Some of our precious students from Kizirakome, Rwanda
1. Q: You spoke of the world race in terms of clarifying God’s specific call or direction on your life, have you experienced that?
Such a good question! I’m going to go ahead and say “yes.” I believe God has given me some vision and purpose for where my life might be headed and potentially a “where” as well. However, it’s still in the tiny dream stages and I’m praying for clarity, discernment, further direction and next steps. So, I’d love to talk about this with anyone interested in a one-on-one setting, but for now I’m going to refrain from including it in this blog.
Before the race I worked for a small college outside of Boston and had the chance to love-on high school and college age students; inviting them into my home and making space to talk about and be Jesus to each other. Stepping away from that setting for the last year has made me realize how much I enjoy creating space for others to call home, and just how much I love walking through life with students. I’m praying that will be a part of where God moves me next.
I will also say, that the race helped me realize the influence I carry as a follower of Jesus, and better understand the leadership the Lord has entrusted me with. When given the choice I like to lead from behind, or in a role of support, but this year the Lord challenged me to lead from the front and in that I grew in confidence, humility, and understanding. I don’t think the Lord is done calling me into leadership or relational ministry roles for the future.
2. Q: When you were in Africa during the world race you seemed the most vibrant, joyful, and spoke of God’s undeniable presence, did you feel a call to that region during that time?
This is such a good question. I was so excited to be back in Kenya and to experience more of eastern Africa, with time in Rwanda and Uganda. You can bet your bottom that even before we left for Africa I was praying, asking the Lord to make it clear if this was a part of the world He wanted to me to end up in for a longer season, or even the rest of my life.
Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya were all more wonderful than I could have imagined. Our hosts in each country were incredible, and the ministries we were a part of felt impactful and lasting within the communities. In each country there were many moments where I found myself saying (sometimes out loud), “Is this it, Jesus? Is this where you want me?” But, to my surprise, I never felt a yes in my spirit to those questions.
I do believe Eastern Africa will always be a part of my life, and it’s a part of the world I would love to spend more time in. I want to bring family and friends there and introduce them to places and people that have shaped so much of me and my relationship with the Lord. Both Rwanda and Kenya were countries where I found myself saying, “I could live here.” almost every day. And while I feel like I could live in those countries, I don’t feel God leading me to do that now. Maybe that’s something He’ll do in the future, but for now, I do not feel God’s leading in that direction.
3. Q: Did you notice any themes about what God was teaching you throughout the year and lessons you learned?
Influence: I’ve never really noticed before how being a follower of Jesus automatically gives each one of us a new level of influence, because we carry the Holy Spirit. The race helped me see this in action throughout the globe and throughout my squad. The race also helped me see that the Lord will sometimes give us greater influence in a specific area or with a specific group of people where He wants to use us. I saw that in myself as a team leader and on a new level as a squad leader.
Leadership: If I’m being honest, I wanted to do the race without any leadership responsibility. I wanted to grow in authenticity this year, and knowing how titles and roles can consciously or unconsciously color our ability to be authentic, I believed staying under the leadership radar would be the best way for me to do this. But, God felt otherwise and I was placed in leadership from the start of this journey, and bumped up a level for the remaining seven months of the race. Looking back I see that the Lord knew I wanted to grow in authenticity, and the best way for me to do that was to be put in positions that would challenge it. It’s easier to be authentic when you feel comfortable, but when placed into the uncomfortable places you have to make conscious choices and honestly ask yourself, “Am I seeking approval from people or from God?” My growth this year would not be the same without the challenge of leadership; without the mistakes and regrets, the apologies and humility, without the victories, lessons, and laughter that accompanied the process.
Humility: Jesus is the greatest example of humility; of a servant-leader who chose to highlight and grow the people around Him rather than make them feel small in the shadow of His greatness. You can’t lead well or exercise your influence for the Kingdom to it’s full potential without a humble heart and spirit. Time and again this year I was given the chance to come low into humility with the people I was leading, and I know I am better person—a better follower of Jesus—because of it.
