When I initially signed up for the Mongol Derby, I anticipated it being a solo journey where I would slip in and out of Mongolia and file it away as a personal accomplishment that no one, aside from a few of my close friends and family, would know about. I never imagined I would receive the overwhelming amount of support and encouragement from my community that I have in the last few months. That’s why I’ve decided to start a blog about this grand adventure – to bring along all of you who have so generously supported me with finances, encouragement, and prayers. It’s been an incredible blessing to be surrounded with so much love and want everyone to know how beyond grateful I am for your support!
Why I’m Doing the Derby
One of the questions I’ve received a lot from people is, “What makes you want to do the Mongol Derby?”
In other words, “What on God’s green earth would possess you to do such a thing?”
Great question. My initial response is always, “I like a good adventure – and this is the adventure of a lifetime.” But this feels a little too simplistic. How do I explain that for me, adventure isn’t just an opportunity to try something new or get a few thrills out of life before my time on earth is over. Adventure is much more than that. It’s an opportunity to do something that I can’t do without the help of God. It’s putting myself in a position to need my great Friend Jesus, and getting to depend on Him to get me safely to the otherside. It’s like playtime with the Holy Spirit – but with eternal significance because my soul learns to navigate life with a heart dependant on a faithful God.
This is why I love mission trips and running long-distance and doing things that are far beyond my scope and capacity – because at the end of it all I can say I learned to live a God-sized life, not just a me-sized life, that I did something scary, something too big for little ol’ me, but He was with me and so it was all okay.
Part of what makes this particular adventure a God-sized challenge for me is my health. I’ve struggled with autoimmune issues in my body since I was young, which has left me feeling weak and exhausted for most of my life. Over the last few years, I’ve found tools and solutions to help my body on the healing journey, but the idea of crossing over 600 miles on semi-wild horses in ten days still sounds completely overwhelming and like something I can’t do without the help of God. And that’s why I want to do it. Because there’s nothing God can’t do and when someone says there’s a challenge too big for Him (the voices in my own head included), I feel it’s my obligation to remind them that all things are possible for God, and that He cares deeply about every dream in our hearts – even if it’s riding wild ponies in Mongolia.
So I guess you could say I’m doing this race because there’s a part of God’s heart I’m hoping to meet in the Mongolian steppe. And also because, well, it’s the adventure of a lifetime. So why the heck not?!
The Road to Mongolia 