I brought my guitar around the world. Worth it?

I made a semi spontaneous decision last august to bring my guitar around the world with me. I’m not that good at guitar, but I was certain I’d have tons of time to improve on the race( this proved partially true, but also not at all). I was talking to a now alumni who was on the race at the time and had his guitar, he encouraged me that it was worth it to lug it around the world.  He had a post about him playing it and the kids congregating. It seemed like such an incredible ministry opportunity, and something that would just be so worthwhile. I regretted it every travel day and was grateful for it every guitar ministry opportunity. Here’s a list of how it was used in different countries. 

Costa Rica 

Beginning of the race, had a good amount of time to play guitar after ministry. Would often sit with jacks or sk and play around on it. Didn’t lead worship with it, but just enjoyed having it around. Took it to the park one day, met a teenager who through his broken English/ my broken Spanish we were able to chat and connect about guitar and he was incredibly kind. 

Nicaragua 

I think I played it once this month. Was more consumed with chess, the keyboard, and reading. 

Colombia 

Led worship officially for the first time!! It was rough, but so fun just practicing with the girls and Joseph. Played at an old folks home, and they loved it even though it was sooooo rough. Played in the bakery with Vanesa which was honestly one of my favorite times on the race. Played on the roof at night by myself when I was really sad. Had plans to play it in the park for park ministry, but didn’t get to go since I needed to go to Bogota for my passport. 

Ecuador

Honestly forgot I had it this month, but hated it on travel day cause they made me pay $80 for it. Considered leaving it in New York on our layover there, but decided against it and brought it to Africa with me. 

South Africa

Was obsessed with the piano!!! The acoustics were so pretty I honestly didn’t feel bad at all for not playing my guitar. We had a mini debrief and went to the beach for sunrise worship. I played guitar and Claudia played the box drum and it was really fun, even if it is hard to decide a key for our squad to sing in haha. 

Lesotho

Played once, worth it though cause I got to use it to connect with the kids that were hanging out at the ministry site. I was playing some songs and they were just dancing their little hearts out, and then I taught them how to play a few things. 

Eswatini 

Was ill most of this month so didn’t play often, but my friends started playing again so that was fun! 

Rwanda 

I felt like if the only reason I brought my guitar was for this month, it was worth it. I played more the two months I was here than any other time. Our hosts sons were very musically gifted, and after school would come home everyday and play guitar or piano. The simple fact of having it out and easily accessible in the common area led to so many friends coming and playing it and starting whole house sing-alongs. One night I took it outside of our gate and just started playing on the sidewalk thing by our house. We lived on a crazy busy street and people were intrigued by the loud Americans. It ended up being a whole spontaneous block party, complete with all the kids dancing, and the adults coming across the street from their shops to dance and sing and watch the excitement. I decided if it was just for that it was worth it to lug it the whole year. We also wanted to do worship with just our team, which didn’t happen because as normally happened that month, anywhere we went there was a crowd of street kids that followed us. I was so proud of my team though. They instantly took it as an opportunity to worship WITH the kids, so I played guitar and we taught them some worship songs. I often went out on the street and started playing and the kids would circle up and sing, it was really touching. We had a mini debrief and I got to lead our squad in worship again. 

Romania

Mostly just had the guitar at the mission house and would use it when we were all hanging out around the table. Nothing feels more world race than someone pulling out a guitar and just strumming in the background. There was one day when no one was prepared to lead worship, Kayla decided she’d volunteer me to do it and I got to lead with a few other people for both our squad and another squad. Later that week I was messing around with the guitar and somehow ended up leading worship again and it was really fun! 

Greece

Lots of fun guitar in Greece! Decided for my birthday I wanted to go play guitar on the acropolis walkway, so that’s what we did! We met a really nice guy who normally plays there, and got to play worship in front of a beautiful historic monument. When we got to the island of Naxos, the restaurant owner near us who became like our Greek grandma noticed I had a guitar and asked me to play. That led to several nights of me playing at the restaurant and meeting a lady on her “peace tour” who was a musician and played for us, a man whose birthday was that day who played and sang with us for a while, and the Greek doctor who played for us. I think I peaked when the Greek island doctor played mamma Mia for us hahah. I also got to take it to the school I helped with and play for/teach the kids there.

All in all if I had to do it again I would still bring the guitar. All the annoyance of dragging it through the airport, the giving up of a daypack and cutting down how much luggage I could have, the absurd fees that airlines will give you, are worth it. They’re worth it for the child’s smile, for the old man’s memory you reminded him of, for the worship of our creator in communal spaces.