First week as a Racer

Where do I even begin?

I could start with the miraculous healings… or maybe the pure worship? No.. what about the bucket showers? Or maybe my squad?

Wait maybe I’ll just start with the beginning.

It all started on Saturday, August 31st of 2024. I left my house at 04:30 for the airport. Dan, mom, and dad all came with to say goodbye. It was definitely a rough one and more than a couple tears were shed.

But once I got on the plane and sat in my seat, my heart was at peace. Actually it was beating out of my chest, but in the best way.

I landed in the Atlanta airport and quite literally dragged my bag to the WR meeting point. As I approached the big clock tower in the middle of the baggage claim, I saw tons of World Race shirts and huge backpacks. I knew I had found the right spot.

Thirty of us took a bus to the AIM (Adventures in Missions which is what World Race is under) base and I checked in, then walked to our campsite. I recognized most of my teammates, and gave them hugs. I realized within seconds, that I was home.

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The last 8 days have been nothing but growth. There’s been some hard moments such as being sick, missing family, and spiders everywhere.

But there have been COUNTLESS good times.

• laughing with my squad (the 30 of us traveling and serving together for the next 9 months)
• Incredible worship that is truly for the Lord. It’s so freeing to praise God with no distractions.
• Beautiful prayers and sermons
• Team bonding 🙂
• Taking showers with a literal bucket
• Fitness challenges
• practice scenarios such as half of our bags getting lost in the airport, and having to share a tent
• Watching the stars that my Father created
• Being so much more close to God then I was 7 days ago
• One of my teammates healed from scoliosis and one from 11 years of chronic pain! In Jesus’ name!
• Receiving unending joy
• Chillin in our hammocks
• Calling my family

The list goes on and on.

For now, my biggest takeaways so far are…

1. God is so caring. Yes, He’s powerful and just, but He is also so tender and loving. He just wants to hold you.
2. Joy is the most beautiful thing when you get it from God.

I hope to update you all once a week about what God has been doing!

Here are some things you could pray for:

1. A lot of us are sick so please pray for full restoration and recovery
2. I miss my Minnesota home and my people
3. For our squad (K-squad!!!) to bond even more, help each other grow, and not have competition and jealousy between us.

Thank you for reading! Love you all! May you experience God in fullness this week.