This past month and a half has been a whirlwind to say the least. My health has been my top priority as it was my goal to be well enough and get cleared by my cardiologist to be able to go back out on the field on April 2. However, despite having healed up and having been completely ready and prepared to go back out in a couple weeks, everything changed in a couple short days.
Because of travel and border restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my entire squad is being sent home from Asia this week. In fact, all World Race participants on other squads are being sent home as well – around 400 young people worldwide. This has been a devastating blow to my squad and our leadership. None of us expected our race to be cut short, much less by a global pandemic.
Despite the heartbreak and frustration I am feeling right now, I am choosing to lean into God. If I’m being honest, the most sad part of this for me is the fact that when I came home for health issues a month and a half ago, I was certain I would be back. I was certain I would see everyone again. It wasn’t a “goodbye” it was an “I’ll see you in a month!” We got the news that the race was being cut short yesterday evening, and I have been a bundle of emotions since then. I have wanted to cry, but have been too numb to actually let the tears out. These emotions that my squad and I are going through right now are just a small testament to the power Jesus has had in our World Race journey and the bond He has given us as a squad – we need to be thankful that we have something as a squad that makes goodbye so hard.
I don’t really know what else to say because I am still processing all of this, I just wanted to update you all. Please keep my squad in your prayers. Please pray for safe travels back to the United States, for us to trust in the Lord through this confusing time, and thankfulness for all our race WAS instead of what it could have been. The thing is, this was our race from the beginning. God knew it, but we didn’t. God knew the race would be cut short, He knew the sadness it would bring, yet He still worked immensely through each one of us. I am choosing, despite my disappointment, to focus on the positives. To focus on the lifelong friendships I have made, the incredible cultures I got to experience and learn from, the blessing each one of my financial and prayer supporters has been, and most of all – the way we got to see, experience, and contribute to the Kingdom of God at work all over the world.
I also ask for prayers for our leadership team as well as Adventures in Missions staff back in the U.S. as they are working around the clock to facilitate safe travel back to the States for many squads across the world. This is affecting a lot of people right now, but we are choosing to press into the Lord during this time. Again, He KNEW this was going to happen. He is with us and He has a plan for each of us. It’s all about trust and looking at the bright side in times of grief.
This definitely feels like a “wilderness” season – just like when the Israelites were brought out of Egypt. I am sure a lot of people are feeling similar emotions as well. But with Jesus, all things are possible. With Jesus, we will always have victory over whatever life throws our way.
Love, Nicole
P.S. – Putting my entire World Race experience into words is really hard, so I am going to post a picture blog after this one! Stay tuned 🙂
