So what next?

There are officially 30 days before the end of the Race and just a few more than that before I’m back in Boulder. This journey both feels like a lifetime and the blink of an eye all at once. I can still remember launch so clearly. It’s hard to believe that this is almost over. But, I’m really excited for the next seasons to come. So I want to share a little bit about what the next seasons are! 

First, I feel like it’s probably helpful for me to explain where I’m at spiritually and emotionally right now in this process of transitioning home since many people are wondering. Before coming on the Race, I struggled a lot with fear. I was PETRIFIED to think about coming home. I couldn’t even think about coming back to Boulder without feeling anxiety well up inside of me. But, as I’ve prayed and allowed God to work in my life, He has truly given me His supernatural peace for coming home. And He’s given me SO much excitement too! I’m excited to step into this time of returning to a community much different than the one that I’ve been living in for the last 8 months. I know that it might still be really hard to transition, but I’m excited to stand on this firm foundation that is God and see how He moves in my life as my trust is completely in Him. Spiritually and emotionally, I’m so excited for what this next season holds! 

God is currently walking me through what it means to live a life of uncomfortability. On the Race and being a Christian, we use the word ‘seasons’ a lot. God is revealing to me that uncomfortability isn’t a just a season that He’s walking me through right now. Uncomfortability is a lifestyle. We are never called to walk in things that are comfortable for us because when we do, we aren’t growing and we aren’t fully relying on the Lord. When we’re uncomfortable, we have to allow God to be our guide, our peace bringer, our place of comfort, our source of joy, our hope. God intended for us to live bold and uncomfortable lives for His Kingdom and He wants us to always be in close communion with Him. And we do this best when we are completely relying on Him. It’s really hard. It’s really uncomfortable. But, I’ve seen too many good things come out of uncomfortable situations in these last 8 months to continue to walk in the comfortable. 

God has also revealed to me throughout my time on the Race that I am actually a very relational person. I used to be fearful to talk about anything with people because I just didn’t believe that I had anything important to share. But now I know that this is a lie, and I have been completely set free of this fear. God has taught me a lot about boldness, especially when it comes to sharing with others about what I believe and know to be true and in living life boldly. I will be home pretty much all of June and August, so I would seriously love to sit and talk with anyone who wants to! We don’t even have to know each other well. If you’re curious about my experience on the Race, traveling, missions, Jesus, love, life, or anything else, please don’t be afraid to reach out. I REALLY would love to connect with you and hear about you and your life and to share more about my experiences over a cup of coffee or something! Just reach out and message me on Facebook or leave a comment below. There will also probably be an open house at my home sometime in June so keep your eyes open for something. Hopefully I’ll have some of my Colorado World Race friends there with me too so you can come and hear about the journey and see pictures!

But now you may be wondering about July. So where will I be in July? Well, I have exciting news!!!! 

Starting July 6, I will be spending some time in Gainesville, GA yet again! I am going on the Race again! Training camp round 2! What? Can you even do that?! 

And the answer is yes! Well, sort of. This time around I am going on the Race as an alumni team leader. For 3 months, from September to December, I will be going back out on the field with a World Race Gap year squad in order to help disciple them, teach them what I’ve learned about the Lord, what relationship looks like with Him, and what life looks like for them now on the field. I am so incredibly excited to have the opportunity to do this! My own alumni team leader made such an impact in my life by being a constant reminder that we are supposed to always run to God first. I might write more about about what figuring out the next step for me has looked like later on, or you might just have to ask me in person! But, the important thing is that I am so honored and excited to be given the opportunity to walk alongside people my own age who are in the same exact place that I was in a year ago. It’s going to be amazing and challenging and uncomfortable and a season of growth. It’s so crazy how God works!

That being said, I will soon be starting to fundraise. This time I’m needing to raise $3,000 for field expenses, but it’s my goal to fundraise a little bit more than that for flights to Atlanta, GA for training camp, launch, and for when I come back home in December (4 one way tickets). You won’t be able to donate directly to my blog just yet, but that should be available soon. If you would like to donate now, you can donate to my Venmo @Elena-DeLaPaz-3! I would love for you to pray into this and consider supporting me. Support is more than just money, it’s also PRAYER.

Thank you so much for supporting me this year by reading my blog, by donating, by praying. God has used each of you to remind me of the amazing community that He has given me. My mom has let me know about when you ask about how I’m doing or mention that you’re praying for me. I’ve also been so encouraged to hear about how writing what I’m learning has made an impact. I am so blessed by the people that God has so purposefully placed in my life. Thank you for all of your love & support this year and always! 

-Elena??