Small Things for the Kingdom: When most people think of the World Race I believe they think of crazy moments—the paralyzed walking, the blind seeing, maybe even someone being raised from the dead. And you know what? I prayed those prayers too—to see the miraculous—and I’ve been given the gift of seeing things like the paralyzed getting up and walking before, but those things did not happen on this race.
For me, the race was much more about small moments with people. It was about finding common ground with the muslim woman at the gas station who didn’t speak the same language as me. It was about acknowledging and calling out the talent in Guatemalan artisans. The race was about seeing the unseen and inviting them over for pancakes on a Sunday night, or talking about who Jesus is over dinner during a short stay at a hostel in Rwanda.
My race was about investing in people no matter how much time I was guaranteed with them—eleven months, one month, the span of a meal, or just a few minutes buying juice at the convince store.
As followers of Jesus we are meant to live missionally. It’s not only a select few who are called to “missions” it’s all of us who know Jesus and want others to know Him, too. And “missions” doesn’t need to happen over seas or out of state, and it doesn’t need to look like passing out tracts or knocking on doors — it can look like those things, but not just those things. Living missionally means we look for what God is already doing everyday around us, and we ask Him to invite us into those stories. We love from the overflow of God’s love within us, no matter where we are or what we’re doing.
4. Q: What subtle, humble ways did you witness God’s people loving on one another? Naturally we are moved by the “big” moments we witness, but I love to find those small, quiet ways that God calls us to action, to love.
Going into the race I think many of us had an expectation of all the crazy huge healings we would see; the lame walking, the blind given sight, you know? But for me, the race ended up being more about learning to love and extend Jesus in those quiet, everyday moments you’re asking about with this question. Looking back, my favorite moments from the race are ones that will sound small and maybe even insignificant to many.
I think about meeting Dora, a vendor in Guatemala. Dora was an older Guatemalan woman that we happened upon during the beginning of our time in Guatemala. Our first conversation lasted about 20 minutes and as my friends and I walked away from our time with her, I remember them saying to me, “Victoria, you just had a 20 minute conversation completely in Spanish and actually knew what was going on!” We laughed and I thanked Jesus, because I know the Holy Spirit was imparting understanding in that encounter. Dora became a friend that month and I would make a point to stop by and see her a few times each week, continuing conversation, bringing her flowers, learning about her family and loving on her.
Guatemala also held one of my favorite days from the race with a local artist, an older man named Gerardo. Gerardo was a street artist, selling his stunning watercolor paintings on one of the most popular streets — along with dozens of other artists. I stopped to talk with him (also only Spanish speaking, haha!) and jokingly asked if he’d teach me how to watercolor one day this month. Next thing I know we’ve exchanged numbers and I’m calling him a few days later to set up a meeting time and place for the coming Thursday. A small group of us hopped on a bus to town and meet Gerardo on a late Thursday afternoon in January. When we found him he smiled a friendly grin, packed up his paints and lead us down the cobblestone street where to a stunning park and sat us next to a beautiful yellow cathedral.
Gerardo circled us up, settled us in, shared his paints and pencils with us and began giving us a watercolor lesson, completely in Spanish. I will never forget the way he moved from person to person, showing great care and attention to each, guiding and encouraging us in his craft. When we had finished our paintings Gerardo set them all along the curb for display and one-by-one picked them up giving us critiques and feedback — I wish you could have seen his face, the light in his eyes and joy pouring out as he shared something he loved with us.
Here’s why this is one of my favorite moments from the race: we did not “give anything” to this man other than our time. We simply gave him time and space to share his passion and talent with us. We were able to push him further into his potential and give him a platform to teach his craft. In a way, he was empowered and that was a beautiful thing to be a part of. I love that the Lord used a mutual love of art to break down a language barrier and build a friendship.
Throughout the last year I saw so many moments like these among my squadmates—taking time to see the people around us and asking God for ways to love them as He does.
