So I am about 7 months removed from being on the world race now.
There are so many things that have happened since being home.
My life really has changed in some big ways from who I was before going on this trip.
Areas in my life changed that I did know could.
My personality was refined in some areas and set free in others.
I went from being a horrible communicator to the guy who trains new employees.
I felt, smelled, heard, touched, and saw God unlike I had ever heard was possible beforehand.
I learned how to deal with conflict.
I gained confidence in God and in myself.
I lived life in a way that was so simple compared to daily life in the USA.
I was able to serve along side with believers in 12 countries that spoke a different language, but served the same God.
I learned how to fight for what I believe in. How to fight for those I love.
I rekindled a long lost passion for reading, writing and story telling.
I thought going on 15 short-term missionary trips would prepare me, but I was surely wrong.
I saw God move in ways that I had never seen before.
God took up the broken pieces of who I was 18+ months ago and built me back together, taking away pieces that were unnecessary and adding new pieces to make me whole, making me strong than ever before.
I didn’t know what I was looking for when I went on the world race, but I sure did find it or better put, I found Him.
The world race prepared me for life with my soon to be wife. Probably the best marriage prep you will ever go through.
Before the world race, I felt stuck, but after the world race, I basically have the same job at the same place living in the same town with the same friends. BUT… My viewpoint in life has shifted.
My focus changed from, how can I get a spiritual high to feel good about myself because I hate everything about my life to, I am a son of the living GOD, I have a purpose, I have been set on a mission, I am not living for glory on this earth, I and living and breathing with the audience of one.
No matter who is around me now.
No matter who sees me, hears me, or knows me.
I know I am working for and towards one thing.
To see my true Father face to face. With a tear in his eye and a tear in mine. As I strain to hear Him say, “Son I am well pleased with you.”
I learned a so many things that I am not even able to put into words during my time on the world race.
I had experiences that I will look back on for the rest of my life.
Friends that I can now call family.
I don’t know where I would be, or who I would be if I would have never taken that step to go on the world race, but I don’t think I would want to meet that person.
I am so thankful for what God did in my life during those crazy 11 months.
The world race is not a vacation, no matter how cool the pictures and blog posts may make it out to be.
The world race is not going to fix your problems in life, but God can and will use it as a tool to teach and grow you.
The world race is not the answer to your problems, but your team and your squad can help point you to the One that is, if you’ll let them.
If you are looking for a place where God can strip you of your flesh.
If you are looking for a place where God can put you in a place so far outside of the comfort zone that your only choice is to trust in Him.
If you are looking for a place to see God move in your life and the lives of those around you.
Then the world race might be the trip for you and I encourage you to pray about it.
God Bless,
Nick Buford
