Questions & Answers

 

1. What is an experience you’ve had on this trip that will stay in your heart forever?

We had a team time in Malawi one night led by my squad lead Erinn. She had us take time to pray and ask God what we were holding onto that we needed to lay down at the cross, to literally let go of it. 

After this time of surrender, I sat in prayer asking God to fill me with different characteristics of Christ but the phrase that just kept going through my mind and one I kept writing in my journal was “Lord, let my soul radiate with the essence of Your beauty.”

That is a moment, an experience, that I will never forget. 

 

2. Would you ever do this trip again or has it inspired you to do a similar but different trip?

I would not do the Race again, I simply don’t feel called to do it over. But I do feel called to continue working with missions, mainly in training and leading teams onto the field (I’ll let you know in a later blog what life back in the States may look like for me)

 

3. Any food you’ll miss when you come home?

Absolutely! Already miss it! It’s a dessert called Rotee or Rotii. We got it in Thailand and I became addicted very quickly. It’s a crepe that’s fried in oil then covered in condensed milk, chocolate or nutella and bananas. If I can learn how to make these when I get back, I for sure will be doing so (and perhaps get to treat you to some)

 

4. What culture was the hardest to adjust to?

This one is a hard question to answer. I feel like there’s been a country in each continent so far. In Asia it was the Philippines because of how much they idolized Americans and more specifically white people. In Africa it was a trip from Zambia to Malawi when the men just completely had no respect for women, and in Europe it’s been Romania because of their traditionalist mindset where women literally and essentially do everything and have no voice.

 

5. What culture was the easiest to adjust to?

Ukraine was REALLY easy to adjust too. It might be because we were coming from Africa, and before that Asia, but it was a very easy adjustment.

 

6. What have you learned about missions that has surprised you?

I think how easy it is to adjust to life on mission in all the different countries. That’s definitely surprised me, more so at the beginning of the Race than currently.

 

7. What is something you thought pre-race that has changed now that you are winding down your year?

What life after the race will look like. Drastically. The race has definitely changed me (I think for the good), and it’s changed what I thought life would be like after the Race, how I will live as well as what I’ll be doing.

 

8. Are you glad you took on the race?

Absolutely. There are moments that I am like “What if I were to wake up and I’m back before launch? Would I go on the Race knowing what I know, experiencing what I’ve experienced?” It’s a hard question. One that’s made harder during the struggles that are faced on the Race, but yes I am glad I took on the race and if I had to do it over I would. I know God didn’t need the Race to teach me the things He has, but I also know that without the Race I wouldn’t be the person I am now.

 

9. How did you find out about the Race and what made you want to do it?

I found out about the Race through Pinterest believe it or not. I was in a place in life where I didn’t know what was next for me. I didn’t have any solid jobs lined up, and it was just a matter of trusting God in His leading. It was definitely a decision I spent a lot of time praying about and asking others to pray about as well before I even applied, but there was a huge sense of peace about the Race that I didn’t have with other options that were presented.

 

10. Do you think you’ve grown as an individual in Christ from this experience?

Definitely. I think that if a Racer hasn’t changed then they aren’t going to make it to this point of the Race mostly because of the experiences we have to go through. It pushes you, challenges you, in such a way that change and growth happens. And maybe that change isn’t drastic or maybe the Racer can’t see that they’ve really changed (it seems lost in light of the drastic changes and growth other Racers are experiencing), but it happens. Sometimes slowly over months, and sometimes rapidly within a few days.

 

 

 

I received many questions and there are two more parts coming with more of them. If you have questions, please send them my way I promise I will be answering them all.

 

Till Next Time,

Kara Faber