I’ve realized over the last 5 or so months that the World Race has consistently pushed me out of my comfort zone. So far, I’ve slept on a sleeping pad, a hard mattress, in the crack of two mattresses… with a small, lumpy pillow. I usually take cold showers or bucket baths. I eat the food that is given to me… sometimes it’s good… sometimes it’s not so good. I’m currently in the middle of nowhere Thailand where the most exciting thing is to walk down the street and grab a coke from a little store or play badminton. It’s definitely not the warm cozy bed, warm shower, eat whatever food I want, entertainment-filled kind of life I’m used to. These things alone are taking me out of my comfort zone, and I really am thankful that I don’t always get what I want. This aspect of the Race has definitely been teaching me a lot about entitlement and humility. Most of the world does not live the way I’m used to living. And… it’s okay and beneficial for me to not always get what I want or think I deserve.
I’ve also been uncomfortable with all the different ministry opportunities I’ve had. In Africa most days we went from door-to-door sharing the gospel and praying for people—not exactly my favorite thing sharing my faith and testimony with strangers. I preached (once and it was very short), prayed for people in hospitals, played with kids—most of which I felt uncomfortable doing. In the Philippines I talked with some adolescent boys at a prison… still out of my comfort zone. In Thailand I’ve been teaching English without a translator to kids that know barely any words in English. Which has been pretty fun, but challenging and stretching for sure too.
All this to say that I’ve been thinking about how the World Race has been a lot more challenging than I expected. I haven’t loved all the ministry opportunities. God doesn’t guarantee us a comfortable life. But, I do know that God calls us to follow Him. I guess this is something I’ve known, but have just been confronted with more recently. God has called me here. Whether or not I’m comfortable doesn’t really matter. I’m called to love. I’m called to be a light. I’m called to be uncomfortable, because Christ is worth that.
“And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Matthew 10:38-39
*Thank you so much for everyone who has supported me so far. I am extremely blessed and encouraged by your support. By February 1st I have to be fully funded or I will be sent home. I still need $1,694.02. Please click here if you would like to support me financially.
