Month 11: Living Differently

If the World Race gives you anything–it is a lot of time to think. To reflect. To ruminate. To consider. 

Even just the slightest disconnection from the hurry and hustle of a “normal” life in the U.S. leaves you with room to breathe and space to think. 

It makes you consider:

Who was I in the past?

Who am I now? 

Who do I want to be in the future? 

All the things you yearn for the most ever so subtly reveal your priorities and habits of your past self, when you had complete control over your life, schedule, and decisions. 

Yearning for the gym and healthy food? You probably value your physical health and well-being. 

Yearning for your friends and community? You likely prioritize the time you spend with those people, and cherish it deeply. 

Yearning for moments with your family? You likely value those relationships, and consider them worthy investments of your time and energy. 

Month 11 brings an onslaught of thoughts and feelings. Disbelief that it’s ending. Awe that you survived. Relief to be going back to your own home. Expectancy about what’s to come. Sadness to say bye to friends. Weariness at the yet-to-end grind of ministry and program expectations. Excitement to get to wear different clothes and eat different foods. Anticipation of something different to come. 

This month, my team is in Jeffrey’s Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa partnered with Global Leadership Academy. Our primary ministry function is facilitating an after-school program called Beats and Books where kids come to grow musically, intellectually, and spiritually. 

The program has been going strong for over a decade, and is in limbo as its founders are out of country resolving visa issues. My little team of four gets to support the two young girls who volunteer their spare time outside of their university studies. So far the girls and all the Global staff seem thankful we’re here, and we’re excited to get to know the kids in the program! 

Jeffrey’s Bay feels like a sweet place to end the year. We have a big house to spread out in and space outside to walk and run, some fun people who are becoming our friends, and something tangibly meaningful to spend our time doing.

One year ago, I was wrapping up a week of wacky scenarios and bizarre team builders and unusual food as the squad and I finished out training camp. I remember having the thought then, in one year, I’ll be almost done with the Race. 

And today–we’re there. Month 11. Almost done. 

It feels like each day brings a new “one month from today” thing. One month from today is the last day of ministry. One month from today we’ll start flying back to the states. One month from today we’ll land in the states. One month from today we’ll finish final debrief. One month from today I’ll be with my family again. On and on and on. 

It truly is the final countdown. We’ve been to all the countries, have survived all the travel days, have met all the hosts, have had all the teams, and have had highs and lows and everything in between. And we have certainly lived differently this year. 

But if we only live differently this year, what’s the point? 

At training camp, the Race is described as a launching pad into the rest of your life. A launching pad is no place to get too comfortable and stay, otherwise its pretty lousy at its job of launching. 

The point is that we take what we’ve seen, learned, and experienced and make informed decisions on how to live differently (from our old selves, but more importantly, from the world) from here on out. It’s going to look different for everyone, but here are some examples of what it will look like for some: 

• getting connected to a local church for the first time ever. 
• joining a small group for the first time ever. 
• putting in the work to forge authentic community, rather than sitting in complacency that you don’t have it. 
• reading the Bible consistently, for the rest of your life. 
• praying genuine, reverent, and faith-filled prayers. 
• becoming so deeply saturated in the Word that you can spot false teaching from a mile away. 
• with thanksgiving, leveraging the gifts God has given you for the Kingdom, instead of focusing on the gifts you don’t have. 
• being radically generous with your energy, time, and finances. 
• being someone that takes serious the invitation of Jesus to “follow me” in both word and deed. 

I hope the things we all yearn for as we transition out of this crazy year and into the next season point to the fact that we’ve spent a year learning and growing and drawing nearer still to Jesus… otherwise, what’s the point?

Please pray: 

• for the ministry here in Jeffrey’s Bay. For mercy and ease as leaders and their families renew visas and return to South Africa. For the school on campus to disciple its students with faithfulness and humility. 
• for the last few weeks as a team. For peace and humility and self-sacrifice. 
• for the transition of everyone back to the states. For guidance and wisdom and provision in every decision.