Here on the new Hope Rising Blog, we want to bring stories and messages of the hope we have because our God is good! In the midst of fear and uncertainty, we all need encouragement and examples to walk in faith. Our first story comes from Megan Krivsky, right after she found out the Race was unexpectedly ending early due to COVID-19. Her perspective is Kingdom-focused and her eyes are on Jesus. She reminds us that life with God is an adventure no matter where you are in the world and Christ has Kingdom opportunities for us everywhere.
I woke up Monday morning to a message saying all World Race squads will fly home within 72 hours.
I looked out the window at the leafy palm trees basking in the 85 degree weather under the bright blue sky. Life in Thailand seems normal. There’re many people wearing masks and the streets are less crowded than usual but life seems to go on.
We were supposed to head to Malaysia in a week and then fly to Indonesia on April 2nd for the last month of our race. My mind began replaying memories of the last 10 months. And then I started to accept that it’s all ending in just 3 days.
Faces of people from Central America to Morocco to Ethiopia to India to Nepal to Myanmar to Thailand flashed through my mind. Faces of my squadmates ran through my memory. So many good times, so many hard times, so much growth. No one will understand this year like them.
Gratitude filled me. What an amazing time of my life this year has been. And the biggest realization of all— it’s not over.
I went on the race because I wanted to fall more in love with my God, my Savior, and my Creator. I wanted to get to be a vessel for the Spirit that is Love so others would get to know the fullness of life. I wanted to get to know God better myself because when I know Him better, I reflect Him better. Traveling across the world, living amongst so many different cultures, experiencing different lifestyles, seeing the consistent beauty of this planet, and meeting so many incredible people has truly given me a deeper understanding and love for God, and that’s something I get to take with me the rest of eternity.
At first when I thought about the race being over, I thought about going back to cold weather and sitting in my house doing nothing with no one. That probably will happen for a day or so and I’ll love it, but longer than that and it’s depressing. And then I realized it doesn’t have to be like that. In fact, I’ve learned that life can be as exciting as it is on the race every day. Because that’s what life with Jesus looks like. It’s not Thailand that makes life exciting, it’s Jesus. It’s not the world race that makes life exciting, it’s Jesus. And maybe the coronavirus can cause organizations, businesses, schools, etc. to shut down, but nothing can cause the Kingdom to shut down. As followers of Jesus, our purpose stands even if the structure of the world doesn’t.
So as my “World Race” ends, I know the true race goes on. Getting to live with open arms and pursue perfect Love is a lifestyle, not just a 10 month trip. While I’ll miss the travel and the 36 amazing people I’ve gotten to do this thing with, I know there’s so much awaiting us after this.
A few things to remember during this pandemic:
- God has always been the ultimate Healer aaannnddd He still is!!
- God has been here before the world existed, which is a really really long time!! And He’s always been in control. (John 1:1-3)
- Don’t let fear overtake you! I’m not saying be reckless and ignore the facts— be smart, but have peace knowing that God has the victory. Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Life wins.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.” John 1:1-5
Thank you all for following along with me on this journey!
