Merry Christmas Eve, y’all!! You asked some great questions! It was a lot of fun to answer them, and I hope my answers give a little more insight into what life on the Race has been like for me so far. I broke them into categories, to make it easier to read! I tried for two days to add some photos, but the Internet here did not want to cooperate. Check here or here if you’d like to see photos I have uploaded throughout my Race!
Culture
1. Biggest culture shock so far?
India- we had to be double covered at all times, and we bought traditional clothing in order to do so. We did village ministry, and we saw a lot of really sad situations… Things you don’t think actually exist in this world. The movie Slumdog Millionaire does depict it rather well.
2. What are you learning about adapting to different cultures? What has been easiest? What has been hardest for you?
When I’m new to a country, I like to just observe. I’m very adamant that I don’t want the way I behave or dress to be a distraction from the work Jesus has sent me to do. I learn best by watching others, so that’s what I try to do. Overall the easiest were Cambodia and Thailand because our hosts were American and Australian. They knew exactly what we needed to know to adjust well because they did it too. The hardest was India because of the amount of poverty we saw. I have also struggled with the treatment of children in several countries- excessive and loud yelling and corporal punishment.
3. What are your initial observations about the difference between American Culture and these foreign cultures? Differences? Similarities? What can Americans learn from these cultures?
There is a haze of entitlement over the American culture. I see it looking back, and I see it in myself, my teammates, and my squadmates. We think we deserve things solely because we are used to them. We expect them. For example, our food budget averages about $4 per day. On that budget, we are not able to always eat the way we want to. I can’t always afford the healthiest foods or a chocolate bar, popsicle, or Diet Coke/ Coke Light when I want one. If I drank coffee, that would also fall into this same category. In Cambodia, I spent wayyy too much personal money on food, so I have vowed to not do that any more. I go without. I don’t eat a huge variety of foods. But I didn’t sign up for a vacation. I signed up to live amongst and serve the least of these. I don’t deserve luxuries, but I am blessed to be able to get my hands on them when I want them solely based on where I was born. If I answered this question in its entirety, it would take four days, so I’m going to move on now.
4. What are some of the remarkable characteristics about the international Christians you have met?
I can’t get over the faith in India. They prayed BOLD prayers. They trusted the Lord to provide more than I’ve seen in any other country, including the States. They prayed prayers I would never even think about praying. My favorite may have been over a motorcycle. The man had just gotten it and wanted prayers for safe driving and a long life. It definitely caught us off guard.
5. How do you get past the language barriers in the countries when you’re out and about?
Usually we learn the basics. We had a translator in India, but in the other countries there was usually a lot of English spoken- definitely more than I expected. BUT… Smiles and laughter have no barrier. If you’re being genuine, it’s very obvious.
6. How do other countries celebrate Christmas?
Last month in Malaysia we actually did not see many Christmas decorations. You would see them in some malls in Kuala Lumpur, but that was about it. We traveled to Singapore one weekend and saw SO MANY decorations. It was beautiful! Here, in Botswana, most people claim to be Christians, although some would say not everyone knows what it truly means to have a relationship with Jesus. Decorations are in the store, but it isn’t quite the same as in the States. We did find a small, 3 foot artificial tree to have as a team!
Food & Sleep
1. What have been your best living conditions?
Toss up between Cambodia- warm showers, air conditioning at night and Thailand- air conditioning at night, warm showers and comfy beds our last week.
2. Toughest living conditions?
India- tented indoors in scorching heat to avoid bugs, woke up in pools of my own sweat (gross, I know), squatty potties, and bucket showers, but AMAZING HOSTS.
3. How tough is it sleeping on a pad?
Not at all. I’m definitely going to love having a bed again, but I don’t lose sleep due to my sleeping pad.
4. What has been your favorite new food that you’ve eaten?
Red potato or chicken curry with rice and chapati. Thank you, India.
5. What has been your least favorite food?
Tofu, fake meat, and fish. (All in the same month.)
6. What’s the strangest thing you’ve eaten? (Besides that tarantula!!)
We were served chicken feet soup in Malaysia, but I did not eat a chicken foot. I guess the strangest thing I’ve actually eaten would be fake meat… Yuck.
Community Living
1. How is community living?
It has it’s ups and downs. It can be messy, but God meets us in the mess and turns it into something beautiful. It is really wonderful to have people who constantly push you to be more like Jesus. I have definitely made some life-long friends.
2. What is the hardest part of community living?
I enjoy silence and time alone, both of which are difficult to get on the Race. Also, in this season, my community is chosen for me, and I do not have a say in the matter at all.
Personal Questions
1. How do you start each day? (I know you say that you do daily scripture readings and such. Are there specific books, audios, etc that you turn to for this meditation?)
I’ve been going through Jesus Today, but I am really excited to starts Timothy Keller’s new daily devotion called The Songs of Jesus on January 1st. I have also worked through several She Reads Truth devotions. I love the opportunity SRT offers to chat with other women. I have enjoyed reading The Lipstick Gospel, Love Does, I Am Second, For the Love, and The Gifts of Imperfection… I recommend all of them! I also listen to a lot of Podcasts- usually from my church, Timothy Keller, CharlotteONE, and other ones that are recommended by family or friends.
