Overview and What’s Next

Hello everyone! Since being home, many of you have asked me what I learned or what my major takeaways are from the trip. As a result, I wanted to write one last blog just to sum up what I learned in each country on the World Race, as well as share with you what my next step is going to be.

My Thoughts and Takeaways

Colombia

1. My team was in Medellin, Colombia which is where Pablo Escobar’s operations were based back in the day. The people of Medellin are doing their best to distance themselves from that history and it is not something they openly talk about. However, our host talked about it with us a few times and recalled bodies being found in the streets daily as a result of the rampant drug violence during that era. Considering its history, it is truly miraculous to see how far Medellin has come since those dark days. God is doing big things throughout the city of Medellin, and we had the opportunity to work with some incredible ministries there including working with the homeless and drug-addicted populations!

2. Speaking of God doing big things, my team and I were fortunate enough to witness, as well as be a part of, many miracles (healings and casting out of demons) during our time in Colombia . It was truly special and awe-inspiring for God to work in, through, and around us to perform these miracles, and it encouraged me to know that God is still working just as powerfully as he always has been!

Ecuador

1. In Quito, Ecuador, my team and I helped to build a new house for one of the families living in a very poor neighborhood. I had never seen poverty like that, and no words or photos can do it justice. It was definitely one of those moments that made me realize how much I take for granted at home.

2. Ecuador was the most beautiful country we visited, in my opinion. Every mountain, waterfall, volcano, etc. was more beautiful than the next, and it was really special to think about God creating that landscape knowing how much all of his children were going to enjoy it!

Peru

1. We were in Cusco, Peru during Month 3 which is a huge center for the “New Age” movement. It had a big impact on me because it showed me just how much we (myself included) turn to anything and everything to find satisfaction and fulfillment before we turn to God.

2. Cusco is a major tourist city due to its close proximity to Machu Picchu. My team and I lived at a hostel in the tourist part of the city but worked with various after-school programs around the city. It was incredible to see the difference between the “First World” tourist part of the city, and then the part of the city where the Peruvians lived and worked. I was convicted by the idea that how many times do we (myself included) go on vacation completely focused on how nice and relaxing our place is going to be, and just completely blow by all the people around us who are living in poverty.

Cote D’Ivoire

1. West Africa was a whole other world than what I was used to. South America really wasn’t all that different from the United States, but West Africa was nothing like it. The culture and systems in place (or lack of systems that is) were like nothing I had ever seen and I was culture-shocked. It seemed very much like mass chaos with everyone for themselves. However, it was good for me to experience that because I also saw for myself that God can work in any culture and any place. It was important to be able to rely on such a consistent and steady God in the midst of my radically different surroundings.  

2. My team and I got to live in an African village for 2 weeks! Most of the homes were made of mud and straw (some were made of cement), there wasn’t electricity, and there wasn’t running water. As far as unique experiences go, nothing compares to those 2 weeks. We were with a missionary couple who had learned the village’s language and were now translating the Bible into that language. They went along with all the different customs and traditions of the village even when they were frustrating, and this helped me to see 1 Corinthians 9:22 in action. “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”

Ghana

1. Southern Ghana was primarily Christian and one of the biggest frustrations was that sometimes the churches were seemingly fighting each other to get people to come to their church. I think it is easy to look at different churches and view them as rivals, but really we are all just brothers and sisters in Christ! How much more powerful would the local church be if it was unified in Christ rather than divided into all of our different denominations?

2. Later in the month, our team was with a very simple church in Northern Ghana who just put all their money into helping their community rather than investing in a building, instruments, lights, etc. It was really neat to see how simple they kept their vision and how much they were able to impact their community despite very little resources available to them!

Burkina Faso

1. We were not able to go to Burkina Faso due to threats of terrorism. Some of us were disappointed but if we had gone to Burkina Faso, we would not have been able to go to Northern Ghana. It was disappointing not to be able to go to Burkina Faso, but in hindsight, it would be much more disappointing to have not met all the people we did in Northern Ghana and to not have the memories we now have. Not going to Burkina Faso caught me off guard, but nothing catches God off guard and he worked it all out for our good in the end.

