-It’s okay to not be okay-

That's something I’ve been learning this month. I have spent a lot of time trying way too hard to be perfect. I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself to get everything right and say the right things. I’ve hated being vulnerable because I feel it shows the worst parts of me. But this month, the Lord has been teaching me to have more grace with myself. 

I have a really beautiful community that’s encouraging me to speak up and remind me that it’s okay to not always be right. My team loves me when I mess up, when I say the wrong thing, and when I don’t have the answer. Sharing the hard parts gives my team the space to love me well. It’s a sweet reflection of how Jesus loves.

This month in Chicago I have seen a beautiful and diverse city. There are so many different cultures and backgrounds. Everyone is unique and has different experiences. We spent time doing discipleship training with Park Community Church, working with South Asian Friendship Center, and working with World Relief. We learned some Indonesian, made connections in our Chicago neighborhoods, and got the opportunity to speak with immigrants and refugees. I learned to be more intentional in my interactions with people. I learned how to better appreciate other people's experiences, backgrounds, and stories. 

My first month on the Race has been a formative time where the Lord blessed me with love and community. I met wonderful people and got to be part of some really cool ministries in the Chicago area. We are now in Wisconsin Dells ready to start month two! We have already had the opportunity of serving with the food pantry this week for Thanksgiving. I am incredibly grateful for the time I’ve spent on the World Race thus far and I know I’m exactly where God wants me to be!