Exactly one year ago I was anxiously packing and repacking my bag. I was tying up loose ends at home, binge eating all my favorite foods, and ordering last-minute supplies from REI. I didn’t know what to expect from journey was right in front of me, but I knew it was gonna be a wild ride. Spoiler alert: it was.
Now that I’m back on U.S. soil, I wanted to write just one more blog to wrap up the World Race and offer a little to advice to future racers. I wish someone would have told me what to expect from this new adventure, but the truth is that would have taken all the fun out of it. With that being said, I’ve written this letter to my former self with the hopes that maybe, just maybe, my memories and experiences can be bright and beautiful promises to a racer on the cusp of something new and exciting.
Dear me,
It’s me. I’m you from the future. I’ve got slightly less muscle mass, a little more facial hair, and a gnarly scar on my noggin (you’ll just have to wait for that one), but other than that I look pretty much the same on the outside. To be completely honest, I think I’m pretty similar on the inside, too. I mean I’ve had less-than-regular bowel movements for 11 months, but I think that’s getting settled now. I thought I would be an entirely different person when I got home, but the truth is I think I’m just a more grown-up and more Christlike version of you! It’s hard not to grow into a better version of yourself when you’re surrounded by a community like you have (I know they’re overwhelming now, but you’ll learn to appreciate them). Anyway, I wanted to write you this letter to offer some tips that I’ve learned along the way. Some things, though, you’ll just have to figure out on your own!
- Some of the relationships with people at home will dry up while you’re gone (your worst fear, I know), but trust God to cultivate Life and you just love people with everything you’ve got.
- Internet and social media are deadly. Do your best to limit the amount of time you spend with them. Don’t be afraid to share the good, the bad, AND the ugly with your supporters.
- There’s absolutely no reason to take all those clothes you’re packing. I only needed my Chacos, my running shoes, 4 t-shirts, 1 nice(ish) shirt, 1 pair of pants, 2 pairs of shorts, and 3 (yes, 3) pairs of boxers. Exofficio mesh boxers are THE BOMB.
- You currently take like 2 or 3 showers a day; enjoy it while you can. Pretty soon you’ll be taking 2 or 3 showers a month with a small bucket of water. Don’t worry, though. A little sweat never killed nobody (just apply deodorant regularly).
- Indian curry will be the first of many miracles you experience on the Race. Enjoy it. Savor it. Feel the burn. You will find it in every country from here on out, but it will never be as good as Sister Covita’s in Month 1.
- Don’t let logistics overwhelm you. It turns out that most of it is completely out of your hands anyway. God opens doors in some crazy awesome ways. Don’t forget to praise Him for the little things. You’re gonna learn to really love it!
- Quiet time every day is not negotiable. You will not experience growth this year if you don’t take time to sit with Jesus and dig into HIs Word. There’s really good stuff in there, and it’s not hard to find!
- Order Veg Khana and Aloo Paratha at that cheap place on the corner in Kathmandu. You’ll know it when you see it. And you’ll thank me later.
- You’re about to find out all kinds of ways that God speaks that you never thought existed. Listen, write it down, pray about it. Don’t be too hasty, but don’t be closed-minded either.
- Be intentional with encouraging your teammates. They need to know they are loved by the King and coincidentally you are His heir and ambassador! Love big.
- Always, always, always take time for the needy in your path. Give them a word, a smile, a meal, a hug, pray healing over them, or just whisper a little intercessory prayer. Jesus didn’t step over the lame man, He stopped, loved him, and told him to walk!
- Sometimes toilet paper will not be available. That’s okay. Do what needs to be done. Suffer the consequences if you must. There will be a teammate with wet wipes around the corner.
- In Thailand you will be forced awake at 5am by pigs and roosters, but if you lay there long enough you can hear all the kids singing worship songs at 5:30. Worth it.
- There will be spiritually rainy seasons and really really dry seasons, too. He is God and He is good through it all.
- Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Some of the people you snubbed at Training Camp are about to be some of your best friends. Have yourself a slice of humble pie and love them.
- You’ll have a pool, A/C, and coffee in Cambodia. It’s gonna be sick. Oh, also you’re gonna have an identity crisis but figure out who you are in the process.
- Holidays without your family will be difficult, but it’s a really awesome way to lean on the people around you and fully rely on the Father to sustain you.
- Take advantage of cheap clothes in Asia. They’re hip, they’re inexpensive, and they’re more durable than you’d originally think. #thanksAsia
- Right now you say you hate kids, but don’t fool yourself. You love them! Maybe just in small doses though… Take every opportunity to show children how important they are to the King of kings.
- Try tons of new food in every country!! You won’t regret this one.
- Take a billion pictures and videos. You can never have too many.
- Love those babies in Ethiopia with everything you have. Hug them every chance you get. Share your snacks with them. Run around in the fields with them. Snuggle them while you watch Ice Age and Madagascar. Bake cookies for them. Most importantly, teach them about the love of Jesus.
- Prepare some sermons. Honestly just 2 or 3 solid ones will do. You will preach a lot, but it will rarely be to the same group of people each time. Also be attentive to the Holy Spirit if He wants to change your message! He does that pretty often, tbh.
- God is going to ask you to pray for healing over Dad in Rwanda. It’s going to be scary and you may not see the fruit that you expect, but do it anyway. Listening to the Holy Spirit is more important than your ego.
- Have your testimony ready AT ALL TIMES. Short, sweet, and all about what Jesus has done for you.
- Team changes are gonna try your life. Push through. Love hard. Pour out. And be sure to get alone with God so that He can fill you back up!
- Carve out time to be alone. You and I both know you can’t handle people for too long. To be the best version of yourself, you’ve got to have some physical space.
- You will see some horrible things during your Race. I know it’s hard to understand and I know it’s unfair, but there’s always beauty to be found in it. Look for a way to love beyond the pain. That’s what the Gospel is all about.
- There are tons of llamas in South America (especially Peru). Enjoy them. Pet them. Take pictures of/with them. But beware; they are kinda scary up close.
- Anxiety sucks. You’re going to experience it full-force on the Race. You’ll want to throw in the towel. You’ll want to forget everything you’ve been through for the last several months, but don’t give up. God is Sustainer. He is going to carry you through it. Let go.
- You’re going to headbutt a ladder so hard it’ll wish it was never manufactured. If it would have been anyone else’s head….
- Watch some movies, read some books, share some stories. Let your mind wander and tap into that wealth of creativity that you’re always so ashamed of. God gave it to you so give it back to those around you!
- You’re going to give away virtually all of your clothes in Month 11. To be honest it’s pretty frustrating but oddly satisfying. Still processing that one. Give them anyway! Those men in Colombia need them more than you.
Well, young one, I have tons more tips and hints but honestly I’d be a villain if I spoiled the whole thing for you.
Enough about you, anyway!! What about me??
I just applied for a nursing job at a hospital in Lynchburg, VA where I will be moving in early August. I’ll be attending graduate school at Liberty University to get my Master’s of Religion with an emphasis in Evangelism and Church Planting. Yeah, it’s gonna be tough but it’ll be worth it!
You are about to hit a spiritual growth spurt, and you’ll never be quite the same. But honestly you’re still you! You’ve been created in God’s image, you’ve learned how to pursue Christ-likeness this year, and you’re looking more like Him every day. That’s you looking more and more like yourself! Funny how that works. Until next time! Keep it up!
Sincerely,
Luke
Thank you to everyone who supported me in this journey. It has been truly an awesome experience and the best year of my life… so far. I’m looking forward to better and fuller years to come. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you, reader. I am praying for you today to encounter Jesus in a radical, life-altering way. I may not even know your name, but I know the One who does!
Love big, my friends!