Montenegro

1. My team and I were in Montenegro during July and our first stop was a town on the Adriatic Sea. We didn’t know that the town happens to be a vacation spot for Europeans during the summer. West Africa was very difficult for our group and we were trying to get healthy and find some rest. To be blessed with a few days at a European vacation spot after 3 months in Africa was just absolutely incredible! God knew we needed some time to rest and refresh in preparation for the final 5 months and it was a welcome surprise!

2. During this month, we worked with a missionary family primarily. It was the first missionary family I had worked with and it was just a good reminder for my team and I that serving God and providing for our future families do not have to be at odds with each other. If we have families and God calls us to serve him full-time, he will provide. And likewise, if we are serving him full-time and we also desire a family, he will provide that too in accordance with his will.

Romania

1. The pastor we were with in Romania has been working with the drug-addicted population in his city for 18 years now. He said that some of the people he works with have been addicted for the entire 18 years he has been working with them. I couldn’t even imagine how frustrating that must be for him, but when I asked him about it he said, “Well, Jesus would never give up on them or stop loving them, so how can I?” I realized that in some ways I was viewing his ministry in terms of a progress report rather than seeing the individuals that he loved so deeply!

2. In Romania, all of our parents were invited out to do ministry with us for one week. My parents were able to make it out and the power of multi-generational ministry was awesome! For the citizens of the town that we were in, it was clearly moving for them to see parents and children serving together.

Cambodia

1. My team and I taught English at a preschool and around the community during this month. I certainly gained a lot of respect for teachers, especially of young children. Working with the preschoolers made me quickly realize how little patience I really had.

2. My team and I had the opportunity to talk with some of the women who worked in the red light district bars. The first night my whole team went and it was very clear from the start that the women working did not trust us men when they discovered we weren’t there for what they were selling. The second night we (the men) stayed back and the women went alone and had much more open and honest conversations with the workers. That was hard for me, because I really wanted to help, but the women just did not trust us. I certainly understand why they wouldn’t trust us, but it was hard not being involved in sharing a message of hope and love to the women and not being able to show them that not all men are the same.

Thailand

1. Thailand was our “Manistry Month” in which all the guys (12 total) were together for ministry. I really enjoyed just being around a bunch of guys who were there to serve others and serve God. It felt like I was on a sports team again, and it just made me realize the importance of brotherhood, especially in terms of pushing each other to grow in relationship with God.

2. I learned a lot about humility in Thailand. I had read how past teams had done prayer walks where we were going, worked in refugee camps, and done all kinds of impactful stuff with the Myanmar/Burma refugees. When we got to our ministry site, we weren’t doing any of this stuff. Instead we were weeding, painting, cleaning, etc. It was very hard to see the importance of what we were doing some days, and it was even harder to keep a good attitude about the whole thing. It was a humbling experience to walk in thinking we were going to do amazing spiritual things, and end up doing physical labor instead. But that is what our ministry needed done, and so that is what we needed to do for them in order to serve them most effectively. In terms of ministry, it was not a particularly fun month but it was a month that brought about some of the most personal growth because of how challenging it was. It was a good lesson for me on James 1:4-“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:4, NIV)

Malaysia

1. In Malaysia, my team and I worked at a special needs school for a few mornings during the week. It was awesome to see how loving and accepting the kids were of each other, of us, of their teachers, and of everyone really! I definitely feel like I learned more about what it truly looks like to love and accept others just from observing them in the classroom and on the playground.

2. The church that my team and I were with in Malaysia was truly a “family church”. I think that their church is the closest I have ever seen to the Acts church in the sense that everyone was willing to pitch in and help each other out. Also, it seemed like they were constantly having “fellowship” with one another throughout the day, even if it was just through their group chat. It was a true blessing to be a part of such a church and I learned a lot about what a church can look like if its members are all in on helping each other out and serving God!

What’s Next?

In February, I will be returning to Medellin, Colombia! I will be working alongside the same Pastor that my team and I were with Month 1 of the World Race. He and his family have graciously agreed to allow me to stay with them again, and I am very excited to work with him and his church once more! The people of Medellin hold a special place in my heart and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return and be a part of the amazing things God is doing there!