I’ve officially made it to my 100th day on the World Race! As I celebrate and reflect on the last 100 days, I want to share 100 lessons I’ve learned from the first 4 months of my journey.
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- Any food you find abroad does not taste like home.
- But, you will get unreasonably excited about finding pizza, hamburgers, ice cream, and Mexican overseas.
- Ice cream in Africa is the best ice cream in the world.
- Give the good seat to the person that gets car sick.
- Personal space doesn’t exist.
- Ask God. He answers.
- There will be months you throw up more times than you shower.
- All squad month is awesome but it’s basically equivalent to living in a petri dish.
- People at home will freak out a little when you name your squad illness Qbola.
- Saying goodbye at the end of the month doesn’t get easier.
- Name your parasite. He will be there for a while.
- You may eat peanut butter and jelly every day for a month.
- Water is limited. Washing dishes and flushing toilets are more important than showering.
- Speak boldly.
- Extroverts turn into introverts on the World Race. It’s a weird phenomenon.
- The word “hospital” is loosely used.
- Your teammates take the place of your mom when you’re sick. They may even label your stool sample at the hospital.
- God has a perfect plan.
- Continental Sauce (aka Snack Sauce) is not the same as ketchup.
- 100 days goes by really fast.
- Fries are called chips in Africa.
- Spiritual warfare is a real thing.
- Dry shampoo and headbands make it possible to not wash your hair for 10 days.
- You will probably go 10 days without showering.
- Ministry doesn’t just happen during ministry hours.
- Alone time on the race is putting headphones in and closing your eyes.
- Using the bathroom no longer counts as alone time.
- Encouraging notes are the best.
- Missing America will happen. Keep your heart where your feet are.
- It becomes normal to fall asleep next to lizards and spiders.
- The Bible is alive. Dig in and talk about it.
- It’s possible for 55 people to share 1 shower for a month.
- Do things that make you uncomfortable. This is how growth happens.
- International flights may be the nicest place you lay your head for 11 months.
- Toilets on international flights will probably be the nicest toilets you use for 11 months.
- Toilet paper does not go in the toilet.
- Feedback is really intimidating but it’s actually a great thing.
- Girls on the World Race get really excited about coffee and peanut butter.
- It’s okay to not be okay.
- Living in a hut is actually really fun.
- Some days you will hate your ministry. Choose joy.
- It’s possible for 45 women to consume 50 pounds of sugar in 2 weeks. Everyone will wonder why they’re gaining weight.
- Your squad mentor, coaches, and leaders are your biggest cheerleaders.
- If you go back for seconds you will look like you went back for seconds.
- Life at home continues while you’re gone.
- Your race is what you make it.
- Not all monkeys are nice.
- Ditch your expectations.
- “You smell nice” is probably the greatest compliment ever on the World Race.
- Training camp can’t prepare you for everything.
- Heat/air conditioning is not a thing overseas.
- Neither are traffic laws.
- Serve always. Wash the dishes, share the dessert, kill the spider.
- You’ll forget what it’s like to have your own room.
- The months without internet teach you how much time you actually waste on the internet.
- Church in Africa is the best.
- Fundraising is stressful but God provides in amazing ways.
- A good day is having 6 hours of electricity.
- Team changes WILL happen.
- Being on an all-girl team doesn’t mean you get out of manual labor.
- Get to know your squad leaders. They’re only there for 5 months and they have a lot of wisdom to share.
- Nothing on the World Race is concrete.
- Chasing cows out of the garden becomes a thing.
- Tell your story.
- Listen to other peoples’ story.
- Every month will surprise you.
- Walking around barefoot in public is completely acceptable.
- Your feet will never be clean. Never.
- Surfing is harder than it looks.
- Sometimes it will be really hard to love people. Pursue love anyway.
- Millipedes in Africa are huge.
- Sleeping in airports isn’t so bad.
- Traffic is waiting for cows to get out of the road.
- Share your struggles with your team. They’re there to help you and you’ll feel much better being open with them.
- The free table is your new form of shopping.
- Don’t expect growth to happen overnight.
- Earplugs will be your best friend. Roosters crow early and stray dogs bark all night.
- Most countries get rid of trash by burning it.
- You’ll have black boogers from inhaling said trash.
- Don’t be afraid to cry.
- Your squad will sing happy birthday to your dog if you ask nicely.
- Sleeping in is sleeping until 7am.
- Instant coffee will grow on you.
- Sleep is not optional.
- Baby wipes are God’s gift to missionaries.
- International flights are your chance to catch up on new movies.
- You’ll be a world traveler but have no idea what’s going on in the world.
- Cold showers and bucket showers are still showers.
- Lions aren’t everywhere in Africa.
- Your ministry hosts need encouragement too.
- The African sun is intense. Wear sunscreen.
- Chai and cookies count as breakfast.
- Shipping stuff home is expensive.
- The camera on your iPhone isn’t as good as a real camera.
- The squatty potty is just as usable as the regular toilet.
- Throwing up in the squatty potty is probably the worst thing ever.
- Debrief comes at the perfect time. Take advantage of it.
- Work out. The weight you lost from your parasite is temporary.
- Take toilet paper everywhere you go.
- God has you exactly where He wants you.
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If you’d like to be a part of what God is doing overseas, I’d like to invite you to prayerfully consider making a donation to support me on The World Race. I’ve currently raised $11,097 (68%) and need a total of $16,250 by July 1st in order to stay on the field. Please consider partnering with me financially so that, together, we may continue to bring Christ to the nations!
