrief #2! Half-way through the race, and I’m still blown away by the blessing God has given me to be a part of this journey with my squad! It was here that we said goodbye to our alumni squad leaders and one of our squad mates. It was here that God revealed new relationship steps for me to trust Him in. It was here that new revelations about my future unfolded. It was here I realized that leaving the race in November was going to be one of the most difficult things I’d experience in my lifetime! Debrief again allowed for rest, team meetings, exploration, and growth. It also presented a time for hindsight. Half-way finished and what do you see thus far? How has God moved? How do I press into that momentum and keep growing in Him? How do I not tire out? I’m pretty sure God answered everyone in a different way, but being able to have a debrief knowing you weren’t having to change teams was very beneficial. It helped us keep one another accountable to pressing in for the month to follow.
ROMANIA
All squad month!!!!!!! After being separated out into teams for a few months, we were given the opportunity to serve as a squad. This presented challenges – some expected, others not expected. Regardless, it was a blast to serve alongside those I hadn’t gotten the opportunity to serve with yet as well as serve alongside those from previous teams I’d been a part of. Draganesti, Romania was full of opportunities to serve! My squad did everything from street clean-up, to admin office work, to church restoration, to sharing testimonies, to evangelism, to kid’s ministry, to widow’s ministry (picture above), and more. Talk about bringing God’s love and gospel to your area! This host and his church body brought Jesus and the gospel like I have never seen!! Like they BROUGHT IT! Our host, Raul, I’ve never met a man so full of faith. God moves, he moves. No questions. God shows him an area that needs Jesus, he finds a way to make it happen. Plus his heart – a true servant’s heart – was and is a huge blessing to those around him. He truly inspired me and my squad. The people we got to work with and the lives God touched through us and Hope Church’s ministries was unreal. Unfathomable! And in a place known as a graveyard of missionaries, I saw flourishing light!
These two ladies…let me tell you…what a blessing they both are to me! They are only 2 of the many who lifted me up in prayer during one of the most trying months of my race. That prayed over me. They prayed for me. The prayed with me. They loved me well! Hilary (my TL – far left) and Sarah (a raised up TL – middle) gave me the spiritual encouragement to press in, on and through in times that were inconvenient and not ideal for them. Whether it was a walk late at night, or tears needing to be caught, or a smile in passing, or a hug without questions, they were there. Support is a huge thing in life and especially on this race! Having it or not can make or break us. And these two ladies helped make me into the more godly woman God has so difficultly called me to be. I wouldn’t be able to be where I’m at without these two! So thank you! Not just to you – Hil and Sarah – but to the squad. To those who took time to ask questions, to give a hug, and to care when life was emotionally and spiritually challenging. It meant the world – and after travel days through 2 continents, you know just how big this world is!
MACEDONIA
IT’S MONTH 8!!! I’ve made it this far. No turning back now – not that I’d even want to! I’m eight months into my World Race and could not be more inspired by the people I have met this month! First off, we are in Macedonia – I’ve read that name in the Bible! How awesome is that?! Secondly, I’m in one of the oldest cities of Macedonia – Stip. Thirdly, my team is placed in the first christian church of Stip – what an honor to be a part of their growing process! And as if that isn’t enough, one of our hosts – Robert – is a recovered drug addict with a testimony that will blow>your>mind! Through Robert and the ministry he runs here at the church for drug addicts, my team and I have had moments to impact some of the city’s most outcasted and abandoned people. JUST LIKE JESUS! The stories I’ve heard over the past two weeks have radically changed the way I will forever see people who struggle with addictions. We all struggle with something, but our cultures deem which struggles are categorized as worse than others. Truth is – a struggle is a struggle. Welcome to life. And if you’re in Christ, guess what… you still struggle! And that’s okay as long as you’re willing to fight it to become more like Christ. These drug addicts – recovered or recovering – love (and I mean LOVE) Jesus! Their lives magnify Him. I’ve seen them worship. It’s humbling and will move you to tears. It’s God at work. And I’ve missed opportunities to see God work in lives like these in the past because of categorized culture. Praise God for this month! I can’t wait to see what else and who else I get to come into contact with!
EIGHT MONTHS IN – Are you sure you can do this?
Is it easy? No.
Is it comfortable? No.
Is it predictable? No.
Is it worth it? YES!
And I’m sure I can do it and finish it because of Christ in me.
His strength.
His comfort.
His peace.
This journey I’m on I could have never been ready for. Actually let me reword that… this life I’m living, I could have never been ready for. But with the choice to live it, comes the choice of how to live it. Easily through His strength? Comforted by His hand? Predicting through His peace?
How are you choosing to live? Are you sure you can do this?
