I have had a handful of people ask for an overview of the World Race.
If I could sum it up in a few sentences it would go a little like this:
-The World Race will be the easiest hardest year of your life as you learn to thrive and survive in a love-hate relationship with 40+ others crazies.
If that doesn’t make you shutter and want to go all at the same time… I don’t know what will. It is easy.. but it is SO hard. Hard is the drastic Spiritual dynamics of places you go. It is nauseating how real spiritual warfare is. Satan fights for us. Good thing the Lord sees him as a footstool. The easy part is the constant newness of your geographic surroundings… hard is the physical surroundings of the exact same people all year long. Not so much that the other people are hard but it is hard to constantly get over yourself. You may beebop your way into the race with the mindset that “I don’t have anything wrong with me…” because no one has ever had the guts to enlighten you… brace yourself. Your team will know you more than your mom does. You can run from your mom when you think she’s onto you… the team follows you. They see every eye roll… negative comment…How many nalgenes of water you drink….how long you were wasting the hot water in the shower…. how long you are in the word or not in the word.
We have this thing called “feedback” nightly where everyone sits down and it’s a safe place to enlighten each other of the things we noticed during the day. (Disclaimer: These are all made up situations ha) we talk about things from “Sheila you really spoke up in leadership this afternoon..” to “Ruth, you left all your nasty hair in the shower and didn’t clean it out and I am thoroughly bitter at you because the shower is now clogged.” I’m telling you, nothing is held back. We also have this thing called the “24 hour rule” for instance if Rush hears me say “oh my goshhh do you realize that Charlotte chews with her mouth open every single time she eats” Rush says 24 hour rule and i say dangit. Within the next 24 hours I must go to Charlotte to tell her that it bothers me.. if not- Rush has the liberty to grab me by the hand and take me to her until the situation is panned out. It sounds childish but it is so necessary in community to be real and run from dumb things that may cause division. Friends and family back home- good luck this is coming back to the States.
-The Race is what you make it.
If you come in with a bad attitude you will be humbled immediately. If you think you are entitled to hot water and air conditioning or anything for that matter surrender now or don’t sign up. If you want to make friends- you will. If you don’t want to make friends- you won’t. If you don’t want to grow– don’t sign up. It’s inevitable. If you aren’t willing to get called out… sucks because you will. It took me a little while to really buy in.
-If you are running from something… the race won’t “fix” you.
I came into the race imagining that the race would somehow “fix” me. That after just a few months I would love everyone with my entire heart and see EVERYONE the way Jesus sees them. That I would go throughout the day with an absolutely pure heart and I would proclaim the name of Jesus to every person I came in contact with. I wouldn’t think about my past once and that I would just thrive for the Kingdom without even trying. WRONG. It is a daily battle. Satan hops on you daily. It is a daily choice to die to yourself. It is so easy to fall back into fleshly desires. There is no magic potent you drink that automatically makes you speak in tongues and have a divine constant perfect relationship with Him. To love everyone and die to yourself. It is the Spirit but He is not forceful. He chills until you choose to let your fleshly self die. It is seriously an hourly basis for me. I love being independent and thinking that I got this on my own and he is only needed sometimes. Nope. The race doesn’t fix. The Spirit does. I definitely came on the race running. but i soon learned to get over myself and that we are all broken and to just embrace that I am in desperate need of constant surrender.
Reality checks are a must.
It is easy to go with the flow and forget to look around. Race life becomes normal. Sometimes I am chilling on facebook chat and I start feedbacking people. I forget that stuffing 19 people into the back of a truck isn’t normal. It is hard for me to fathom flushing toilet paper in just a few months. That crystal clear beaches are not a normal encounter. That sleeping in your tent isn’t something people just do because it’s necessary. I forget that beggers aren’t a normal day encounter. I forget that the Lord desires huge things for the street boys and and the homeless elderly and the babies that have no parents due to AIDS. I forget that they are breathing because he has a will for them. I forget that it is by his mercy that I have the home and family that I have. Reality checks happen daily so I keep my head on straight.
It is not impossible to raise the money.
If the Lord wants you to go… He will blow you up with it. It takes a lot of prayer and faith but He pulls through. Don’t even worry. Money is simply a medium of exchange. He’s got you covered.
If you want to get over yourself… hop on the train.
I have seen demon possessed beggers not only begging for money but freedom. Consider me grateful that I have been rescued and redeemed.
I have witnessed young and old climbing up and down the Himilayas in order to meet to worship the one and only Creator. Consider me blown away that all I have to do is drive a couple miles to join corporate worship with those who love my King as well.
I have met a family of 10 children who are abused daily by their alcoholic father that have more JOY and HOPE than I have ever seen in my life. They find joy in their suffering that hope is coming and justice will be served. Consider me in tears thankful for such a earthly father who loves more than I have ever seen a man love. And for a heavenly father who loves more than we can begin to fathom.
My team was told by some very oppressed Christians in one of the countries that we have “Too much joy while sharing our faith” and that we need to “tone it down.” Consider me even more JOYFUL that they are intimidated by the freakin joy I have because I have been redeemed.
I have been slammed head on with the AIDS epidemic and have witnessed more happiness and gratefulness from orphans being fed once a day than I have ever seen in a household in the States that has a full pantry. Consider me on my face thankful for the blessings that He has poured out daily on me and my family.
I have seen boys who choose to live on the streets and involved with stealing, rape, drugs, alcohol and so much more just because they did not feel the love they were created to feel. Consider me CALLED to work with such an epidemic until the day I die. I have too much love from my Savior for them that I don’t know what to do with.
I have realized that even if I am told to do lame office work- afterwards it is absolutely possible to get a $2 bag or oranges and walk outside and bless the “least of these” day with a smile and an orange. Consider my free time and spare change going to a different cause once I return home.
I have looked prostitutes and trafficking in the face and felt hopeless but learned that the Lord will do what He has to do and just a simple smile –from Him– through us can release all the chains in the world. Consider me at peace that at the name of Jesus darkness flees.
The Race is definitely an eyeopener for lack of a better term. The Lord will bless whatever we do in His name. If you feel called to the race.. by all means sign up. If you choose to stay at home and simply look at people and love through His eyes… He blesses that just the same. All we are called to do is love. You see a lot on the race but I guarantee all the same things exist within miles of you. Gotta search for it. What is the worst possible thing that can happen? Death?
To live is Christ and to die is gain.
