For those of you that are Hunger Games fans, if the World Race is the Hunger Games and I am Katniss Everdeen, Anna would be my Effie Trinket.
I was introduced to Anna during my interview with the World Race when I asked to talk to someone who's over thirty and went on the race. Yes, there are a new list of anxieties in giving up a whole entire year of your life to go on the race, when you are in your thirties.
Anna was that timely chicken soup for my emotional ailments. Like Effie in the Hunger Games, she has an upbeat, cheerful personality and a distinct and endearing accent (She's from South Carolina). We spent hours on the phone while I waited for an answer of acceptance to the race (those agonizing hours of waiting) and during the weeks leading up to Training Camp where she filled my ears with her race stories about team changes, being lonely, being older on the race and how God used each hardship to make her more beautiful (we found out we both like to use that word alot). She was my prayer buddy before telling my parents about the race, while getting ready for training camp, and during my other ups and downs.
This is what Anna has to share:
Jackie: Give me three words to describe your race.
Anna: Beauty, Love, Freedom.
Jackie: Did you have a "comfort" or favorite go to item on the race?
Anna: When I was in Africa I started going crazy over earrings. You can buy the cutest earrings for cheap. I had an earring addiction. By the end of the race my count was 53 pairs (this included pairs i bought for family too). I also would like to lose myself in movies or tv shows. I watched Alias for the first time on the race and it became a bad addiction. The cliff hangers are so good, you have to watch the next episode to see what's happens.
Jackie: Can you share a vivid image that moved you?
Anna: The one thing that broke me and most of my team to pieces was our last country, Guatemala. We worked with an orphanage there. This orphanage was NOT okay, the kids were in danger, it was very dark. (I will have to talk to you on phone to give more details) It was a very hard situation and broke us like crazy. Also I remember how grey and cold Ukraine was. As soon as you walk off the plane you can see there is no joy or happiness in anyone. When you look at somebody small and say hey they would look away.
Jackie: Knowing what you know now, what is something you would have done differently on the race?
Anna: I wouldn't have done anything different on the race. Everything happens in Gods timing and when you are truly ready so I have no regrets looking back.
Jackie: How did the race change you?
Anna: The race changed me in every way. I could write a book on this one. He taught me what true beauty is, He taught me how to love well and what love is. He taught me that transparancy is everything, its not about being perfect at all its only about loving Him and receiving His love. This is how He loves others through you. I learned how love alone can change the world. How love alone can impact a person's life. I am loving and have so much grace and forgiveness with people now. I love speaking life into people and give them hope and encouragement.
Jackie: What are you doing now after the race?
Anna: I am working part time in retail. This is where God placed me after the race and He has been teaching me a lot. I just live everyday trusting God and enjoying where God has me for right now. He has been beautiful in divine appointments in using me to impact others. This is my favorite thing to do, this is life to me.
Jackie: Anything else you wanna share?
Anna: This race changed who I am night and day. I live in freedom and I know where my value comes from. The intimacy I have with God is so beautiful and I am so thankful for the race. I tell everyone who is thinking about it to go. God will rock your world and show you beautiful things.
Anna, Thank you for all your encouragements and your advice. I might go crazy for beautiful African earrings but I will go crazy first over the adorable kids like the one you held on your lap in Uganda.
You can read more about Anna's world race journey here.
