You asked and I answered!! Thanks for everyone who asked questions. I didn't get to answer all of them, but chose these.
What was something you didn't realize was a luxury until you didn't have it?
A Shower head mounted to a wall. A western toilet that flushes toilet paper. HOT WATER. Food that tastes normal. A bed. BEING ALONE. Driving. Being able to go wherever I want.
What's the biggest thing God has done in your life since you've been gone?
If I used only one word it would be "freedom" but there's so many areas where He's set me free. Some of those are: from people and people pleasing, my mind, need for a relationship, from rigidness, to be my true self, and to experience real, sustaining love.
Did you run a race if so, what was your time?
I was supposed to in Ireland, but I never did. 🙁
What's the biggest challenge when you learned that you were undertaking a year long trip?
This brought a lot of challenges, but telling my Dad was the hardest part. I waited until I had applied, interviewed, and been accepted to tell him. Like any girl, I just wanted my Daddy to be proud of me. He wasn't as accepting as I'd hoped at first, but now he's my biggest supporter! God totally worked that out and actually made our relationship stronger through The Race.
How do you put your life on hold and prepare yourself for a year on the road?
I don't really see it as putting my life on hold. I see it as continuing my life in a different direction. I won't "pick back up where I left off" in terms of career. My friends and family have had a year of life and didn't wait on me to have children, get married, or live their life. In terms of preparation to be honest- I didn't really prepare to be gone. I had no clue how to prepare. I mean, I bought a 70 Liter backpack, a lot of dry fit clothes, packing cubes, and other random things, but in terms of mentally I didn't really know how. I figured God had it all under control, so I just went.
If you were given the opportunity to do it again next year, will you?
No, I won't. Coming on The World Race is the best decision I've ever made, and is most incredible mission trip God's invited me on, but I know where He is calling me and that is Chattanooga.
What has God taught you the most about Himself?
This is a hard one because He has revealed SO much to me, but the 2 things that were most valuable/hardest to learn is that He is TRUSTWORTHY and GOOD. These aren't just concepts I read in the Bible anymore. I can actively trust Him because I BELIEVE He is good and I have experienced His goodness!
What has God taught you the most about yourself?
He hasn't taught me about myself; He has and still is showing me who I AM. It has been things from my favorite color to my personality to my deep rooted identity as His daughter. I've become unafraid of who I really am. If I had to pick one thing that He's teaching me the most it would be what He has been trying to teach me all along: I am worthy of real, sustaining love. I still don't have this, but I believe in the smaller things He's been showing me that this is the overall theme.
How has your perception of humans changes as you made your way across cultures and lands?
I started learning this from day one with my first team. I lived with a girl from California that really stretched me. She had much different opinions than I did, but loved Jesus just as much as me. I learned that people can still love Jesus even if we disagree on concepts. I learned that I'm not always right. My opinions on a lot of things have changed. I've become much more accepting and less rigid in my perception of the way people act, speak, and live their lives. We are all made in the image of God. ALL of us. The Lord spoke through a friend recently and said, "You love. I'll convict." I've come to see that each culture, whether the US or the world, has it's own operating system and it's not always wrong.
What are the bathrooms like?
It's different all over the world. Asia mostly has what we call a "squatty potty." Some places that's just a hole in the ground and others is like a toilet on the ground. You have to buy or bring your own toilet paper to public bathrooms. In Africa we had western toilets. I will say that very few places are as clean as American bathrooms. Eastern Europe toilets are the same except you can't flush toilet paper down them and the hole is on the other side of the toilet bowl.
Based on the missionaries you came in contact with your experience, what would be the most useful major for over seas mission work?
I would say it depends on what you are passionate about and what type of missionary work you want to do. You could major in Social Justice (sex trafficking), Counseling, Play a sport (sports ministry), Business (for all kinds of things), Teacher (teach English), etc. If you go to a seminary you can actually major in Missions. Some places you cannot be considered a missionary and you have to have a normal job. I would ask yourself what you're passionate about and how you can go overseas and implement that in the area of the world you think God is calling you to.
