Since I applied for the World Race a couple months ago, I think that I've taken for granted all of the blessings that I have, in regards to my support team, and the family and friends around me that are willing to help me in this adventure.
For the past few weeks, many of my squad-mates have been posting in our facebook group, about what prayers they need, and some of the challenges they have been facing since getting accepted into the WR.
This is something that I know I should have seen coming, as soon as we began to connect with each other. For every mission trip that I've been on over the past 4-5 years, there always seem to be some obstacles in the way that could discourage people in their preparation for the trip.
I'm confident that this happens because when so many God-fearing individuals come together for a common purpose, and have the same goals in mind for advancing the kingdom, this is the perfect situation for the enemy to come in, and try to plant seeds of discouragement in our heads, and create obstacles in our life, that he hopes will keep our hearts and minds focused on places outside of our common goal.
Sadly, I know that this is just the beginning of such struggles. There are going to be struggles for the next 8.5 months, while we set out hearts on being focused for what we will encounter, and for the 11 months that we traverse the globe, we will have more than our share of struggles along the way.
Here's the good news: our God is bigger than all that. If we put our faith in Him, and truly humble ourselves in His presence, there's nothing we can't do, and no foe that can keep us down.
I've taken some encouragement from the book of Matthew recently, so here's the first of a few wise words from the first gospel: In Matthew 5: 11-12, Jesus tells us, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
I've been blessed to develop a strong group of Christian friends, who are stoked about the World Race, and who I know I can count on for financial, and prayer-driven support. Even more-so have I been blessed with a terrific family who's excited about what God has planned for me through this trip.
I've read several blogs and have talked to some fellow Racers, who don't have full support from their parents and their families, because, heck, they're going to miss the crap out of us, and also because of the dangers that we might encounter along the way… the movie Taken has done nothing to help ease their nerves.
However, my parents are behind me 100% on the Race, as long as they know my intentions are pure, and I'm going for the right reasons.
There's also my older sister, Andrea, who's currently on a 2-year (at least) mission trip to Lebanon with her husband, and their 20 month old daughter. Already, Andrea has helped me in the writing of my fundraising letter, as well as just encouraging my passion for missions. She's one of the big reasons I got into missions in the first place, so I can't credit her enough for helping me get to where I am today.
There's also my younger brother and sister who have a friend who is currently on the Race. They make sure that my goals are reasonable, and I'm going for all the right reasons; not just for a fun yearlong vacation.
I hope this blog doesn't come off as cocky, but I'm just so daggum blessed to have great friends and family to help me get ready for this trip… I'm sure many of my blogs in preparation for the WR will be about some of these people who have had an impact on my life.
For those parents who may be worried about their children, or even for the future Racers who go through doubts about this life-changing experience, take heart from Matthew 6:25-27, where Jesus says, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"
