So first things first (ironically for the last time), I want to give a shoutout to the being who made this trip possible, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You give me strength when I am weak, and you show me mercy when I deserve none. You are the way, the truth, and the life, and always you are good. I dream of the day when the battle is over, when my race is truly finished, and I can embrace you face-to-face.
Seeing as how this is my last blog, I want to take this opportunity to bid a proper adieu to this amazing experience. I want to say thank you.
I wish to thank my church family back home, at First Baptist Church Buffalo Gap. Thank you for supporting me financially, praying for me from start to finish of these last 11 months, for praying for my knee when it was injured (I have to believe that it was only through the constant prayers of so many loved ones that the pain subsided enough for me to stay the course), and for being a second home to me these last 20 years. I am the man I am today because of you. I suppose you can take that for what it’s worth.
I want to thank my old childhood friends (you know who you are), most of whom I’ve known for the better part of 15 years. Some people aren’t so lucky to have friendships stand the test of such vast time and space. Know your names and the stories we share have been heard all over the world.
I want to thank my college friends, (you know who you are too) who loved me during my darkest times, who never ceased to affirm me and point me to the cross, who missed me at the weddings I couldn’t attend this past year, and who made my college years at Texas A&M among the best of my life.
I want to thank my family, those who have gone home to be with Jesus, and those still with us both, for raising me in the name of Jesus, for loving me, for building a life in Texas and Tennessee, for hunting, baseball, John Wayne movies and an abundance of laughter.
I want to thank my subscribers and Facebook followers for taking the interest and time to follow my journey. I can only hope my updates, whether they be blogs, videos, or photos, brought you some joy, and maybe had some spiritual significance to you also.
I wish to thank my bible study leader James Parker, for spiritually preparing me for this journey and always being there to talk when I called.
And lastly, I want to thank my squad. Thank you to Amy and Kelsey, for being my big sisters, for awesome birthday poems, cucumbers, and filming stupid videos with me. Thank you Jon, for giving my eulogy (it’s an inside joke people I’m neither dead nor dying).
Thank you to Zach and Tim for always letting me vent, and for keeping me sane when we found ourselves as islands of testosterone in a sea of estrogen. Thank you Jay and Denise, for discipling me and encouraging me when you could this past year.
I want to thank Calli and Jen, for always smiling and being a light to those around you.
Thank you Maria, for our mutual dislike of “Christianese” culture, and all the humor said dislike entailed. Thank you to Madi for having brothers (she knows what I mean). Thank you Jaivie, for sometimes being Asian. Thank you Alyssa, for the musical gifts God has given you.
Thank you Wendy, for that time you loaned me a pen (This too is an inside joke people- come off it). Thank you Emily, for all your letters.
Thank you Marissa, for understanding true Texas slang. Thank you Landsman sisters, for showing us all just how good honey, cinnamon, and apples can be together.
Thank you Grace, for telling us tales from the ghetto. Thank you RJ, for smiling with your mouth wide open (Thank you Kayla, for accepting that). Thank you Shannon, Ryals, Schmidt, and Rashelle for always listening.
Thank you Averi, for taking good care of our dog. Thank you Meg, for sticking it out on the Race despite everything in your life that was happening back home.
Thank you Katie, for being just plain cool. Thank you Rachel, for watching me slaughter a sheep (I was actually quite impressed by this as she is in fact a vegetarian and I didn’t think she could stomach it). Thank you Sam, for trusting in God to get you through the last two months.
Thank you to Tiffany and Becca, for being friends and continually affirming me as a Man of God. Thank you to Kimbra, for coaching softball with me in Serbia.
I could go on. Everyone on my squad touched my life in some way or another. I look forward to seeing many of you soon at PSL. To the rest, I know I’ll see you all again–here, there, or in the air.
The World Race was the most frustrating, uncomfortable, and stressful year of my life. It was also the most rewarding, enriching, fruitful, wonderful year of my life (thus far). I thank God for every minute of it. The good, the bad, the sad and the glad all helped grow me in the Holy Spirit. My future is bright. God is in control. I am at peace.
As I said earlier, this will be my last blog. It’s been an amazing journey. I wish to leave you with the lyrics of a song I learned during my last days in Uganda. As I prepared to leave my friends I thought it rather appropriate, perhaps even a bit poetic.
The Parting Glass
Oh all the money that e’er I spent
I spent it in good company
And all the harm that e’er I’ve done
Alas, it was to none but me
And all I’ve done for want of wit
To memory now I can’t recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Goodbye and joy be to you all
So fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate’er befalls
And gently rise and softly call
Goodbye and joy be to you all
Oh all the comrades that e’er I had
They’re sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e’er I had
Would wish me one more day to stay
But since it fell unto my lot
That I should rise and you should not
I’ll gently rise and I’ll softly call
Goodbye and joy be to you all
Goodbye and joy be to you all
Catch you on the flippity-flip!
-Matt
