Most past, present, and future racers can relate to this. If you are not a World Racer, this may come off as a little odd. My apologies in advance. 🙂
Almost all of us have "that person", or "that video", or "that blog". Maybe the person was someone who went to your church or your school, and you began reading their World Race blogs because you know (or knew) them. Maybe you've known about the WR for years, but one day, as you were browsing the website, one blog or one video caught your attention. No matter the situation, most of us have that person/blog/video that changed the game. Somewhere along the line, the WR captured your heart.
In my case, I had never heard of the WR. I was happily teaching an amazing group of 23 third graders when I began to feel God tugging my heart toward overseas missions. I started looking for mission trips online and the WR was the first link that popped up on my screen.
I happened to click on a featured video by a girl named Emily Tuttle- and the rest, as they say, is history. Something about the community that I saw in that video captivated me. I ended up reading every blog that this girl had written and watching every video that she and her teammates had created- and probably all within one week's time. I experienced the Holy Spirit through this group of people I had never met. God placed a kindred spirit, a familiarity, inside me for these people. I felt like I knew them; like I'd known them my whole life. I rejoiced with their successes, and my heart hurt for the "prodigal people" that they encountered. I laughed "with them" (Ha!) during the funny moments, cringed "with them" during the yucky moments, and – when the time came for the last video – and Emily was near tears and alone for the first time in 11 months, I cried "with her".
I told you this might come off as odd, didn't I?
But honestly, God let me experience the WR through another group of people, which motivated me to apply for the WR myself.
Never in a million years could I have imagined that God would have appointed this encounter in such a mighty way. Watching that first video, I could never have known that I would one day meet this girl, spend time with her, or actually become her friend. Never in my life could I have imagined that God would use that first video to plant the seed of trust in this person I'd never met, so that one night – 6 months later – He could use her to hold my hand as I sobbed into her lap, and to speak His truth into my soul. That He would use her to set me free.
So, with 11 days to go until I begin my own 11-month journey, I found it fitting to go back and read again the stories that captured my heart many months ago. And this time, I've made a list. 11 things that I have learned from someone else's race. 11 things that I want to remember as God begins to shape my experiences and interactions. And (Who knows?) they just might be helpful to other racers, too.
So, here they are… You're welcome, "future Lydia":
1. Blogging can be powerful.
Right now, it's easy to let the enemy convince you that you have nothing worth saying; that your voice is not worth being heard. This will happen occasionally on the race. There will be months where you will not be able to type the stories fast enough to share them with all of your support system, but there will also probably be months where you feel that you have nothing worth blogging about. BLOG ANYWAY. You have to remember that there are people who want to know that you're ok; who want to read a blog all about your team having "Christmas in July" – even if you don't think it's worth telling. God will use your blogs. He has the power to speak into someone's life using you the same way He spoke into my life using Emily – but He can't do that if you don't continue to write and share the Words that He is speaking to you.
(Inspiration: Christmas in July blog)
2. Trust and find hope in the fact that God does not abandon the works of His hands.
There will, more than likely, be a country or countries which you will have to leave when you would rather stay. This may be due to a person or community that God has used you/your team to impact in a significant way. You MUST trust and pray that God will continue the work that He has begun through you. You cannot be consumed with the past and also be active in what God has moved you forward into at the same time. You also cannot blame yourself or God if the situation changes after you leave. Remember that God's plan and timing are better than our own.
(Inspired by: Mae's Story – it's a long, 12-part story, but SO worth the read! Trust me!)
3. Stay thankful for all of the consistent and committed blog followers and prayer warriors back home.
Remember that life has not come to a halt for them just because you are gone. Be grateful for the time that they have committed to spend reading, encouraging, and praying for you along the way. God used these people to get you to where you are, and their prayers and support are extremely valuable. They will be as much a part of your ministry stories as you are, because they are the ones covering you with constant prayer and love.
(Inspired by: Emily's constant gratitude and continued updates about needed prayer and financial concerns on her team, squad, and on the field.)
4. Keep running tallies.
These could be a great distraction from the frustrating days (I mean, there's bound to be a few). Plus, they'll be fun to look back on! FYI, Emily – I'll be borrowing some of your awesome categories. 🙂
(Inspired by: World Race by Numbers)
5. Use your resources.
For example: The water immersion heater that you're bringing to boil water for coffee could also be used to heat water for the occasional bucket shower on those cold/ wet/ mud-covered/ just-got-done-pushing-a-bus-for-hours days.
(Inspired by: Kenyan bus break-down)
6. Next Mission Field: Latin America!!!
I am completely confident that the route that I am traveling is the one that God intended for me to take. However, I would be lying if I said that I am not slightly envious of the July Route 2 squad (Shout out, G-squad!) which will be traveling to 3 Latin American countries. I am definitely no Spanish-speaking expert, but I took several semesters of Spanish in college. I also know a few children's worship songs in Spanish from a previous mission trip to Texas. This small amount of knowledge is far more than I have in any of the foreign languages that I will be encountering on my route. However, God's purpose is far bigger than my understanding, so I'm going where He leads me. But next time… (Please, Lord??) Watch out, Latin America!
(Inspired by: All of the stories about the children and people that Emily encountered in Latin America, and especially about her stories about Casa Barnabe)
7. When the rapture comes, do as Team Wreckonciled, and JUMP!
(Inspired by: End of the World)
8. It's okay to sit back sometimes and let GOD bring someone to YOU.
Sometimes, the desire to have an impact can be overwhelming. Remember that it is God impacting people THROUGH you. He will appoint every moment , every encounter, every success and failure. So, it's okay to let Him bring someone every now and then. It may turn out to be your most powerful story of all.
(Inspired by: Mae's Story. Seriously, I'm giving you another chance to read this crazy incredible story that I know is far from finished.)
9.You're not going on the WR to be comfortable.
You chose the race because you wanted to understand what it feels like to live in a culture that deeply relies on God. This means that you're going to be stretched. You're going to be challenged. And, more often than not, you're going to be really stinkin' uncomfortable. It is comfortable for you to get your way. It is comfortable for you to have the ability to be alone and to always choose what you would rather do. After these 11 months are over, you will have the chance to go back to comfortable. For now, in this moment, rejoice in the suckiness.
(Inspired by: The Blair Roach Project)
10. Look for beauty in all things.
It will be easy to forget how lucky you are to be chosen for a journey such as this. Take moments to stop and embrace the beauty that surrounds you in every place you go to… Even if that place is the city dump. Take your camera/video camera with you everywhere you go. Share this beauty that you are blessed to witness. A picture is worth a thousand words, right?
(Inspired by: City dump)
11. When it comes to squatty potties – NEVER breathe through your nose.
So simple, yet so profound. 🙂
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Update 1: Emily is currently beginning an internship with the World Race in the Media/Marketing department. She still needs $6,777 to be funded for this 8-month long apprenticeship. If you feel led, you can click on the "Support Me" link on her blog page and make a donation toward this goal. I am so excited to see her creative abilities to inspire and minister to others like me!
Update 2: God has provided in an awe-inspiring, crazy incredible way for my trip already. Out of a total of $15,500, I now have around $13,750 thanks to your support and continued prayer. This means that I still need to raise around $1,750 in order to be fully funded! That's pocket change! 😉 If you would like to make a donation toward my trip, you can click my "Support Me" link, and help me out! Thank you so much! I am beyond blessed!
