After the longest travel day we’ve had- we made it to Medellin, Colombia! We actually flew around the world to get here. From our first flight from America 7 months ago we flew half way across the world, and we just flew the other half.
We are in a city in a valley SURROUNDED by 3 different mountain chains and the fresh air feels GOOD. Medellin is known as “Eternal Spring” because of it’s beautiful weather all year round! As I am typing this I feel the cool breeze! Ah! Lord knew my soul needed this! haha.
Getting here was harder than I thought though. Being honest, I had a moment where I just wanted to be done. With our 3 days of travel: I was sick, super sleep deprived (haven’t fully slept in 3 days) haven’t really eaten a full meal cause my tummy is just so weird on travel days, so I was also feeling very weak- I just wanted my parents and the comfort of my own bed. We rested on the floor at airports, got woken up by the police in China saying we can’t sleep, stepped outside and breathed China air, had a beautiful layover in the great U.S.A, in San Fransisco California to be exact! Felt so good to lay in those hotel beds. Is it just me or don’t you think hotel beds (depending which hotels you go to) are THE COMFIEST things. I legit contemplated for a good bit of time if I should go downstairs and ask them if I can have one of their pillows. Felt like a cloud!! After our sweet layover we made our way to South America. Things were going smooth. Then as soon as we were heading to our final flight, all of us just eager to finally lay horizontally- we got to the terminal to realize we missed our flight but two people from our squad got on the plane! haha. At first, my initial thought was- there’s no way there’s gonna be a flight available today that has room for 23 people. But God is greater than my limited thinking. About 15-20 minutes later our amazing logistics comes to hand us new flight tickets and our new flight was currently boarding and there happened to be enough room for all of us. it was a Christmas miracle in February!!!
So 80 something hours later we made it! The next day we had a little orientation. I still wasn’t feeling super great, just trying to recover from those travel days I felt a bit guilty for the way I was feeling. It wasn’t me. I am pretty good at seeing the positive side of things so when I had those moments of just wanting to be done I was like “This usually isn’t like me”.
At our orientation one of the hosts was talking and she shared a bit about her story and she talked about being in the “pressure cooker” and how when you’re in the pressure cooker and a lot is happening around you, some unexpected emotions and reactions come out. AND. IT’S. O.K
We are on our final continent. Final 4 months left of the race.
I’ve read scripture and tons of writings about “finishing strong” and I feel like for the very first time in my life I am at the end of something where “finishing strong” truly applies.
But what does that even look like? How do you even do that?
Maybe it looks a lot like pressing in.
Being intentional
Realize what it is I really want out of these last 4 months and truly go after it.
Stay focused.
Focusing less about me and more about how I can be a blessing and offer hope & love to those around me. Loving the heck out of the people I will meet these 4 months.
And I think all of this is something I’ll have to choose & not expect to just happen.
Life on the field with The World Race is teaching me that when you find yourself uncomfortable & in the pressure cooker and things are coming out of you that aren’t really you- take a moment to pause and you’ll realize you can push through. You push through.
So I would love your prayers! Prayers that I can truly finish this thing strong! That I can love everyone around me the way Bob Goff writes about in “Everybody Always”.
I am so so excited for South America! MOUNTAAAAIIINNS
Sometimes I still can’t believe that this is my life and that I am here on the race. This is something I could of never gotten myself here on my own and the things I’ve gotten to do- I don’t ever want to take for granted or treat it like it’s anything short of a straight up blessing.
Who are we Lord, that you thought of us!? WOWZERS
Thank you and thank you!!
And HUGE thank you to those who have followed along with me on this journey reading my blogs and have offered encouragement and prayers. You don’t understand how much of a blessing it has been honestly! So TANKS!!
In other news we are pretty much in the same time zone as ya’ll in America! Give or take an hour or two depending on where you’re at! But my people in Tulsa I think it’s just an hour difference, my people in Florida it’s the same time 🙂 So communicating will be easier! Woot Wooot WOOOT!
Okay, I think that’s all for now! Ta Ta!
Till next time,
Much Love- T.
