We will be home in one month!
A Guide for YOU: Our family and Friends
(& the 3 questions we don’t want you to ask!)
Dumela! (That’s ‘hello’ in Lesotho.)
In one month, we will be home! (We arrive back on November 22nd.)
Personally, I am so excited to be coming home, to see you all, and to share my heart with you in the details of this year. I’m overjoyed to see my family and friends.
I’m even more joyful to share all that Jesus has done.
But also..
Coming home from the Race can be transitionally challenging in some ways, so I wanted to create a guide for you all so that you can love us well as we come home.
(I would also love to note this: I know your hearts come from a place of deep love and authentic support, and I know you want to connect with us from a place of genuine understanding. This guide is meant to be helpful and loving; it is meant to bridge the communicative disconnects Racers often feel in coming home.)
Understand that we often need time to process our post-Race emotions with God first.
We want to share our hearts with you, but it’s also overwhelming. Please be patient with us as we deal with our transitions into ‘normal life’, as we reintegrate back into American culture, as we answer the same few vague questions over and over again (don’t worry; I’ll get to that), and as we accept the fact that this season has ended.
Which brings me to..
We are going to miss our friends here.
Imagine living life with a group of people 24/7—no breaks—for nearly a year of your life. I’ve heard it’s like knowing someone for 15ish years. Wow. That blows my mind.
Now imagine this: one day you’re living with all these people—and the next day, you’re not.
This is hard.
If you know how relational I am, you can only imagine how hard this is for me. It’s just recently hit me; in fact, I’ve cried every day in the last five days thinking about it. (Okay, to be fair, I do cry nearly every day. I’m a weepy weeper, and God’s goodness just overwhelms me each day and moves me to tears!)
But ugh, my heart is pre-grieving these goodbyes to my dear, beloved World Race family members.
These brothers and sisters have changed my life in the best ways—above and beyond what I could’ve ever asked or imagined. (Thanks, God.) We’ve shared countless heart-to-hearts, endless laughs, and all of this year’s memories. They know me—nearly all of me. They know my testimony better than anyone else (because they’ve heard it so many times in ministry); they know the depths of my heart better than most (the good, the bad, the ugly, the pieces of Jesus, the desires, the dreams, the flaws, the idols, the struggles, and the goodness that I have even missed—they’ve seen it); finally, they are the only humans who have shared this experience with me (yes, we have all had our own experiences on the Race, but we have jointly experienced something together that no one else on this earth will ever fully understand—at least not on this side of heaven).
But Jesus.
I wouldn’t change any of it for the world.
Yes, it makes sense the goodbye is deeply more difficult when the friendship is deeply richer—all by the power and growth of the Holy Spirit. Again, I say, thank you Jesus.
“For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.” Colossians 2:5
Our special place with Jesus has become our sweetest and most valuable space.
We want to spend time with you; we want to share. And we also want to keep Jesus our center and priority. Please understand that our space to sit alone with Jesus might be hours upon hours each day as we process, grieve, debrief, and transition.
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6
And now..
The generalized questions we dread answering
(and the questions we wish you’d ask instead):
Please, I ask that you read this with a heart of grace in knowing where we are coming from; I know that these questions come from place of love. And I am praying for an abundance of grace and wisdom as I navigate these questions—because I know I’ll receive them. But for those of you reading this, you know a lot of what we’ve been through; you know the stories and the details as you’ve read my blogs.
As I write this with love, I pray you recieve this with love.
The vague questions that we get most:
“How was your trip?”
“Did you have fun?”
“What was it like?”
This was not a trip; this was not a vacation or even a short-term mission.
This was a year of our lives devoted to full-time ministry.
This year was incredible, redeeming, hard, alive, awe-filled, overwhelming (in every sense), insane, God-centered, abnormal, moving, constantly changing, adventurous, and yet, utterly un-glamorous, ah—but how could one possibly put it into words? It’s impossible! The Holy Spirit has moved within us beyond explanation of human utterances, and we are supposed to have a summarized answer for, “How was your trip?“
The alternative questions that will help us as we connect with you about this year—questions of specificity:
(And yes, you can absolutely take the questions straight from this list or create your own! I will joyfully elaborate as I answer your questions all day long!)
“What were your favorite parts of [Costa Rica]?”
“What was one of the most moving things you saw the Lord do in [Romania]?”
“What was one of the most moving conversations you had on [the Race]?”
“Which specific locals do you find yourself missing the most? Can you share a little about them?”
“Tell me your route country-order again. Where did you start, and where did you finish your race?”
“I read in your blog about your [prison ministry in Albania]. What were [the prisoners] like? How did you feel going into the ministry, verses coming out?”
“What was one thing that broke your heart?”
“I heard you got baptized in Costa Rica. Can you tell me why?”
“Which hosts had the biggest impacts on your heart, and why?”
“What were your favorite (and least favorite parts) of each ministry?”
“Tell me about the day you recieved healing over your mind.”
“Can you go into detail about breaking soul-ties?”
“How was life in a tent on the mountain?”
“Tell me about Spider Alley.”
“What was one of the hardest things that happened to you on your Race?”
“What was the Lord walking you through in [Guatemala]?”
“Did you experience or witness supernatural healing?”
“Did you witness spiritual warfare? How did you react?”
“Which countries surprised you, and why?”
“Did you get injured?”
“Did you ever fall? ” (P.S. Yes, I did. A lot. I think people fall more on the World Race? It’s a lot of hiking.) “Tell me your falling stories.”
“Did you get sick?”
“How did you manage to avoid a parasite?”
“Can you share with me what you ate in [Honduras]?”
“Can you share what you ate in each country? I’m fascinated to hear about all the meals!”
“What is the weirdest thing you ever ate?”
“What was the weirdest experience you had in [Albania]?”
“Were you ever scared?”
“Did you ever break the rules?”
“Where did you experience the most growth?”
“Where did you experience the most peace?”
“What made you sad?”
“Where you did you see redemption in ministry in [South Africa]?”
“How have you experienced healing and redemption on the Race?”
“Do you have any funny host stories?”
“Tell me about your women’s ministry retreats that you hosted (Beauty for Ashes). How did they go? How did the women respond?”
“Can I see pictures of [Africa]?”
“How did God call you to the Race?”
“Would you reccomend the Race to others?”
“Would you share your testimony with me?”
“How can we pray for you?”
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post and for making the effort to love us well as we reintegrate back into American life.
I love you all more than you will ever know, and I’m so excited to see y’all and give you the biggest hugs!
It brings tears of joy to my eyes as I think of seeing you again.
“Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:2-5
I am so ready to see you sweetie. Slumber party at Aunt Suzan’s with your sisters when you get back. I love you my sweet Victoria. Always prayers for you and your team.
Thanks Girl! I really love this blog and it has encouraged as we prepare to go home. I love you!!!
My Sweet Victoria, I’m weeping already! Your words are so special, and I know your ministry this past year has been so spirit filled, very humbling, and filled with many blessings (on both sides)! We are praying for you, your team, and your squad as you finish up your ministry in South Africa and as y’all transition back to life in the states. We love you so much, and we are extremely proud of you and your squad! GOD SPEED!
Love,
Momma
I LOVE THIS!! You’re so intentional, relationally-built, and empathic, and I know this blog will help many Racers to come!!
Thank you so much for this direction. Micah forwarded this to me so I can share it and prepare family and friends for his return. You have all experienced so much and grown in ways you probably couldn’t imagine. Prayers for your safe return and for life long connections with your team/squad. God bless!