four months until i graduate college! four months until i pack up my life into a 70L backpack! four months until i meet my team! four months until i depart on the adventure of a lifetime! however, this also means four months until i have to say goodbye to friends & family. four months left in the comfort of my home. four months until i move away from taylor university. with these mixed emotions, i begin my last semester of college.
i asked friends & family if they had questions regarding the world race & promised to answer them. so, here are my unfiltered responses!
what gets you pumped up the most about going on this journey with the Lord?
i think i am most excited to see the different ways i am forced to rely on God. i struggle to recognize my need for him in every aspect of my life. so, to be put in a place or in a situation where i must rely on the Lord for literally everything absolutely terrifies me, but also makes me so excited!!
besides fundraising, what fear keeps creeping into your mind that we can start praying for now?
oh, there are plenty! the fear of getting malaria because im a mosquito delicacy. the fear of my sleeping mat popping & being forced to sleep only on the floor. the fear of feeling inadequate or not useful. the fear of sharing the gospel with complete strangers. however, the one that sticks out the most to me right now is the fear of being lonely. this fear is two-fold. first is being lonely on the race & the second is being lonely when i return. first, i’m sure my team will be absolutely wonderful, but i haven’t met them yet & that makes me nervous. pray for our team dynamic, that we can be there for each other in times of joy & sorrow. second, i am fearful that when i return my current friends will have moved on with their lives & i no longer fit into it. pray for peace & the reminder that the friendships which truly matter will still be there when i return.
what is something you are hoping to learn?
a basic answer is i am hoping to learn more about the world around me. i want to see other cultures, hear their stories, understand what is important to them. i want to see the struggles others are facing, but also the ways they are able to find joys in the mundane. i want to be challenged & have stereotypes shattered. i want my heart to break for what i see, but also to be filled to the brim with love from strangers & friends that i get to meet along the way.
how will you cope with ‘meghan’ withdrawals for 11 months?
pack her in my bag so i don’t have to go through withdrawal. no, but for real this will probably be one of the hardest “see ya laters” & i’m not sure what i’ll do without my mobile homeboy for 11 months. good thing facetime is a real thing! now just hope wifi is a real & present thing.
what do you do about your period?
pray the good Lord takes it away.
what’s the status on that cool poster with the squares? all filled up yet?
nope not yet!! there are so many more boxes for people to adopt. if you are interested, you pick whichever box you want to adopt & you donate that amount (so box 4=$4, box 72=$72, etc). i will then put a picture of you on that box so i can have a poster of all who have helped with this fundraiser. PEOPLE CAN SPLIT A BOX!! if you & a group of 4 friends each want to donate $10, you can adopt box 50!!
why am i doing this? because a lot of friends have felt like their ability to only donate $12 is insignificant. however, by filling every box i will raise almost $5000. so, people are able to come alongside me on this journey, bring whatever donation they are able to & be a part of a much bigger picture! i have already raised $656 with this fundraiser! if i get the remainder of the boxes filled, i would be fully fundraised!
what happens if you win the race?
one million dollars & a lifetime subscription to national geographic
if you could pick any type of ministry on the trip, what would it be?
my prayer is that in at least one of the countries we can work with refugees in some capacity. refugees hold a very very special place in my heart & are honestly one of the main reasons i looked into the world race. i would love to work in a camp or with resettlement!
which country are you looking forward to the most?
i’m not sure what we are doing in each country yet so i think my excitement comes more from a “excited to see the country” rather than “excited for the task i’ve been given.” with that being said, i am most excited for morocco. i think the culture sounds incredible & i really want to see it! also, i have a soft spot for arabic & cannot wait to hear it spoken around me.
thank you for all your questions! if you have anymore, please do not hesitate to reach out. i appreciate all the love & support i’ve received thus far! please continue to keep me in your prayers.
much love,
mads
