Howdy friends!
I’ve been back home for five weeks now, and it’s been incredibly refreshing and life-giving. As I look back on the past 11 months, I’m really excited to share what India was like and my final thoughts on the race.
India turned out to be a big surprise, completely different from what I expected. I honestly thought I’d arrive and be ready to leave right away—mainly because I knew it was the last country of the race, and I’d be tired and eager to move on. While that feeling was partly true (I definitely could have used a few extra weeks of sleep), I was not prepared for how hard it would be to say goodbye to the friends I had made over the past 11 months.
When we got to India we were told it was the hottest time of the year and probably the worst time to be there. Great! Comforting words to hear as we know well be here the next 2 months. We were greeted by some sweet staff members with leis, and taken to our ministry location.
Our coaches Perry, Joy and mentor, Jenna flew in from the states to join us for our final debrief in India. Our first week there was spent prepping for our parents to come do ministry with us, debriefing Nepal, transition, and we got our FINAL TEAM CHANGE WOOOHOOOOO.
SOOOO lets meet the team……… LADIES AND GENTLEMAN……. TEAM BACHELOR!!!
From left to right, you’ll see Riley, Kiley, Fran, Joshua, Ashley, and me! I was stoked—and honestly a bit surprised—to be back on a team with some of my closest friends. And yes, we did name our team after a reality TV show, which felt fitting given our mix of one guy and five girls.
We spent the entire week unpacking our experiences in Nepal and reflecting on the race as a whole. We had deep sessions to help us transition back to regular life and get ready for what’s next. On top of that, it was an all-squad month! Even though we were split into different teams, the entire squad was based in the same location, allowing us to soak in our last two months all together!
And then… the moment we had all been waiting for arrived! My mom and I, after nine long months apart, were finally reunited. We laughed, we cried and I got to have some intentional time together. We had dinner, and I got to share how the Lord’s been working in my life since I started this journey. I shared the ups and downs, and how I’ve felt Gods guidance and love through it all. The primary purpose of this trip was to bridge the gap between the past nine months of my life and the world my parents had only heard about through my stories. It was moving to bring my mom into this world physically and emotionally. Our days were packed with sessions in the mornings and evenings, where each of us racers shared insights on various topics. I got to speak on “Hearing the Voice of God,” a topic that has been central to my growth and walk with the Lord. We had topics on spiritual gifts, freedom, how we did feedback and team time, how to surrender everything to Jesus etc. One of the most fulfilling parts of this experience was introducing my mom to the people who have become like family to me. It was SO SWEET to see her connect with other parents and immerse herself in the culture that had surrounded me for so long. It was a week that allowed me to witness the Lord’s promises coming to fruition— Seeing His faithfulness and provision unfold before my eyes felt like a touch from Heaven.
As my mom left, we had a couple days to rest and then transitioned into the next phase of our ministry. As a squad, we began our days with collective worship, setting our eyes on Jesus before diving into our daily ministry. We traveled through three different parts of India, mixing things up to keep our time there diverse and engaging since we were based there for a while. We started in Dehradun, where our focus was on ATL (Ask the Lord). Each morning, our team would ask God what He had for the day ahead, and then we would get after it! Our days varied, some days we would go to the local mall and evangelize, others we would sit at a coffee shop and read scripture together.
Next, we headed to Punjab, where we worked with a local church. We shared our personal stories, joined in worship, and got involved in the church services. Afterward, we stuck around to pray with and support the congregation, really getting to know the community better. Punjab was where the Lord really taught me about boldness. I had the chance to share my testimony in front of the entire church, and I was shaking in my boots! Despite the nerves, it was incredible to see the Lord show up for me in such a powerful way.
Our final stop was Bhatwari, and it was for sure my favorite part of India. Here, we partnered with a local school in the mountains. I was assigned to work with the youngest students—5 to 6-year-olds—with my friend Libby! We were able to teach English lessons, act out the story of Jonah, and shared a glimpse of American culture with them. The joy of working with these students was so fulfilling! Bhatwari was special not only because of the impactful ministry work but also because it was a time when our entire squad was together! It was sweet getting to spend the evening with my friends once ministry was done for the day. Typically we would get together and start a game of volleyball until it was time for dinner.
It feels almost surreal to be back in the States, writing one of my final blog posts. I’ve been reflecting on the past 11 months and am overwhelmed with gratitude for your support and prayers. The race has transformed my relationship with the Lord in ways I never imagined possible. I’ve discovered new depths in my faith, learning so much about who God created me to be and how He’s designed me to live out my gifts. The spiritual insights I’ve gained have been eye-opening, and I know this is just the beginning! The people I’ve met in all the countries have touched my heart. The hosts who loved me like their own daughter when I was so far from my family, and the locals who spoke truth over me when I was believing lies. I am forever changed because of all of you. To those back home who prayed and cheered me on from afar, I love you and am so grateful to have had you in my corner. I could not have done this without you. There is so much that has happened that I’ll never be able to write about in a blog, for time’s sake! I would LOVE nothing more than to grab a cup of coffee and share about everything the Lord did this past year.
After seeing more of the world over the past 11 months, I’ve come home with a firmer foundation in the Lord. A scripture that’s been resonating with me recently is Ecclesiastes 3:11: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” I saw this truth reflected time and again in every country I visited—most people are searching for something more, something that can’t be found in counterfeit affections. It’s only in Jesus that we find true, lasting fulfillment and identity. From someone who once thought Christians were foolish to now surrendering my whole life to Him, I can tell you He is worth it!
And now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for… What’s next for Sarah? Good question! You’ll have to stay tuned for my next blog post to find out! 🙂
