missions update: ruth.

This past June of 2011, we sent out our beloved friend Ruth as she embarked on the journey of a 20-somethings' lifetime with The World Race. (To read the story and watch the video, click here.) Since that Friday night in June, Ruth has lived & served in to Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Albania, Romania, and South Africa. We thought you may like to see what she's been up to during her time overseas. Check out one of her latest blog posts:

That’s right.

I am officially half way finished with this crazy Race.

The question “What are you doing after the Race?” seems to happen more often. My answer is still the same: I have no idea. It’s got me thinking, though, about some ideas...

Maybe I'll finish school. Maybe prepare to come back to one of these countries long term. Maybe live in a different state for awhile. Or live back at home with my parents for a few months. Maybe work at a coffee shop and rebuild my savings from zero. And definitely take some time to rest and process and pray about what I want to be when I grow up.

But sometimes I get scared thinking about the transition from this crazy, ever-changing lifestyle (that I do LOVE, by the way) and into my routine in America. As these thoughts started getting a little overwhelming, I got a word from one of my teammates, who had no idea I had been thinking these things:

You are where He wants you. You do not need to be anywhere else.

Stop worrying about what your calling should look like, because it looks exactly like it should.

You were called as you are and that is all you need to be, so keep walking as you have been.

The Lord will provide peace and security along the way.

I love how God knows exactly what you need to hear and when you need to hear it. I realized I had begun straying from God’s love and began looking for my security in other people, in how ministry was going, and basically anything but Him. I also was reminded how I usually come back empty when I seek reassurances from others first.

I read a quote from a previous racer’s blog today. It said, “I'm becoming homeless- meaning I'm rejecting the fantasy that I'll ever obtain enough physical comfort in this world to satisfy my soul."That really hit home, because I want to return to America with a thankfulness that I have never had before. But I also want to remember that I was made for another world and that I will never be fully satisfied on this earth. Ignorance might be bliss, but reality has given me a responsibility: to live in the tension of heaven and earth. To comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable (something Wess Stafford from Compassion always used to say). To live a life of thankfulness, passion and good stewardship. I want to live like I was made for eternity, no matter where God has me.

So as I continue this Race with perseverance, fully trusting God to move me however and wherever He wants. And though this “Race” will end in about 5 months, I will continue racing toward Him until the end.

To keep up to date with Ruth and read other posts, go to ruthcortese.theworldrace.org.