Launch.
Launch. Where the beginning of this great adventure is located. (Well, I guess things technically started at training camp but, ya know, we had to go back home after that.) Launch was something entirely different; it felt like coming home to my family. A family that I would be lucky enough to spend the next nine months of my life with; learning and growing together in every aspect of life.
It’s been awhile since I’ve updated everyone so, let’s start with the time period in between training camp and launch. It was hard, frustrating, long (yet, somehow short?), lonely, and difficult. When summer came to an end and the majority of my friends returned to school, I was stuck, or at least felt stuck, because I, myself, had nothing to return to. I wasn’t returning to work or school like many of my friends, no, instead, I was preparing to leave for a completely different kind of adventure.
It was a weird mixture of feelings. I sometimes even felt out of place in my own home; it felt as if I didn’t live there. It was so strange for me to know that I would be leaving my family for so long. (The longest period of time to date). I have been lucky enough to have friends that have gone on The Race before (Love you Haley and Molly) and can understand/relate to what I was going through. Of course, there were still some differences because this was my journey now and they have already experienced and lived theirs out. We are now in different seasons of life.
I felt entirely numb to all of the emotions that I was (supposed to be) experiencing. I knew things were about to change in a big way but, I didn’t want to acknowledge that. If you know me, you know I’ve been ready to leave Colorado for about two years now. I absolutely love Colorado. I love how beautiful it is, I love how I get to see God in everyday life, but I needed to experience life on my own; away from all the comforts of home and everything familiar. (If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I really can’t even tell you how I felt or what it feels like.)
Since committing to The Race, it had always seemed so far away. When people would ask about it, I would always respond with, “I don’t leave for another five months” or “It’s still three months away, so I have time.” Then, out of no where, it was September 7th and I was leaving the next day. I had to say my last goodbyes and all of the emotions that had seemed so distant to me were now right in front of me and I had no choice but to experience all of them.
My parents drove me to the airport Saturday morning. We said our to last goodbyes, they sent me off into a new season of life, and gave all of their worries and hopes of my upcoming year to God. The flight to Georgia was… interesting. I knew that this next year would be the greatest adventure of my life so far but, it was bittersweet. Knowing how much I would miss out on back home and having to be away from friends and family was a hard truth to swallow. I was fortunate enough to be on the same flight as one of my squad mates and her mom (Much love Sophi and Chuck) which made leaving easier. It was a reminder that this is exactly where God wants me right now.
(This is when it felt like coming home to a family.) When I landed in Georgia, a squad mate picked me up (also love you Ben), and I got to begin the adventure that is now my everyday life. Launch didn’t even feel real. This thing that I committed to months ago was now happening and I was getting to live it. All six squads that would be going out to different countries were all in the same hotel. This is where we began to share life with each other. We shared emotions, we attended sessions, and we put all our faith in the Lord. It was a quick and beautiful three days. Then, we left for the airport and began our fifty hour travel day.
Travel day is now a blur of airplanes, layovers, lack of sleep, laughter, sleep exhaustion, very overpriced food, confusion, one lost passport (looking at you Amy), one cup of tomato juice (don’t ask), a little stress, a lot of joy, and the realization that this actually happening. Let’s just say a whole lot of learning took place in the span of three short days. Then, we arrived, after all that, in our home for the next two months: Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Since arriving, we’ve done nothing but explore and fall in love with our new home. From night markets to tattoo shops (not me mom…yet), to showering on the roof of our hostel- this is the new norm. Also, getting an entire meal for a little over a dollar is not unrealistic. We began our ministry on Tuesday and the guys are working with Agape (orphanage for kids affected by HIV/AIDS), which means we are doing a lot of manual labor, and some hanging out with the kids. God is too good. Can’t wait to see what He has in store for me, my team mates, and my squad mates.
This wild and insane journey, that I committed to in January, was always something I was waiting for, yet, now, here it is. I don’t know what to expect or what God will do in these next nine months (or even the next week), but I know, all I have to do is trust in Him and He’ll do the rest.
For now I ask, whomever is reading this, for a few things:
1. Prayer, this will always be appreciated. Prayer specifically for team unity, and open and willing to learn hearts.
2. Share what is going on in my life and the life of my squad mates. Encourage others to follow along so they can also share in what is happening in our lives and hopefully learn from it along with us.
3. Continue to read my blogs with an open mind about what God may be doing in your own life, and realize while I may be in Thailand doing God’s work, you can do incredibly insane and amazing things wherever God has you.
I am still currently around $4000 away from being fully funded and any amount that you could donate would help tremendously. Y’all are the best and it means the world to me that I have so much love and support from back home.
Much love,
Zach
