A few weeks ago I asked you to ask me some questions about my year. This is the first of two blogs with responses to those questions! Feel free to ask more in the comment section below 🙂
What was your favorite month?
Either Romania or China – both months involved really fulfilling ministry, great living conditions, and the chance to work with some awesome people (both locals and other missionaries). In both Romania and China, I really felt like I could settle in and truly see myself being a full-time missionary there. I honestly could see myself back in either place.
What was the hardest month you had, and why?
Guatemala is typically described by my team as the hardest month mostly because ministry was pretty scarce and our living conditions were super challenging. Even though it was a pretty hard month, we learned a lot and it was ultimately a great experience.
So I’d say Uganda was the hardest month. Ministry wasn’t super fruitful and we didn’t really agree with our contact’s way of doing things. We lived in a house with 20 people, 16 of which got Malaria. Our water was out for half the time. It was an emotionally hard month for me as well.
What were some of the things you missed most about home?
I missed food a lot, or really just the ability to choose what food I could eat. Of course I also missed the people of home, the familiarity of Austin and Bulverde. And honestly, it was hard to be away during a year where a lot of important stuff happened in the lives of people back home. It sucks knowing you’ll miss out on stuff while you’re away, but that’s part of the sacrifice.
What was the strangest thing you ate?
I ate balut in the Philippines (it’s essentially a duck fetus…), tons of mystery meat in Africa, a disgusting root tamale thing in Guatemala… There’s probably some other nasty stuff in there, but very little food freaks me out nowadays.
What was a day of ministry you will never forget?
There are so many… singing to Erica (who has Cerebral Palsy) in Honduras; leading worship with Sasho in Bulgaria; playing cards with kids who live in a garbage dump in Romania; speaking at a girls’ school in Kenya; ATL day on PVT; leading worship for missionaries in China; leading worship in a drag bar in the Philippines… the list goes on
Who is one person you met that you will never forget?
Again, there are just so many. We’ve had some really awesome contacts this year and we’ve worked with a lot of really amazing people. Plus, there are lots of kids that I’ve played with and hugged and held this year whose names I don’t even know, but I’ll always remember them and treasure my time with them.
What is one month you wish you could do over and why?
I’d love to re-live my month in Romania just for fun. Guatemala was a pretty hard month, but I’d go do it again because it was a great experience in retrospect.
Where was the prettiest place you visited?
Seriously almost every country I’ve been to has some amazing scenery. I think the most breath-taking scenes were in the Philippines, Kenya, and Bulgaria.
What was your favorite fun/touristy thing you did?
A weekend trip to Italy; renting mopeds, driving across Mindoro Island, and jumping in waterfalls in the Philippines; a weekend trip to Budapest; a walking safari with my parents in Kenya; rafting the Nile in Uganda; walking the Great Wall and taking a toboggan down the mountain afterwards in China; snorkeling in the Philippines; debrief in Sofia, Bulgaria
(weekend trip to Hungary)
What was your favorite travel day and why?
Flying from Romania to Kenya, we flew through Qatar and had a layover during the middle of the night. Qatar Airways comp’d our whole squad a stay in a five-star hotel with two free (buffet!) meals. That was the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in.
(on our first African bus ride… the first of many)
If you could recommend one ministry partner to become involved with, who would it be and why?
NetWorks in Romania is super organized and hosts teams all the time. Our contact in Kenya is a solid man of God who is extremely hospitable and passionate about his ministry. Tony in Honduras is doing some awesome work and really knows how to host teams well. We also worked with some people in China who are doing super legit stuff.
What were some of your biggest challenges on the Race?
The top three challenges (in no order):
-missing out on a year of life back home
-living in community
-seeing really terrible poverty and hopelessness around the world
What were some of the things you learned about living in community?
Compromise is essential. Preferring the needs of others is a must. It is a choice to love and serve one another and sometimes you have to make the hard choice even if other people aren’t. Selflessness, humility, and sacrifice will improve relationships more than anything else. Vulnerability is also crucial.
Community this year has taught me about and prepared me more for marriage than any other experience I’ve ever had.
What is your favorite team memory?
Oh, there are so many! In Guatemala we spent a lot of time huddled in the church watching The Bachelor. In Bulgaria we went on team runs and climbed cherry trees and watched movies together. In Romania we went on a spontaneous weekend trip to Budapest. In Kenya we had Christmas in July – hilarious. We’ve had so many dance parties and “cuddle times” and deep conversations in epic places.
(team hug with a stranger in Bulgaria)
Of everything you packed/brought with you on the Race, what was your favorite/most resourceful item?
I brought a small travel mirror that has been so extremely useful (because mirrors just aren’t common in the Third World). Tea Tree Oil is also a must-bring. Definitely also bring a few cute outfits, makeup, and simple jewelry because you will want to feel pretty.
