expectations

 My Expectations…

I’ve already heard time and time again that we are to have no expectations
for the WorldRace. Plans will change. Teams may change. We will hurry up and
wait. We will be surprised. But still, I want to write down a little about what
I expect: the good, the bad, and the ugly. If I expect something and it turns
out exactly opposite, it’ll be fun to laugh about in the future. If I expect
something that happens, it will be awesome to see how God has worked to prepare
my heart. So, here goes…

The Fun

-I expect to be super good at packing and navigating airports.

-I expect to send an email or blog home to my parents about how I finally
ate seafood.

-I expect to laugh and have wonderful, adventurous memories with my team.

-To sometimes forget what country I’m in.

-To have more than one type of currency in my wallet.

-To take really cool pictures.

-I expect to have a ton of inside jokes with my fellow racers.

-I expect to maybe ride an elephant : )

-I expect to have stories that will rival my “bit by a lion cub, hiked a
volcano� stories.

-I expect to do some native/tribal dance sometime along the way.

-I expect to climb as many trees as possible.

-I expect to see some of the most spectacular scenery/sunrises/sunsets ever.

-I expect to be able to say “hello� in 10-15 different languages.

-I expect to hike a lot.

 

The Good

-I expect to get rid of some of my fears. But I expect for it not to be
easy.

-I expect God to heal me from a lot of past hurts.

-I expect to become fed-up with Western ideology and materialism.

-I expect to be broken, wrecked, and shattered, and then built back up
again, stronger (yes, I’m putting that in the “good� section.)

-I expect to have some of the most intense times with God of my life.

-I expect to cry tears of joy worshipping Him.

-I expect to see souls come to know the Lord.

-I expect to have my faith put to shame by others.

-I expect to be changed.

-I expect to know the Word better.

-I expect to have a better prayer life.

-I expect to understand God better and that He wants to bless us and answer
prayer.

-I expect to have my faith increase.

-I expect, through many trials and hardships, that I will be more conformed
to His image.

 

The Bad

-I expect to not have alone time. Really ever. And I expect to learn how to
be okay with that.

-I expect that there will be people who will never understand nor support
me.

-To worry about family back home.

-I expect to miss an actual mattress.

-I expect to lose sleep.

-I expect to cry.

-I expect to worry way too much.

-I expect to be mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically weary at
times.

-I expect that somewhere along the way either my ipod, charger, camera,
charger, or some other electronic device that I “need� will break. (that’s
scary.)

-I expect to have some real struggles with back pain and be too embarrassed to
ask for massages.

-I expect to freak out on airplanes because I hate flying (I know, someone
who hates flying has been to 11 countries and is going to 11 more…by the sheer
grace of God.)

-I expect to be irritated with and irritating to my teammates at times.

-I expect to not have any personal space.

 

The Ugly

-I expect to have diarrhea.

-I expect to have normal dinner conversations about bowel movements.

-I expect to eat things that will make my friends gag.

 

Lastly, this is what The WorldRace says they expect of us racers (we’ll see
how well I do come July…)

Ready for God to show up

We’re seeking participants who
believe that God is actively at work today. People who not only want to do the
Lord’s work, but who are willing to let the Lord work in their hearts over the
year.

Ready to live in authentic
community

On the World Race you will live
and work with a team of roughly seven people, twenty four hours a day, seven
days a week. We’re looking for participants who are ready and willing to be honest,
open and vulnerable with prospective teammates. We’re looking for people who
are willing and ready to give and receive truth from each other “as iron
sharpens iron�, as it says in Proverbs 27:17.

Ready to change

During this experience, you will
get to change the world; we’re looking for participants who are ready and
willing to be changed. We are firm believers that the former is impossible
without the latter. Visiting 11 countries in 11 months, seeing the different
cultures, not having a home, and doing it all in community is going to change
you. We’re looking for participants who are aware that our lives are a journey
of transformation, becoming increasingly more like Jesus.

Ready to expose and deal with
the past

Call it baggage, junk, or past
wounds and hurts. Whatever you call it we carry the weight of a sinful world.
The effects of sin on your life will surface on the World Race. We’re won’t
necessarily rule out candidates who carry baggage, but we are looking for
people who are ready to deal with it and leave it behind. You will have the
environments and tools to sort through it all safely, but nobody can force you
to do it; we’re looking for participants who are willing to try.

Ready to have a positive
attitude

As with all of life, the World
Race isn’t always easy. Attempts at community don’t always work. Plans change.
Feelings get hurt. So, we’re looking for participants who are ready to hope
against hope and believe the best for every situation, even when it gets tough.