I want to write an honest blog that might comfort future racers, or fellow racers who are preparing to leave with me.
We are launching in two weeks and I am not okay.
Friends, I am beyond excited to go on the World Race. I invite the Lord to use me all the way to the end of myself this year and ask him to do so with all my being. I am elated to serve the Lord all around the world with people I love. My soul has been looking for this sort of adventure for years, and I know in my heart it will be an incredible experience.
During a session at training camp we discussed the importance of grieving the end of seasons of life. Even if whatever is coming along is going to be beautiful, you will not be able to fully move forward into that season if you do not take time to recognize the end of the season you’re in. So I invite you to grieve with me for the next few hundred words, so we can move on together and fully invite in the season of this next year.
Mom, I love you and want to thank you for your endless support, love, and understanding through this process. Thank you for letting me go and recognizing that I am first the Lord’s and secondly yours. Know I will be hugging you so hard from wherever in the world I am.
Melissa, I am so happy for you and your beautiful life with Paul. I am leaving knowing he will comfort your heart and pray that you two will grow in the love of Christ this year. I am going to miss you and am very legitimately grieving leaving you. But we are the Lord’s and he will take care of us.
Dad, Thank you for believing in me and teaching me that I am loved no matter where I am and making me believe I can do anything. I inherited your sensitive heart for people, and it is going to lead me to serve people all around the world. I’m so excited to take your heart to the world, but I’m going to miss you.
Sam, you’re going to have so many adventures of your own this year. I’m going to be praying your year is filled with joy. Thank you for being excited for my adventures, as well. I can’t wait to share them with you when I come back.
Alexis, Ash, Celine, and Bryce, thank you for your endless support and laughter this year. It’s been a rough one, but the Lord has blessed me by placing you all in my life. I’ve gotten to see joy and love from each of you, and it’s encouraged me to keep pressing on with a smile. I’m going to miss you dearly.
Cebelak and St. John’s family, you’ve taught me to be a more strong and confident person, and I feel like I can take on the world with great love. You’re near to my heart and I will be praying for each of you. To both staff and students- dream big, and don’t give up. And remember to love and take care of yourself.
Mitchell family, I cannot thank you enough for the overwhelming amount of love you’ve shown me as I prepare for the race. You’ve surrounded me in love all my life and I’m ready to take it to the world.
Govan family, you’ve instilled in me a spirit of adventure and I can’t wait to bring back what I learn and share it with you.
Dear racers, I want to normalize feelings of sadness, frustration, and uncertainty because they are real. It’s okay to be upset about aspects of leaving. We will get through these things, and it is important to give them to the Lord. In Mark 16 he called us to go, so he will be faithful in comforting us in our heartache. I want to encourage you to spend time fully immersed in the honesty of the painful parts of leaving. Recognize these things, accept them, talk to someone about them, then give them to the Lord and trust that he will handle them.
Let’s make sure we remember the season we’re coming from before jumping into a new one. Honor the time we’ve spent growing and learning. Then we can fully appreciate this new year. It’s going to be incredible.
Thank you to everyone who makes saying goodbye so difficult. There are too many of you to count. I love you and will miss you.
Mark 16:15 [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
