I began to answer these questions several weeks ago, but in the bustle of the holiday season and the enjoyment of the presence of family, I set answering aside until now. I am afraid I have ignored you dear people for too long. At the moment I am in the passenger seat of my car (her name is Starbuck) with my injured, little computer (his name is Helo) upon my lap. The busted screen, the scratches and dents, they are all reminders of a beautiful year spent in service. Like my computer, “Helo,” my exterior shell is slightly worn after a year of world travel, but within me, I contain precious information and resources that I didn’t have a year ago. I am altogether thankful for every experience and circumstance I chanced upon as I ventured from one country to the next, encountering beautiful hearts and delicate stories along the way.
Without further ado, here are the long overdue answers to your questions. Thank you for participating!
(There is a picture from each month after each question. I hope ya'll enjoy!)
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What did you learn about yourself through this experience that you didn't know before you went? If you all have been following all of my blogs, you know that I was doubting my ability to survive the heat, mosquitoes, and sickness. I now know that I can survive absolutely anything if I am living through the strength of Christ. I also learned that a life of following Christ is fruitless unless you are living it in community with the body.
PUERTO BARRIOS, GUATEMALA
What will your first meal be? My first meal was Lupe Tortilla in Houston. I’d been craving Tex-Mex since Honduras!
SAN VICENTE, EL SALVADOR
What was your most amazing "God wink"? I had SO many moments where the Lord confirmed that He was working in my life but the one that stands out the most is His answer to prayer before my Uncle Rick passed away. My team and I were in Cambodia that month and I had been informed that the doctors were certain he would soon lose his battle against cancer. He had already been fighting the disease for two years, and survived their estimation of life expectancy by 6 months. He suffered a seizure and slipped into a coma and my team and I hit our knees. I prayed that the Lord would be glorified by providing some miracle. Much to the amazement of all of his doctors, he awoke from his coma and was able to talk to family, seemingly with no brain damage. My mother described it as an awakening. They released him to go home, and my family and I were given the gift of a chance to give him our love and to say goodbye. A short time after that he returned to what seemed like an unconscious state. Due to advice from hospice my aunt put on some family videos, one of them being my uncle’s 50th birthday celebration we gave him in Arizona. As the film was playing he spoke the words, “We danced,” recalling that he and his daughter danced the evening of his birthday. I have no doubt that his “awakening” was a direct response from our Creator to the petitions of all those who loved my uncle.
TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS
What was the most transformational thing you experienced? Many of you know of my apprehension in being on an all-female team during the beginning of the race. At training camp, when I expressed my distaste of being asked to lead women due to being burned by so many females in the past, a female leader challenged me by saying, “Don’t you think this is an opportunity to redeem your relationships with women?” I nervously laughed to myself thinking of the “redemption” which lay before me. She was right though! I found that Abba desires wholeness and restoration in my relationships, even if it is difficult working through the grit of relationships (I am speaking to myself and something I need to address in this moment). He has shown me the value of having healthy, steady friendships with women; relationships where we support and encourage one another rather than compete with and tear one another down.
PITESTI, ROMANIA
During this whole experience you've met and helped so many people in many different ways across the globe. But what one major moment stood out for you, at what moment did you experience the greatest personal change? I guess what I'm trying to say us what was your "A Ha" moment when you knew this experience had made you become an even better person?? Though you may disagree with me, I firmly believe that my merit and what gives me value is Christ alone alive in me. None of the things I have done to help others this month have been because I am a “good person.” They have all been in direct response to who Christ is in my life and the fact that I cannot deny living a transformed life where I live in a thankful response to who He is in me. I CAN share a moment where I became more mindful of the type of person I want to become though… When I first arrived in Cambodia, I had difficulty transitioning from the comfort of Thailand. There were a lot of bugs, it was hot, there was discomfort. I had begun to focus on the uncomfortable circumstances rather than my purpose in life which is to LOVE. The innocence and gratitude in the children we served helped to remind me of all I desired to lose in the material world so that I could grow in the emotional and spiritual.
NEAR KYIV, UKRAINE(Photo Credit: Rose Huber)
Who was your favorite male coach for D Squad? Randy Garmon, of course! For those of you who know nothing about my coaches for the race, I HAVE to tell you how amazing they are! The people at AIM have learned a thing or two about discipling young adults as they traverse the globe. In all their insight they knew needed to choose a couple who could impart the wisdom of their experience to the young adults undergoing this spiritual journey and be guardians of this right of passage. The beautiful Betsy and Randy Garmon were chosen as the coaches for D-squad. Coaches fly out to meet with us five times throughout the course of this life changing year. Betsy and Randy were so catered to our squad (and to me), and they have loved me in amazing ways during the race and even beyond.
MBEYA, TANZANIA(Photo Credit: Rose Huber)
Now that's over, when do I get to see you in person and when are we going to Romania? Thus far on this east coast tour, I have seen a lot of people, and not nearly enough. There are so many of you that I have yet to see (like my dear friend Stephen who wrote this question), but I know that if it is humanly possible for me (time permitting) and you are close enough (within a 40 mile radius) I will have the pleasure of seeing you once again! Concerning Romania… a lot of you know that Romania and Thailand are the two countries that were on my heart even before the race began, and if the Lord allows it I will be returning to them, though I don’t know when. If anyone wants to come with me when that time comes…you are welcome! I promise that you’ll fall in love with the people, you’ll be captivated by the land, and you’ll savour every bite of food!
NGONG HILLS, KENYA/MASAAI LAND (KENYA Month 1)
What do you want/need to talk to someone about that you haven't been asked about? On the race there were two things I was very passionate about; grace and words. I love to talk about both of them, but words seems to be a topic not often discussed. The power of words is greater than most people realise. Some truths I realised this past year: You can actually speak things into existence, your words bring either LIFE or DEATH (there is NO middle ground), and for clear communication it is necessary to call everything by its right name. Sometimes I think we speak too casually, not marking the weight of each word we choose to employ, or how it affects people we speak about and over. Words can change the course of a man’s life, for the good or the worse. Just a suggestion; keep that in mind today as you speak to and reference those around you… including how you refer to yourself. If you say, “How can I be so stupid,” or “I am fat,” or “I am ugly,” you are tied to becoming those unfortunate lies. If you declare the goodness of whom you were created to be, you shall be bound to beauty and greatness.
NAKURU, KENYA (KENYA Month 2) (Photo Credit: Julie Kolins)
What was your most challenging moment on the trip – mentally. physically and spiritually? Mentally: My whole team getting really sick in Cambodia was rough. We were there to serve, and my desire was to go above and beyond what was asked of us, but we were all really weak and confined to our beds. Physically: Almost dying in the ocean in El Salvador was my most harrowing experience. My friend Hugh saved me. Spiritually: I only wanted to go home once during the race, and that was at our Kenya debrief. I felt I stood against everyone else I was around spiritually, but I was challenged with, “Will you tell the truth, even at the cost of standing alone?”
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
Would you do it again? Without a doubt. This journey changed the course of my life.
KAMPONG SPEU, CAMBODIA
Do I think that I really made a difference? I know the Lord used me in several people’s lives while I was away. Even if one person who has never known the unconditional LOVE of Christ encountered it through me, that’s all the difference for which I hoped. All I can do is pray that He brings more people to those beautiful souls I was able to reach out to, so that they may water and grow any seeds planted that may bring life.
GUA MUSANG/KUALA LIPIS/NATIVE VILLAGE (Photo Credit: Jen "Sopa" Langes)
Grace and peace.
