I heard about the World Race from a few guys from my high school who signed up the year before I did.
I told Nathan Taylor I decided to sign up for the race while he was somewhere on the other side of the world. He was currently on the world race. When I told him, I remember he was ecstatic. We weren’t that close before he left, just in the same friend group. When he got home, I got to spend a lot of time with him. Most of the time that meant going rock climbing. Through this we became close friends as we challenged each other on climbing routes. He’d share stories, give me advice, and encourage me as we were climbing. Through him I got to meet 2 of his friends that did the race with him, Max and Matt.
Max Scheffer lives in Austin and I had the privilege to spend time with him several times before I left for the race. There was one night where I found myself in a room with him, 2 of my closest friends, and 3 strangers. As we were praying over each other, he handed me a note of things the Lord revealed to him about me. This note is so encouraging and I brought it with me on the race, I’ll still look at it from time to time.
Matt Bauman visited Nathan in Austin this summer. I got to play football with them and watch how close the two had gotten over just 9 months. Matt might be the funniest person I’ve met, and he loves people so well. He encouraged me and gave me such good advice for the world race. Before he left he gave me his sleeping pad. He could have easily sold it, but he chose to support me and bless me. I had met him the day before.
All three of them said that hands down Lesotho was their favorite country.
On September 6th, I handed Nathan my climbing gear and said goodbye.
Now, I’m a month and a half in to the race. We drive through the mountains in a blizzard to come upon this little city called Mokhotlong. We’re welcomed by a man named Oliver as he takes us into the homestead explaining our ministry. We cram 20 people into this small living room and as he’s talking, I’m looking around the room at all the handprints painted on the wall. The hands of the people from all over the world that came to this little city to minister to the people. I look up and I see a familiar name. I look at the names surrounding the handprints. Nathan Taylor, Max Scheffer, Matt Bauman, and 7 others. They all shook hands with the same people, slept in the same beds, ate in the same room, and did some of the same ministry my team and I will be doing. What an honor. I can’t wrap my mind around the fact that I walked in the same place as them, on the other side of the world.
So to the men of gap G, thank you for the impact you made on Mokhotlong. I’ve been here for 3 days and Oliver and Tsepo can’t stop talking about you guys. Joshua and Kyle’s eyes lit up when I said your names. Tsepo says you guys are trying to visit next year and I want an invite. I can’t wait to meet more and more people you all have met.
