Tonight 52 World Racers depart Asia and head for Africa. With a heavy heart and anti
cipation, I am preparing myself for this big change. It’s hard to believe that our three months here has already come and gone…where did the time go?
It seems like just yesterday that we landed here and took our long bus ride to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. That was an exhausting 3 days of travel. For me, the excitement that came with being in a part of the world that I have been dying to see kept me going. For those that do not know, God has laid Southeast Asia on my heart for years now. I did carry the expectation with me that I was going to love my time here, and I was not disappointed. God really showed up and has done many amazing things,
I can’t believe it was three months ago that we were learning how to walk the streets of a major Southeast Asian city. We all quickly learned to watch out for motos no matter where you were – down the narrowest of alleys, or weaving in and out of traffic, or simply driving t
he wrong way down the street. I can’t forget the worst of all though – when the moto drivers would drive on the sidewalks with little regard to us pedestrians! Now it’s going to feel weird not having motos buzzing by!
That being said, while watching out for motos it was also easy to spot some of the nicest people on the face of this planet, From the little kids playing in the alleys to the villagers in the farthest corners of the region, it was always easy for me to feel at home. I’m going to miss the street vendors who recognized me every morning. I’m going to miss the people who are so quick to smile, see how you’re doing, or offer a helping hand. I’m going to miss the tuk tuk drivers harassing me every 5 seconds for a ride. Okay, maybe not that one so much. I’m definitely leaving a piece of my heart here with these people.
Where did three whole months go? Wandering the streets of some of the wo
rld’s most amazing cities. Working with New Life Fellowship church in Phnom Penh, teaching english and building them a new stage background. Seeing ancient wonders of the world at Angkor. Hours upon hours in the back of a pickup truck racing around northwestern Thailand, worshipping with as many people as we could. Making memories with 12 other awesome men of God in the middle of nowhere. Spending a little time recharging on a tropical island. Learning more about myself and my team as we hung out in La//os. Building relationships every step of the way…and of course, praising and worshipping God through it all.
It was three months of God doing work in me. I feel like He still has a long way to go, but we’re making some progress! I’ve learned to give it all to Him, so He can take it and make it so much better than I could ever h
ope to. I’m working on taking a back seat from the control I like to have and let Him drive. He’s been teaching me how to really love the people around me and to show them I care. I’m learning how to really pray for the people God lays on my heart. I’m learning how to be more like Him in everything I do – from my attitude toward those I don’t agree with to being a better husband. This race is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I want to return home more Christlike than ever before.
After all God has done for me, this is the least that I can do for Him. We all have sin, but Jesus bled and died on a tree so that I don’t have to face the punishment I deserve. He sacrificed His life for each and every one of us so that we can spend an eternity in a more amazing place than we can even imagine – filled with our loved ones that believe with us. Jesus didn’t even put any restrictions on His gift – He died and rose again saying that anyone who wants it simply has to believe. He doesn’t even require us to do any work for it – just to reach out our hands
and take it.
Even the future on this race is uncertain, but the certainty of what Jesus did is clear. He gave life back to me when I should be dead in my sin. I am humbled that I can give my life back to Him in this way. I pray that He will continue to use us to reveal Himself to other people so that they can share in eternal life as well. It’s not a gift anyone has to take…but who would want the alternative? Stay tuned for many amazing things to come in Africa!!
