This is the life I am living. I am living the life of a World Racer. What does the life of a racer look like? Well, let me tell you. As a racer, I have answered the call of God and dedicated my life to serving others. I have confined all my belongings into a backpack, left my comfy bed at home and replaced it with a sleeping pad. I have left my own room at home for a tent. I cannot drink or brush my teeth out of the sink, and I cannot flush the toilet paper down the toilet. Taking public transportation is a way of life. Having people basically sit on top of you or have their butts or bellies in your face in a hot, crowded bus is normal.
I live by the “buddy system”…. I can never travel or be alone. I am constantly living in community. I have left my family and friends at home, but have made new ones. The ladies on my team have become my family- Amanda, Kristen, Sarah, Christina, Jourdan, Rachel- they are my sisters.
(My sisters and I at a cross in Honduras [month 2] )
(Jourdan was bapitzed in a river in Honduras [month 2] and her sisters were there to support her!)
(Exploring a mall in Guatemala [month 1] with my sisters)
(Hiking Volcano Pacaya in Guatemala [month1] )
I am still learning what being an introvert means on the race, because it’s difficult to find time to myself. I am learning that I have to remove myself and go to the corner of a room, my tent, or put my headphones in and listen to music.
Despite all these things that I have given up (to the world’s standards) or I am learning to change, this is an experience of a lifetime and I would not change it for anything! I am learning what it means to live in community, what it looks like to have a servant’s heart, to love people where they are, to try and communicate to people in a language I barely know, and experiencing the beauty of God’s creation in many different countries. I am living the life God wants me to live. I am here on this earth for him and him alone.
Another daily aspect of the race is what is called feedback and team time. Feedback is when we give each other growing or encouraging feedback. We always give out of love for the other person. Our goal is to encourage others to be the best person they can be and represent God well. There is a 24 hour rule- you cannot wait more than 24 hours to give someone feedback. If you wait longer than that, the person you are giving feedback to will have most likely forgotten what happened. It’s best to get things out in the open as soon as possible. It forces us to deal with confrontation. This is something everyone should do, and I’m going to bring it back to the states. Try it!
Team time is a time for us as a team to be together, have fun, play games, dig deeper into our spiritual lives, and to simply enjoy each others company.
The World Race culture is unlike anything I will ever experience. I am with people 24/7 and get to know them on a much deeper level at a faster pace, because we are doing life together. We are walking alongside each other through the hard and the good. In a way it is like marriage. I didn’t realize when I agreed to the World Race I was agreeing to a “marriage” (haha!). Nevertheless, it is challenging and stretching in all the right ways.
I thank God everyday for the blessing of being on this journey and adventure. Life is an adventure. Make the most of it!
