Yesterday, February 12, was the date exactly a year ago that I finally committed to doing the World Race. Now here I am in Malealea, Lesotho sitting in a small coffee shop celebrating that this weekend marks the half way point of my race.
Each month has brought fun times, hard times and a whole lot of growth. I measure my months by countries and by growth.
Serbia:
Serbia was my first month, and my first time being out of the United States. We had a ton of time to think in Serbia, and that taught me that my story is worth telling, that God wants me to tell it, although I won’t take action to tell my story until months later. Serbia allowed my team to grow close, almost too close, and collectively we all probably ate around 50 cheese pastries. And I have yet to find bigger burgers then the ones in Serbia, I mean after all “In America you drive big cars and have little burgers but in Serbia we drive little cars and have big burgers.”
Albania:
Although we were only at the farm in Albania for a week it still offered plenty of learning experiences. I learned just how important small jobs might be to an overall business. I may have been scooping pig poop 8 hours out of the day, but I was allowing LightForce kids camp to be self sustaining, and that was pretty cool. Also learning how to do laundry by hand… In a sheep’s trough was an experience.
Greece:
Oh Greece, so many things I still have to process from you. Helping the refugees was on of the hardest things I’ve done and seen. I learned that it’s okay to have a compassionate heart, and that God doesn’t want me to harden it. I continually pray for the Syrian refugees and so should you. Also protip for future racers, pack for the cold months too because if you don’t you may end up wearing a onesie for ministry to keep warm.
Macedonia:
Macedonia was a short, simple and sweet month. It taught me in the midst of everything going on, that I am pretty broken, and no matter how hard I try, just putting a smile on my face won’t change that. It brought my brokenness to the light so God could begin to heal me. There also was this amazing chocolate, that had strawberry filling, that I bought at least once a day… sometimes twice a day.
South Africa:
South Africa went by just as fast as it came. And it brought me something new: anxiety. Amongst my anxiety, God taught me that he will give me good things, and he’s a good good Father, and that he won’t take away the good things, but I need to trust him with everything. South Africa also taught me that sometimes ministry is learning the Hoedown Throwdown by Hannah Montana, as ridiculous as that sounds. (I’ve done this line dance every month since…)
Zimbabwe:
Zimbabwe was by far the hardest month of my race so far, but it taught me to be bold and to choose joy. My anxiety consumed me most the month and I had to make a choice every morning, was I going to be bold and choose joy? Or was I going to let my anxiety win? It took most of my strength, Gods strength, to be bold, to even get out of bed in morning. But with that strength I told my story of shame to a YMCA conference, and public speaking is something I swore I wouldn’t do. Zimbabwe also taught me that, there is ALWAYS room for one more person in the car.
Lesotho:
This month started with a lot of frustration, heart ache and pain. I wasn’t sure what this month would look like because the beginning started off rough, but as soon as I pulled into my ministry sight God whispered “This country is for you.” God gave me mountains this month, and for the first time in a month, I felt like myself again. I still experience anxiety, but God keeps reminding me, “Remember you have to trust me with the good and the bad”. He also gave me the right people this month to get me through the pain. I’m very thankful for that. And to leave you with a good laugh, I got locked in a long drop for 20 minutes.
Half way through the race and I’m thankful for my growth and excited for more, but I’m looking forward to being home again too. The World Race has been a lot harder then I ever expected, but my relationship with Christ is so much stronger because of it. I’ve grown incredible, life lasting, friendships and shared way too many laughs.
A year ago, when I accepted to do the World Race, was the one of best decisions I’ve made.
See you soon America, but first I’m headed to Asia!
