Before coming on the World Race, we are ALL guilty of stalking everyone and everything that has to do with it. I mean, cmon! It is a year of our lives and we want to feel at least kind of prepared for it. I read everything about packing and what to bring. I read stories and watched videos of ministry. I can’t even tell you how much time I spent watching videos on training camp (like, an embarrassing amount). People suggested to bring a tent, while others say it is not worth it (I have still yet to use mine, but I am afraid to get rid of it). Same goes with a sleeping bag, it is a personal preference and not everyone needs to bring one (but people like me do!) I can make a packing list later on, because I am currently STILL trying to figure out what should actually be in my bag (and I am already in month 7 haha). But this blog is not about all that I knew before going on the world race but it is a bit different. It is about what I did not know before leaving for a year…
TRAVEL DAYS. On the world race, you travel for very long period of times. I mean, at least our squad did. We traveled multiple times for over 40 hours on a bus and one time it was 5 days long. These travel days are probably some of my least favorite days on the world race. Now, this is not the case for everyone. Some people LOVE travel days because this allows a large amount of space to write, read, watch movies, sleep, and so much more. But someone like me, who gets incredibly car sick, struggles just about every time. So that is one of the biggest things I wish I would have known before starting the world race: SUPER long travel days. I wish I would have brought more medicine for my poor stomach. I wish I would have downloaded more movies. I wish I would have came with a BOMB power bank (seriously, spend the money. They are SO worth it). These travel days are something I did not expect but honestly, I have made some of the most unforgettable memories during them. Like sleeping in a bus station in Peru (and being totally creeped on by strange men), having a 24 hour layover in London, or even breaking my foot in Scotland. It is always an adventure.
TEAM TIMES. This is something I had no idea were a thing until training camp and even then, I had no idea what they would really be like. Team times happen almost every day and they are about 1 hour long. They can be as simple or creative as you want. These team times always include feedback which is a REALLY new thing for me. Feedback can be either encouraging or constructive. Encouraging feedback would be when you see someone do something awesome and you want to encourage them to keep it up. Constructive feedback is when you see someone act in a way that did not honor the Lord and you want to (in world race lingo) lift them higher. Feedback was really hard for me to get the hang of and I honestly still struggle with it, but it is definitely getting better and I can see the fruit in it.
SAFETY IS UP TO YOU. New country, new culture norms. Staring and inappropriate preconceptions of white people (specifically white women) can be very uncomfortable. Something I have been learning is that women are not viewed the same around the world as they are in our Western culture. This can lead to inappropriate interactions with the opposite gender. So my advice is (since it is almost impossible to avoid this) to just be aware of your surroundings and be careful with how you interact with the opposite gender. I know, I know, you probably already know this but it is just so important. Be careful and if anything happens that makes you feel violated, please talk to someone.
JOURNEY MARKERS. You won’t really understand this until you are on the field BUT just know this, it is not a bad thing. It is like World Race homework but not the kind of homework that is pointless. It helps you process what you are experiencing while you are on the field and it also allows the leadership team to know where you are at physically/emotionally/and spiritually. Stay positive and honest while doing journey markers because they are really there to help you and allow others to be there for you. 🙂
MONEY. I know, I know…you just raised almost $20,000 but wait! There is more!! Your budget covers food for ministry/travel days, transportation for ministry, housing, etc. But what it does not cover is anything extra. SO if you do not have access to a washing machine for laundry and you do not want to hand wash every single time, you have pay for it. If you want to get wifi to talk to your family/blog/update supporters, you have to pay to get there. I did not realize how much I would be spending on transportation. Transportation to get basically anywhere adds up and most of the time, comes from your own pocket. ALSO the world race budget DOES NOT COVER necessities like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, body spray, snacks, lotion, etc. I did not know this beforehand and wish I did. If you want to do anything adventurous it will cost you but please do it!!! It is so so so worth it. Start saving all your money now and you will be okay 🙂
MAKEUP. Yes. I still wear it on the world race and still love it. But it is UBER expensive in South America…just throwing that out there. SO bring your favorite mascara and lipstick and bring multiples of it.
MISSIONARY GUILT. This is SO important to know. When traveling the world and living life as a villager, you see hard things. You see 3 years olds walking streets all alone, you see SO many children who have lost one or both of their parents, you see people dig in trash cans just for a little bit of food, you see children being forced to work at the age of 6 years old rather than be in school. You hear stories from people that actually break you. You pour out love again & again and then have to say goodbye. You have to look into the eye of a child that is so desperate for love and tell them it is time to say goodbye. They ask you “please come back. Please take me with you” and all you can do is hug them and love them with all you have. It is has put me on an emotional rollercoaster. It makes no sense and seems so unfair. I have struggled so much asking myself, “What makes me so special that my life is so easy?’ and I have struggled like crazy understanding the Lord’s goodness through it. I feel so guilty for my life. This is something I never expected and I am currently walking through. It is hard. But I am learning to see how good of a Father God is. He always finds a way to fill in the gap. He sends people to these places to be love and hope for them. When we leave, more people are coming. God makes a way and He has not forgotten about anyone. And I just have to keep reminding myself that He is good. He is good. He is good.
You have enough love. This love does not come from you and you alone. This love comes from the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you. Even when you feel like you have no more love left to give, JESUS WILL RESTORE THE LOVE IN YOUR HEART and He does it every single time. This is so special and important to me to share with you. You have enough love in your heart to give to every one you meet. Never stop loving. Even when it is hard and hurts, every person you meet is worth love and they are worth the fullness of it.
I could write so much more but I really do believe these are the most important! SO to anyone reading this and thinking about going on the world race here is my advice:
STEP OUT AND DO IT because if you give space for God to move, He will change your life forever.
