What’s been your favorite ministry and why?
It’s so hard to choose! I’ve done some really fun kids’ ministry in Peru and Ecuador. Also, I’ve had the chance to teach a lot of English classes, which I really love. I also really enjoy the times we get to do hands-on labor, like gardening and painting and building. I think the ministries with the coolest vision though have been the ranch we worked for in Dominican Republic and the Restoration House in Costa Rica. In DR, we worked for a family that has a ranch, and the vision is to build a children’s home and a school there. We helped on the property, and we did a lot of outreach and teaching with the local children. In Costa Rica, we worked for a ministry that has a house and community garden space, and will eventually (and in some ways already is) a refuge for broken people. I loved both of these ministries because they have such big, powerful vision for where their ministries can go, and they are well sustained. Also, the hosts for both of them have such beautiful hearts for the people they are reaching.
The team with our Squad Leader Sam and our ministry hosts at Restoration House in Costa Rica
Funniest moment?
It’s hard to choose a funniest moment that doesn’t incriminate me or a squadmate! I guess one of the funnier moments though was back in month 1, in Puerto Rico. We lived at this camp on the beach, and sometimes these men would ride their horses along the coast and pass our site. One day we were out on the beach when they came by, and we started talking with them. We asked if we could ride the horses, and they said yes, so they let us take turns on a couple of the horses. I have pretty limited experience with horses, and I was a little nervous, but I wanted to try. So I climbed up on the friendliest one, and she started walking down the beach. She traveled maybe 10 yards or so and then stopped, and I don’t really know what happened, but I just fell off, flat on my back onto the ground. The horse wasn’t even moving! It was pretty embarrassing, and a little painful, and the squadmates who were there still tease me about that!
Favorite moment? (on field, off day, and debrief)
On the field: In Panama, my team went out one day to pick up trash at the local basketball court/playground, and as we were cleaning, this old man named Eduardo came and started cleaning up with us. As we were cleaning, he asked if we liked avocados, and we said yes, so he walked back to his house and returned with a big bag of avocados. He went to church with us that night, and a few more times that week. He wanted to be everywhere we were, he took me and a teammate to his house to see his dog, and he talked to us for what seemed like hours. He was so lonely. When we met him, we only had a few more days left in Panama. He was so upset we were leaving, and he asked, if we had been in his town for the whole month, why did we wait so long to find him? It broke my heart, and reminded me how much community matters to people, and why important it is to not waste any time.
Off day: In Costa Rica, several teammates and I went to a festival a few towns over, and we went to a national park while we were waiting for the festival to start. As we were walking the trails at this park, we saw several sloths, monkeys, and raccoons. We walked along the beach for a while, then we fed some wild monkeys from our hands. It was awesome!
Debrief: I love every moment of debriefs, it’s hard to pick my favorite! At our month 4 debrief we had a 5k run & dance, which was a lot of fun for everyone. The people who didn’t run played music at the stops along the path and recorded everyone dancing, then gave out awards at the end for best dances. It was a blast!
My squadmate TJ killing it at the Fun Run!
Favorite thing you packed?
My ENO doublenest hammock is my favorite thing I packed, hands down. When I have the choice of the floor or hammock, I pick the hammock every time. My teammates also use my hammock often. Also, SO thankful I packed my Nook. If you are a reader, bring a Nook or Kindle!
Anything you wish you would have packed?
I wish I had packed my Chuck Taylors. At least once a week since I’ve been on the Race, I have thought that I wish I had brought them. I’ve worn Chacos every day for almost 10 months now, but at home I wear Chucks pretty much every day. I would feel more like myself if I had packed them. (Future Racer: it’s true what they say– you should pack what you ACTUALLY wear at home!)
How do I like living in a tent?
I like staying in my tent, because it is the closest thing you get to your own room on the Race. It’s awesome! I’m thankful for the amount of research I put in to choosing a tent too, because mine has lasted well–no leaks, no broken poles, good ventilation, no problems.I have only needed my tent 3 months so far though.
Weirdest thing you’ve eaten?
I can’t pick just one. Here’s a short list of weird things I’ve eaten:
Bolivia:
-llama chicharones from a street vendor (I do NOT recommend this.)
-quinoa pizza (actually, quinoa everything.)
Peru:
-sea turtle
-stingray
Ecuador:
-guinea pig
-pig neck (this was the hardest thing I’ve had to eat yet.)
-this weird corn. It’s big and waxy and kind of like hominy, and in Ecuador, they eat it ALL THE TIME
Llama chicarones in Bolivia Guinea Pig in Ecuador
Tastiest thing you’ve eaten?
I can’t pick just one of these either.
-Peruvian ceviche (cold seafood stew. SO GOOD.)
-Peruvian causa rellena (basically spicy potatos stuffed with chicken salad. Incredible.)
-El Salvadoran pupusas (filled corn tortillas)
-Honduran baleadas (thick tortillas stuffed with refried red beans, cheese, and whatever else you want.)
-Empanadas in Dominican Republic
-basically every Caribbean dish our host made in Costa Rica, including coconut rice and red beans, curry chicken, and some kind of homemade hot pocket. Everything Glenda touched was amazing.
Not to mention I love rice and beans in pretty much any form, so I picked a good route.
Favorite worship song and why?
“Holy and Anointed One” — it’s classic, simple, and pure. I never get tired of hearing or singing that song.
How difficult is it not to date this year (to honor your commitment), especially with such Godly men on your squad?
Not difficult– I have nothing date-worthy to wear, my hair is a mess all the time, my Spanish isn’t good enough to date a local, and everyone else on my squad is single on purpose too.
What’s your favorite book so far and why?
I’ve read a lot on the Race, both fiction and non-fiction. My favorite fiction book I’ve read this year is “The History of Love” by Nicole Krauss. It’s the kind of book that you never want to end, and then you finish it and you don’t want to read anything else for while. Just beautiful. Also, I re-read “Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” again as a read-aloud with one of my teammates, and just fell in love with that book all over again. I highly recommend either of these books to fiction lovers!
As far as non-fiction goes, “With Christ in the School or Prayer” by Andrew Murray. I’ve read two of his books this year about prayer. He’s just incredible. I’ve been learning a lot this year about the power and necessity of intercessory prayer, and I’ve stumbled onto both of those books at different hosts’ houses. If deeper prayer is something you’re interested in, I can’t recommend his writing enough.
What are you going to do next?
That’s the million-dollar question! Please tell me if you know!
