I love America. Don’t we all? We have opportunities and resources that we never have to experience living without – things we take for granted constantly. Like walking to the end of the driveway to get mail everyday or the ability to get lukewarm water, much less an unlimited supply of hot water.
My desire to leave for a year doesn’t change the fact that I am immeasurably grateful for the life I was given and the place I call home.
But I didn’t deserve any of it. I didn’t deserve to be born in America while other children were born in third world countries. I did absolutely nothing to receive the blessings God gave me – especially the blessing to call America home and the opportunities that come along with it.
We will never understand the “why” behind Gods decisions. Our tiny human brains, though complex and beautiful, would never be able to comprehend that information. All I can do is use the blessings and the opportunities that God gave me for His glory.
Some people don’t understand my decision to go on the World Race. The comments people have made are sometimes quite noteworthy. A few are homebodies and don’t understand why I have any desire to leave Texas, much less the good ole USA. Others question how I am going to survive without a bed or a guaranteed shower when I want it.
One friend who shall remain anonymous asked me very seriously, “are you trying to move away so you can grow out your leg hair…you do know you are going to be in very rural areas, right?” Not even joking. This type of reaction sure does make me laugh.
Combine these reactions and the growing pre-launch to do list (launch is what the World Race calls our departure from Georgia to our prospective first country), it seems like all I do these days is think about the race. I think about what I need to get done, the letters I need to be sending, the t-shirts I need to be selling (!!!), and the gear I need to purchase.
Preparing for the World Race makes it hard to stay in the moment and really take in my last few months living in America. To really cherish the time I have left with these people that I love. Sometimes September seems like forever away. But then three vaccines later, the inability to lift my arms for two days, and my fear of needles remind me how quickly my departure is creeping up (I’m convinced my arms would have hurt less if I had been given the frozen band-aids instead of the boring ones).
How do you prepare to leave the country for a year without relentlessly anticipating the moment of departure? I know once I get on the race, there will be time(s) I will get homesick, miss my parents, possibly (but hopefully not) get sick, and look back on these few months wishing I had made the most of them.
But I don’t want to look back and wish I had handled this time differently. I want to fully embrace it and look back on the memories with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.
Here’s to making the most of the next few months!
*Update: I am 10% funded!!! If you are interested in donating to help support my trip, you can do so by clicking “Support Me!” on the left hand side of my blog. All donations are tax-deductible!
I am also selling t-shirts in order to help raise money for the race! I designed them myself with the help of Fund the Nations! You can order the shirts at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CK8HYKX.
With love and t-shirts,
Rosie
