Well I have officially embarked on the World Race. I am sitting in Taiwan in route to the Philippines where we will be for month 1 working with Kids International ministries. I’m super pumped for all the Lord is going to do this next year and all I’ll be able to share.
But in the meantime here are a few things I’ve learned in the past year
1. Jesus comes first.
This sounds so simple and so obvious. BUT we forget this…. more often than we would probably like to admit if we really think about it.
I student taught last fall. Eighteen incredible kindergarteners. Their picture hangs on my wall and I’m reminded of the joy they brought to my life even when I felt like I was falling apart. Gina Potter was the teacher I had the amazing pleasure to student teach with. Y’all I can only say incredible things about her. She is the type of person you see interact with others and can tell that there is something different about her and THAT THING is Jesus. She is kind, giving, selfless, empathetic, humble, wise, and loves with such a Christ-like love 100% of the time. She is a teacher in a public school and I was constantly reminded JESUS COMES FIRST. No question. Everyday. It may not have come through her words but it came straight through her actions. The times that seemed as only any teacher would yell, she graciously and kindly handled the situation. She cared so generously for each individual student and their needs even if that meant going outside of what teachers are “supposed” to do to make sure the child was taken care of. She also cared for me so well. Like she went above and beyond. She went out of her way to ensure I was cared for and loved and got what I needed. She hugged me when I needed (because y’all student teaching brings a lot of stress and tears). And she NEVER downplayed what I was feeling. She would also invite me to do things with her church or just come have breakfast out side of school. She loved beyond the way that most humans love. She’s the type of teacher where students come back and say “you changed my life.” Her job is to teach but ultimately her job is to put Jesus first and serve Him and she does it in a way I admire and hope to do one day. I don’t want to fear what a school system could do to me for loving Jesus and she doesn’t. She just loves Him and that love overflows incredibly into her kiddos and coworkers.
- Jesus wants me to trust Him in the unknown and scary.
- Have a child-like faith.
I had one of the best experiences of my life December-April. I got to go teach kids how to ski in Lake Tahoe, California. Guys this meant pure adventure and I was stoked and had an absolute blast. My favorite days were Sunday’s. I got to teach mountain camp and every Sunday for the entire season my junior instructor, Max, and I had a group of four, four year olds. They were so stinking sweet and so precious. I loved them from the beginning. They were pure joy. The best part was to see those smiling faces ready to ski and willing to learn every week. One time I took them on a slope that was too advanced for them. I thought they were ready but MAN I THOUGHT WRONG. (And you know that is the only time of the whole season we ran into every. single. parent. at the same time as we are really struggling down this hill). Olivia was my pure adventurer. She was ready for anything. And she rocked it. (Even though literally moments before I thought she broke her leg and I had to call ski patrol.) She waited at the bottom with her dad because you know all the kids parents were there. However, praise that one of my kids was missing that day because my other two were in freak out mode. My junior instructor and I had to ski down the slope backwards with the other two kids between our legs helping them the entire way down. They fell a few times and were very scared but didn’t give up or let the mountain defeat them. Each time they fell they would take our hands and get up willing to continue (I guess they had no choice it was the only way down) but they trusted us with no hesitation. Throughout the time I taught them we did have some tears and some accidents but the joy and willingness they continued to have to learn a new sport was great. And guys at the end of the season they all made it down that hill no freaking problem. I was so dang proud!! So my sweet sweet skiers thanks for teaching me what it looks like to be willing even when it seemed so hard and you probably wanted to say no. Thanks for taking my hands in the scary moments and trusting that even if you happen to fall I’m there to help you up and I was never going to leave you. Thank you for the moments like that where I was so evidently reminded of what a life with Jesus looks like. Thanks for reminding me of what it looks like to have child-like faith, so free and innocent and willing to trust with no fear and complete surrender through the tears and the scary times.
- Love until the very end. (Friends read my squad mate and sweet friend Farrah’s blog. https://farrahsoliman.theworldrace.org/post/leaving-the-world-race-a-window-into-my-overly-proactive-thoughts)
Guys I read this on the last day of 10 days I spent with my best friends in the whole world in Orlando, FL doing things like amusement parks and beach days and got smacked in the face with the realization that I shut down. I’m there. I still have fun. But I’m not loving the way I should (myself or others) and I’m not fully present. I’m hiding behind this wall that gets put up when things are gonna get sad. And saying goodbye to your best friends for a year is not fun. Through Farrah, who I’m super stoked to do life with, Jesus showed me that I need to pay attention and be aware of what I’m doing subconsciously because it affects those around me. And like she pointed out in her blog, I need to love His people fully until the very end even when I know the end is coming because that’s what He’s called us to.
- Give generously. Give it all.
My sweet sweet Mia (9) and Liam (4). Two of my favorite kiddos in the world. Raised by two of the best parents in the world (apart from mine, sorry Gabe and Andrea). These two kids give with everything they’ve got. Whole heartedly, no take backs. They get along like no siblings I’ve ever seen before and are willing to share all they’ve got with everyone around them. Their hearts are probably two of the sweetest I’ve ever seen. To me and his whole family Liam gives his words. All of them. All the time. If I ever need to feel good about myself or loved I just need to hang out with Liam for a few hours. He is first to beg to sit next to me and cuddle up next to me. And in just a few hours I hear how loved I am. I can’t tell you how many times I’ll hear “Paige….. I love you.” Man it makes my heart melt every time. And he may be in his room upstairs and me downstairs in the kitchen and out of no where I’ll here “Paige” and as soon as I say yes Liam. I hear the words, “I love you.” Then he just goes back to what he’s doing. I can’t explain how much I love hearing those words. Its nice to know you’re loved. It’s also a sweet reminder of how Jesus will show up in big and small ways just to remind us how much He loves us. He does that for me through His little son Liam. He also reminds me to be generous with my words. To give them out kindly, boldly, and not hold back because people like to hear that they are loved. Jesus uses our words if we let Him. Now my sweet and favorite girl Mia. The Reyes family so generously supported me as I go on the world race and I am so beyond grateful for them but honestly what got me the most was the card from Mia. Mia gave me a card with some cash in it that said “this is the money from my piggy bank. I want you to have it. I’ll miss you but you’re going to do amazing things. I love you.” Wow, Mia way to make my heart actually explode. This was such an incredible reminder from the sweetest of hearts to give what i can where i can. Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has provided me with. God takes whatever you can give whether it’s money, words, food, clothes, etc. and multiplies it and He will give back double in return. My sweet Mia gave me what she had from her piggy bank and she’s part of the reason I get to go love and serve Jesus around the world. She helped get me here. She is a part of this incredible journey I get to take because she had a willing heart to give. Guys give what you can. I promise it will be worth it. God will take all that you can give and use it for His glory no matter what it is. Liam’s words and Mia’s support financially are being used in my life for the kingdom. Gods using them to help build His kingdom here even if they don’t even see it. Jesus loves you two more than you’ll ever know kiddos and He has used you two in my life in ways I’d never give back.
[ Special thanks: Andrea and Gabe, thank you for welcoming me as family. Thank you for trusting me with your kiddos. Thank you for loving me and always feeding me yummy dinners. Thank you for raising kiddos who will no doubt change the world even more than they already are. You guys have changed my world. I’ll miss you more than you know this year. ]
Look at you’re life. Even at the little things. You’ll learn from the small moments and the big ones. Let Jesus teach you!
