It’s incredibly surreal sitting here. I am at News Cafe in the Johannesburg, South Africa airport, only a few seats away from the table I sat at over a year ago. Our World Race squad was leaving Africa for the final leg of the race–Central America. I cannot believe I’m back here. I feel incredibly blessed to have been given the life I have.
In the six hours before I board my flight to Manzini, Swaziland I will wander around the international departures, waxing nostalgia, pondering the blessings God has given me, and thinking toward the future. In the last few days I have been in Ireland, England, and shortly, Swaziland…and this for the Kingdom of God. When scripture talks about the abundant life, this is it for me. I know not everyone is inclined to travel around like a gypsy, but I thrive like this. I live for the rush of anxiety I get when I fly, and the adventure of new locations; the luxury of having friends literally around the world, and the joy of reuniting with them after months or years apart; the challenge of learning new cultures, and experiencing how God can use me to minister in each of them. This is incredible!
It’s funny…I wish I wasn’t alone right now because I probably look a little crazy smiling to myself constantly. I can’t help it. God is so good!!!
I remember last time I was here, a few of my squad-mates and I spent hours trying to find the perfect hostel for our squad to stay for our layover in Madrid. *We succeeded, by the way.* I can think of the little shop I went to with my teammate Krystle, and that I bought a fresh salmon and cream cheese sandwich. And I remember walking to one end of the terminal, only to find out they had switched our gate to one at the complete opposite end. So, like a herd of cattle, our squad of twenty-six turned around and marched back the other direction. I remember sitting at our gate watching that ridiculous Celine Dion video I did, and watching Brandon put a new sticker in between his laptop and the protective casing with such meticulous care. I can think of some of the conversations I had, and some of the moments of extreme laughter. Things like this warm my heart, but also make me a big melancholy.
I miss that so much. I miss my world race squad, and I know I will probably never have anything like it again. I miss being able to relate to the people around me, and being intentional with a group of solid believers just trying to bring Kingdom in the way they understand it. I know God has incredible things in store for me. I know this will be a whole new adventure this time around. I know that if I keep putting one foot in front of the other, in the direction of Him, that I will continue to walk in the abundant life, no matter what challenges are before me.
