Am I really doing this? Am I really chosen to be on First Generation Fusion Squad – meaning it’s the first international world race team!! Did I really just leave my friends and family for 11 months? That was running through my head from the moment I got accepted to the moment I landed in Thailand.
On New Year’s Eve, I traveled from Peoria, IL to Chicago, IL to San Francisco, CA where I stayed with a few girls in a hotel, then on New Year’s Day, we flew about 12.5 hours to Wuhan, China, then a 3 hour flight to Bangkok, Thailand, then a 9.5 hour bus ride to Chiang Mai. Yes, all you need to remember is it was a LONG 48 hours, but SO worth it! J
It’s only been a few days, but I already know that I’m going to have an INCREDIBLE year, on an UNBELIEVABLE team! I am with people who are becoming my family more and more everyday. People I can open up to about anything and everything.
During my layover in Chicago I met one of the girls on my team, and I couldn’t get the smile off my face, there was so much peace that all my worries and doubts left me. Then I met another teammate when I arrived in San Francisco, and us three stayed in a hotel together – and yet – God’s peace flooded me and I hadn’t even met my whole team yet! A night in a hotel was exactly what I needed, and it made missing home and family easier.
Because our team is international, everyone from the states met in San Francisco so there were 18 of us, with 3 leaders, then 4 more teammates and more leaders met us in Chiang Mai. The 20 others at the airport were family, right when I saw them. I didn’t see them as people I didn’t know, although realistically I’ve only “met” them through Facebook. Each person I have met has been uplifting, which is making it all so much easier.
I’ve been overwhelmed with everything between the traveling, after 2.5 years I am FINALLY back in Thailand, and my team, that I have been more emotional; but it took me until today to realize that I’m not overwhelmed with the transition itself, but I am overwhelmed that God chose each of us, because we ALL have a specific spot on this team. The first World Race Fusion squad needed each one of us, and God put that together in the beginning. God chose me, to do something that has never been done before. God chose each of us, and for that I am overwhelmed by His love, His grace, and His plans.
I’ve been telling God no to the World Race since 2012, and now I know why I said no – the other routes didn’t have the people on this team, the other routes were not called World Race Fusion. God knew from the beginning it would take persuading to get me to pack up my life for 11 months and leave the familiarity of America, so He began pursuing and showing me his plans to prepare me for what He has.
How awesome is our God?
SO excited to see what He has planned for these next 11 months! Although it’s going to be challenging and hard, it will be worth it. I am ready to be overwhelmed with God’s love.
Tomorrow, January 5, we will begin our training, please continue praying for my team, leaders, mentors, and myself as we dive in deeper to what God has in store for us this year!
