10 Things Black Betty Taught Me

Well, World Race America is over. It’s been a weird transition as I’ve gone from being around 5+ friends, 24/7, working nonstop, to now living at home and preparing for my next international launch. But, it’s been a beautiful time to reflect on all of the incredible things God taught me over the past 4 months. If you’ve heard me talk at all about my time on WR America, you’ve probably heard me mention Black Betty, our 2005 Chevy express van that we traveled over 14,000 miles and through 23 states in. She also was the source of many dramatic break downs, trips to the mechanic, hitchhiking stories, adventures, laughs, cries, dance parties and life lessons. As the logistics coordinator for my team, taking care of Black Betty and making sure she was up and running was part of my job and through that process I learned a lot about myself and the God I serve. So here’s a list of 10 of those things. It doesn’t even scrape the surface of everything I learned and grew in over World Race America, but it’s a small look into the journey 🙂 

1. Trials do build trust and faith

At the beginning of World Race America, I thought that I fully trusted God and had faith that He was in control of all things. Quickly, I realized that I actually had a hard time relinquishing control and found it impossible to ask anyone for help when I needed it, even God. This proved to be very difficult when trials and unexpected obstacles arose. The growth in building trust and faith was gradual but steady. Maybe it looked like saying a small prayer before making a decision or turning on a worship song when I felt like complaining, but I’m so thankful for my team’s patience with me and for the trials. Which leads me to point number two…

2. A support system is crucial

I couldn’t have done any of this without my team and my support system. I had a family I could text to pray in any situation. I had my dad, who knows a thousand times more about cars than I do, who I would call for advice every time something went wrong with the van. Lauren always helped me verbally process what needed to be done and how. Kylie was calm, emotionally supportive and helped sort out logistics. Hannah provided a perspective of adventure and helped us remain focused on God’s goodness. Kenz empowered me to lead. Raquel was steady, consistent and strong. I absolutely could not have done it without each of them.

3. You can pray for anything

Let me set the scene. We’re in Las Vegas. It’s hot as buns and conveniently, our AC has stopped working. I’m in complete denial because I don’t want to take the van into the mechanic again. (We had just had to get the AC fixed a few weeks prior) Kindly, the girls, dripping sweat, try making nonchalant comments throughout the week to make me come to my senses. One morning though, the van won’t start. We check all fluids, the battery, everything that one can think to check and still nothing. I’m completely perplexed but I also know that we need to get to ministry, so I say,”ok we’re laying hands on the van”. Ya know why? Because He is a good Father. He wants to hear our needs. He wants to know that we have faith that He can provide and perform miracles. Because if He is the God who can split the seas, heal the blind, die on the cross and save us from every single one of our sins, then He is the God who can heal a silly little van. We can pray for absolutely anything. I believe that it brings Him such joy.

4. But sometimes God’s answers to prayer are not what we expect 

So we laid hands on Black Betty in Las Vegas, and the van eventually did turn back on! We got some more coolant and thought that all of our problems had been solved, an answered prayer! Not too many days later, though, my team and I went to a national park and Black Betty broke down again. I’ll admit, my first reaction was frustration. I was still early in my process of trusting God throughout all of this and my first thought was, “God, why didn’t you answer our prayers?”. After getting the van into the mechanic we were told the serpentine belt and pulley needed to be replaced. “It’s a good thing you brought it in when you did,” the mechanic said, “any longer and it might’ve been irreparable.” It was then that the revelation hit me, God did answer our prayers. Maybe it didn’t look like what I wanted it to look like but He did fix the van. He fixed it by pointing out the more serious issue and forcing us to bring it into a mechanic that was honest and extremely helpful. Not what I expected, but even better.

5. God will always provide a way and a helping hand, though

I’ll be honest with y’all, there were times when the situation at hand looked bleak or like there was no way out. Like the time we broke down in the middle-of-nowhere Utah with no cell service and no mechanics for hundreds of miles. Or the time we broke down in a national park in Las Vegas 15 minutes before the park closed. But God always, always, always provided us a way. Whether it was the couple in Utah who drove us an hour and a half round trip to get to a towing service. Or the woman who offered to drive us two hours into Grand Junction to get to a mechanic. Or the tow truck that just showed up after Lauren prayed that God would send us someone who knew anything about cars. God sent us an abundance of angels and helping hands and truly we were never alone. He will always make a way.

6. You can worship through anything 

It took me a long time to fully realize this lesson. But simply put, our God is worthy of praise. He is worthy of worship. And while our circumstances might change and situations may be hard, His character remains the same. The time we broke down in Utah, our van was overheating. We needed to get to a main road to find help. We would coast in neutral for about a minute at a time until the van overheated and then we would turn the engine off and give it time to cool down. It was frustrating. But while we would wait for the engine to cool down, we would turn on a worship song. That simple shift reminded me to focus on the most important thing, God and His glory.

7. When you’re stuck, take a moment to look around 

Our culture and our world moves so fast. We keep our heads down, quickly moving to the next thing on our to-do list. Being forced to stop and be still taught me the importance of resting in Him. Slow down. Take a deep breath. Be present where you are. Take a look around and notice how far you’ve come and how beautiful it is whatever your situation. 

8. I sure do know a lot about cars now 

Hahaha truly. If you ever need to know anything about car ACs, cooling lines and systems, serpentine belts, radiators and their hoses, brakes, starters or somethin’ else, I got you!

9. He will get you where He wants you to go, the stops along the way are sometimes the most important parts

This is something that my team and I clung to when we would find ourselves in unexpected towns, hotels, with unexpected hosts, or talking with unexpected people. There is always a reason. God does not do anything by accident. Some of our most memorable ministry moments took place when we were in need of help. There were always people He wanted us to talk or pray with or encourage, we just had to keep our eyes open to His plan.

10. God is good.

All the time. A lesson that I continue to learn over and over, everyday, growing in deeper understanding. He is Good. And He is faithful and understanding, loving, righteous, honest, kind. Incomprehensible. Growing in understanding of who God is is something I will never tire of. And I thank the Lord that He is a God that we will never fully understand or know here on earth. He is magnificent and I am so privileged to know Him and serve Him.

World Race America was one of the greatest, hardest, sweetest, most eye-opening experiences of my life so far. I am so so thankful for all that God taught me and showed me along the way. As I step into this next year of relaunching, I cannot wait for the many more things that He has for me to learn. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to each and every one of you for your continued support and love throughout it all, I couldn’t do any of it without you!

Much love and many blessings,

Annie