Hey there, it’s been a hot minute since I last posted. To be honest I’ve had writers block for awhile now. There’s a lot I want to share but I don’t think it’s time yet because I can’t find the words yet- still processing. And I’m realizing I’m the kind of person who does most of her processing after. So most likely when I get home from the race, when I’m done, I’m gonna be able to fully process and THAT is when blogs are just going to flood hahah. But anyway let me do a little update! WE ARE A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF WAY DONE!
Can you believe it?! We’ve reached the halfway mark of the race a few weeks ago! We’ve got our last flight information- our final day of the race and when we arrive back home from the race. It’s unreal!
When I said yes to the World Race- I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The race turned out like nothing I really expected. A lot of us on my squad & I’m sure others who have done the race- have this fear of doing this thing and coming back the same. Not changing. And if I’m honest, you can do the World Race and not let it change you. Growth doesn’t happen as naturally as we expect sometimes and that’s when we have to go after it. When we have to choose it. The race has changed me!
It’s a lot more introspective and there are so many practical things you learn and can take with you for life.
Have you ever been asked the odd question: “What is one of your more valuable parts of your body?”. Weird question and one I don’t usually answer. But I actually have an answer now. Now one of my most valuable parts of my body are my eyes. They have seen so many things that my heart yet can’t explain! Beauty & wonders of the World, cultures + the beautiful people that are a part of it and that have a story.
When we got to Ukraine, our first country, that’s when it hit me “Like wow, this is 11 months”. But WOW has it gone by fast! Sometimes, well actually a lot I have to remind myself that I am in a country across the world. I am on the World Race. Things have become kind of a norm but they are far from a norm.
I chose to walk away from my job, my amazing community back home, my family, and chase after this thing for 11 months. To get my own personal experience with Jesus in the unknown. It hasn’t been easy and I’ve learned to trust God in new ways and he’s showed up. Not always how I thought but nevertheless, He always has. As I look ahead but also reflect where I’ve already been- I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to getting home because a big part of me is, but there’s still so much I want to see God do while I’m here on the race. I actually just read this Instagram post from the girl that’s on the race now and she perfectly described it exactly how I’ve been feeling:
“What kind of phenomenon is it to yearn for travel & far off places, then arrive in those places and begin living and exploring, only to find yourself dreaming of your future back home in the States when all of this is said and done. What. It doesn’t make sense lol. And yet it happens to me every couple of weeks! It comes in waves…Something reminds me of home and all of a sudden I am wanting to be back in the U.S.-Even though I’ve wanted to be on the Race for a long time.” And then she just mentioned how when we are given sweet reminders of home- we can practice patience and remain fully present. So yeah I just wanted to share that little tidbit!
I’m currently at month 6 debrief and at first I wasn’t super looking forward to it because I felt like we just had a debrief and I wanted to continue working with the construction at the school because there was still a lot to do. But this debrief has been encouraging and helping me recast vision. The debriefs really are so encouraging to me and help me recast vision. We are on the last half of the race. We are closer to coming home than we are from when we launched. I don’t want to just let these last 5 months pass me by, I want to grab ahold of them and get the most out of them. I want to finish strong and finish chasing after the things I’m still believing God to do.
There’s another thing I want to share with you. If you get any take away from this- it’s this: Go after what scares you. And I feel like I talk about this a lot but ah, it’s cause I’m so passionate about it. God might call you to things that seem impossible or scary but just take a step of faith and go after it! It’s okay if you have your doubts or worries. If you don’t do everything perfect. Heck, if everyone on my squad including me, had to have made every right decision and be perfect, if we had to have everything in life and about ourselves figured out, none of us would be here doing the race. Don’t wait till you have it all figured out to do the things you’re designed to do. I so believe this generation and the coming generations need to go after their crazy dreams to show just how big our God is and because of Him- we are capable. Just show up and watch what God can do. Show up in your job, your church, your community, your home, wherever and whatever it is. Show.Up.
Anywho that’s what’s goin on! I mean there is a lot more that’s going on but you know when God is just doing so much and so much is going on around you, so much is changing on the inside of you, it’s almost hard to process cause it’s just so much! So be patient with me!
Hopefully right after this I can post a blog about where we are going next! MYANMAR!
Anyway, Much love, T.
