If I could describe what leaving home for 11 months to serve around the world, I would use one word. HARD.

Ever since I was 16 years old, I knew the Lord called me to serve as a missionary. I always picutred myself traveling and being immersed in different cultures. I knew that going on the World Race was going to be hard, but in all reality there are moments where it gets hard.

It does not hit you right away that you just flew on a plane to Georgia and the only belongings you have are on your back. For me, it only slightly hit the fifth nighth when I was laying on my sleeping pad, in a tent, in the woods somewhere in Georgia, with people I did not even know. The homesickness of my people back home hit, but it did not feel like this "oh my goodness I am on an 11 month mission trip around the world." It then only hit a little bit more when I was riding in the back of a truck, driving up mountains in Guatemala to visit a village to share with a group of ladies about the Lord. In Guatemala, the lack of familiar things hit. We had to drive two hours to get to a grocery store that sold trustworthy meat, we had to wear skirts when back home I loved my hoodies and pants, and the slowness of life was unfamiliar. But it fully hit, and pretty hard, once the holidays arrived. We were in Romania during all of the holidays, and although they had Christmas festivities, it was still hard to go through the holidays not being home. I found myself missing my family and thinking back on the small moments with them. Football on Thanksgiving, hanging up Christmas lights, being in Christmas Eve service, the whole family over for New Years, and more.

Although this journey does require some abandonment, brokenness, and dependence, it is hard when it comes to thinking of home. The truth is that not having the familiar people and the familiar things around you is hard. But at the same time it is so beautiful.

It hit me that night in my tent in Georgia, but I also thought, "oh my goodness I am going to have the oppportunity to share Christ with people all over the world." It hit me in Guatemala when I did not have my familiar things, but I learned to glean on people and in the Lord when I needed to be comforted. It hit me in Romania when I missed the small moments, but I got to create big moments with people around the world. That is the beauty of being away from home. The bubble you created around your home, grows to be all around the world. The main truth about leaving home for 11 months is that your eyes will be opened. Your heart will begin to move. Your beliefs will be solidified. You will feel the Lord move in ways that you never have before.

Don't get me wrong, it is still hitting me that I have five more months on this journey. And homesickness, comfort items, moments, and everything else still is hard to miss. But the truth is that although it is hard, it is still very much worth serving God. Our Alumni Squad Leader, Raquel (miss you!) shared with us some last words before she left our squad back in Tirana. She had written down a series of sentences and at the end of it, we all shouted “It is worth it.” Because truthfully, everything for the Kingdom of God is worth it. Leaving home for 11 months is worth it, no matter the circumstances. All of the cold showers, all of the mosquito bites, the awkward conversations with teams, the vulnerability, the unknown, the stretching, not having a bed for 3 months, the spiritual attacks, the food that may cause you to get sick, ALL OF IT!! It is all worth leaving home for 11 months. The truth about leaving home for 11 months is that it was hard to leave and get comfortable to living on missions, but it will definitely be 10x harder when we say goodbye to the Race.