Yesterday, my squad and I arrived at a hostel in Jinja, Uganda for our final debrief before we begin traveling home to the States on Friday. What a crazy thing to type. Though I will still technically be “on the field” until I actually arrive home, I’ve essentially finished the World Race. I have a lot of processing to do in the next few days and I’m so thankful for the time and space to do it.
This month in Lira, Uganda, I got to do ministry with three other teammates teaching PE classes at LightForce Primary School, a school started and run by our partner organization for the month. We had 6-7 classes everyday ranging from 12-40 kids in size. Classes were back to back, and breaks were few and far between. We would be on our feet and running around in the blazing Ugandan sun for 7-8 hours a day teaching soccer, tennis, dodgeball and baseball, playing games, and running relays with the kids. Needless to say, I’m still recovering. And it’s no wonder I found myself sick in our last week of ministry, after two weeks of exhaustion and dehydration. I am the least athletic person I know, but I had so much fun with the kids!
With such a packed schedule and early starts each morning, I quickly realized I needed to prioritize my times with the Lord each day. All of our electricity ran off solar power, and the sun didn’t rise until 6:30 am every morning. So, I did something very unlike me. I woke up at 6 am every morning and was outside waiting on the sun so I could read my bible to start my day. Yes, Mom and Dad you read that correctly. I was awake and alive at 6 am. Every. Single. Morning.
Our first full day in Uganda, God gave me the word presence for the month. I understood why when I fell into my routine of sitting outside every morning watching the sun rise and soaking in the glory of His presence to start my day. You see, I quickly found myself exhausted and drained with our ministry. Somehow though, He never failed to give me strength and energy to be there for these kids.
My team met every morning before we all split off into our separate ministries, and intentionally prayed over one another before beginning the day. My prayer request was the same almost every morning. I asked for prayer to help me stay present and focused for the month. It would have been easy to check out and go through the motions to get through just three more weeks before going home. If I’m being completely honest, whenever we weren’t doing ministry, this is where my head was at. The Race forces us to constantly be looking forward, because for ten months there’s always more ahead. Another country, another continent, another ministry, another chance for growth, another divine encounter just around the corner. It’s difficult to break habits we’ve had for so long when all of a sudden it’s month 11 and all any of us as Racers want is to stay present and focus on the here and now, and all of our “lasts”. Some days all I wanted was to be home already, and some I stared at the calendar on my phone with a lot of anxiety and disbelief the Race could possibly be ending.
Everyone’s favorite question to ask right now is how I’m feeling about it all. About leaving the Race, leaving the field, coming home, reentry, all the things. I don’t think I have words yet, but I know that I’m so, so thankful. The Lord is so very good and has given me so much excitement and joy for all that is to come. It isn’t going to be easy, any of what’s ahead for me, but neither was the last eleven months.
I’m ready for sweet reunions and sweet moments that will soon just be memories from the last eleven months. This season of my life is quickly ending, but a new one will soon be beginning, and I’ve chosen to view it all as just that, another beginning.
I’ll see ya soon, America!
On repeat this month:
Housefires- The Way (New Horizon)
Cody Carnes- Run To The Father
Lord Huron- The Man Who Lives Forever
Citizens- Father You Are All We Need
HAIM- Summer Girl
OneRepublic- I Lived
Panic! At The Disco- Hey Look Ma, I Made It
