I ended up asking a good number of alumni/leaders this question these past few weeks.
“If you could grab a brand new racer by the shoulders and shake them, telling them one thing, what would your advice be?”
Here are a few of my favorite answers!
“You get what you put into this. You can absolutely just be on your phone and not know anything about the people around you. Or, you can make the best out of the situation given and have the full experience.”
“Honestly enjoy the time that you have. I know nine months might seem like a long time, but once you get near the end, you’ll wish you had more time. Go do everything that you can, and don’t waste any moment.”
“I would say you have to chose each other. Living together for that long is going to be hard, but you have to lean in onto your team. You’re going to need to chose to love everyone, even if you don’t totally click with them.”
“Fight for each other. Fight for your relationships. Fight for your brother and sister in Christ.”
“Empathy is a really important aspect of loving each other. Everyone is probably coming from different backgrounds, so it’s important you take the time to try and understand where someone might be coming from.”
“Ministry is everywhere. Like, literally everywhere. It doesn’t just pause once you come off the race or when you just get tired of it. Find Jesus in every situation.”
As a new racer, I was so excited to hear these things.
To my squad mates, this is my promise to chose you guys. I promise to fight for you guys time and time again. I promise to point you to the gospel as much as I can, and to serve you guys as well as I can.
To those who are reading this as one of my supporters, I hope you read this and are encouraged. This doesn’t just go for the World Race, this is living out a life with Jesus.
But this is my promise to the public, that this is it. I am in this, full heartedly. I am ready for the hard, the confusing, the chaotic times that this season might bring.
My hopes walking into this season of life is to become more intimate with the Father, serving and loving those who the Lord asks me to, and just being abundantly free/ open to whatever He asks of me next.
hello ma’am!!! i loved this!!! this is something i also asked alumni/leaders/coaches, so thank you for putting this together!! you’re gonna help so many future racers && are already a blessing to the racers on your squad here and now. love you gal
man oh man! I am so proud of the way you are already choosing in and looking for love and sharing it at every chance you get, you’re a gem!
Sydnie, This is good! All these tips have the love of Jesus written all over them. And really, I guess they boil down to……the first & second and greatest commandments: love God and love others. (Mt 22:36-39) You are brave and wise to make such proclamations and commitments to your squad mates and to the rest of us. It is our honor to support you along the journey – both when you launch and in the preparation. Love you, Sister!