It has been about a week since I came home from the world race. My squad arrived at the Atlanta airport on June 23rd. We then had a week-long final debrief at Adventures base in Gainesville where we had our training camp a year ago now. Then I flew alone for the first time in a year flying from Atlanta to Detroit on June 30th. 

During final debrief we spent the week having sessions about going back to America and continuing to grow in your faith, worship, and some last moments of fun with our squad. We went to places like Walmart and Chic-fil-a. Walmart or any American grocery store can feel overwhelming coming back from overseas. Most stores I went to for groceries were maybe a fourth of the size of a standard Walmart. But compared to most world race routes my squad was in more developed countries so I don’t think it was as overwhelming for us, or at least not me. The biggest surprise was just seeing all the different options in stores. Like there is an entire aisle of just different kinds of chips. 

I think the hardest part for me about coming home isn’t anything about American culture. Coming back home there are things I’m like why do we do that but nothing that bothers me. The hardest part for me was leaving my squad. Went from being surrounded by people 24/7 to having my own room and a bathroom I only have to share with one of my sisters. Having to leave a family that I’ve grown to love so deeply and actually had a community with and not knowing when I’ll see them again. That has been the hardest part by far of coming back home. But I had multiple people from my squad tell me they heard from God that there would be a genuine community in this next season which is the thing I was most worried about coming home. I haven’t seen it yet but I trust that God is faithful and will provide.

The race was a hard year but it was also probably the most growing year I’ve ever had. I’ve got to grow in boldness and become more like Christ. Also, it told me what I already figured, that I want to go overseas for missions full time. I don’t know when or where I’ll go but I know I will.

I’ve had to remind myself that God is the same here in the US as He is in every other country that I’ve been in. I can experience Him the same or in even more powerful ways here than I did overseas. I just have to keep being willing to give God my yes. Let Him be the Lord of my life. 

Thank you to everyone who has donated for me to go, or prayed for me along the way. I don’t think I’ll ever know the true impact of all those prayers. If any of you ever wants to hear more about what God did on the race reach out to me and we can meet up or do a video call.

You can contact me at: reynaldoemartell@gmail.com or (734)833-7791