2. Do you miss having your own class of children?
YES! I’ve worked with children a lot, so it makes me miss the ones I have taught in the past. I still don’t know if I will go back to a typical teaching position though. The Lord and I are in prayer about it. 🙂
3. Do you miss your mom?
You better believe it! I miss my family and friends immensely. I’m super blessed to have such a wonderful support system!
4. Which CG-er do you miss most? It’s me, isn’t it? (Question submitted by Kelly Noonoo. Haha)
I miss my Community Group (Small Group/ Bible Study) like you wouldn’t believe. I cried a little bit when I went to bed on Saturday knowing y’all were having our annual Christmas party, and I wasn’t there. LOVE Y’ALL!!!
5. What month has been the hardest so far?
Cambodia was a really hard month for me personally, but I didn’t really know it at the time. I had a hard time taking time for myself, so I ended up getting pretty sick. Learning to say “no” was not easy for me.
6. What do you miss from the countries you’ve already visited?
The people. I have been blessed with amazing ministry hosts, and I have met some pretty awesome people while I’ve served with those hosts.
7. Which country do you think you would like to go back to later?
I would love to go back to Nepal, Cambodia, and Thailand. I want my brother and sis-in-law to go to Nepal, and I want my mom and dad to go to Cambodia and Thailand. I think they’d love those counties.
8. What’s your favorite place so far?
Thailand! Something about it really spoke to my soul; it was such a great month, but I’ve really loved every country for different reasons…
India- The Lord taught me some big things there- lessons I don’t think I really could have learned back home in the States.
Nepal- So beautiful! The people continue to live in fear of earthquakes, but they are so resilient.
Cambodia- The history of Cambodia is heartbreaking. Read about the genocide that took place in the 1970s here. I met some of my most favorite people in Cambodia. You can give them the gift of education this holiday season! Check out the BYKOTA House’s Educational Fundraiser here.
Thailand- Breathtaking country! Our host ministry was full of missionaries from Australia. The ministry itself had so many branches- religious and welfare. There were so many great things happening there.
Malaysia- This may sound strange, but I really loved spending time with Michelle’s (one of my teammates) family. Her parents both grew up in Malaysia before moving to Canada for college. We were fortunate enough to be able to spend time with some of her aunts, uncles, and cousins. It gave all of us a little slice of family.
Botswana- The people are very welcoming and kind. We’ve even been invited to weddings! Botswana weddings are a lot of fun!
Experiences
1. What is the scariest thing you’ve experienced? Have you been scared at any point?
Thankfully, I can honestly say I’ve never been scared. I’ve been in a lot of situations that should have been scary, but I’ve always felt safe and protected. Jesus is good! If I had to pick one moment, it would probably be on our first of two flights to Africa. We were delayed leaving due to a passenger not wanting to fly. The flight attendants then came through the cabin to make sure every bag belonged to someone on the plane. Obviously, it makes sense to get off baggage that the passenger brought on the plane, but it was also after 1am and my rational thinking was not quite awake.
2. What’s the saddest thing you’ve seen?
One night in India, we went to a very poor village with a high HIV/ AIDS rate. I could not believe the sights in front of me. The worst part was some of the children were sick solely because they did not have access to clean drinking water. The way they lived was truly eye-opening, but even though they were lacking in things of this world, including their health, they were not lacking in joy. The joy they had can only come from the Lord.
3. The most exciting thing you’ve seen?
So many! I took a flight with some of my squadmates to see Mt. Everest, and also, riding an elephant, bare-backed through the jungle was pretty incredible. They are magnificent creatures. As we would approach an incline of decline, my elephant would press her ears firmly back to secure my legs against her neck. Amazing!
4. What has been your favorite adventure?
I’ve had a lot of fun adventures, but I really loved renting scooters with Hannah and Malorie in Thailand. We explored and laughed. I also shouted “Go Braves” at a Westerner who was wearing a Braves hat as we drove by him crossing the street. He was so caught off guard.
5. What has been the hardest ministry?
Ministry was hard for me in Nepal because it changed weekly. The first week, we got a glimpse into all of the ministries. The second week, I taught English to a group of women. The third week, I helped rebuild a church that had been destroyed in the earthquakes. Everything I did was amazing, but it was very difficult to build relationships or see any fruit of our service. We just have to believe we planted or watered some seeds that week and believe the harvest will be plentiful.
6. Where’s the most interesting place you’ve gone potty? (Jonathan Rockness, I knew I could count on you for a question like this!)
This would have been a great story if it actually happened! Just a few nights ago my team and I moved from the house we were staying in to the hall on the missions base we are staying at this month. Sleeping in our tents in the hall is much cooler than the house! Anyways, I woke up about 3:30am with the bulging bladder, but I could NOT figure out how to open the doors. No door knob! I was about to start searching for a bucket in the hall when I managed to get the doors open. It could have been way worse! I’ve used plenty of squatty potties and outhouses that are essentially holes in cement above a hole in the ground.
Travel
1. What’s the worst piece of travel advice anyone’s given you so far?
“Compression socks are for grandmas.” I am the proud owner of knee-high compression socks. They are seriously the best things for long flights. My feet thank me every time! Haha
2. What’s the one thing you wish you would’ve brought with you?
A stuffed animal… Maybe even in the form of a pillow pet. Yep. You read that correctly.
3. What’s the best and worst thing about living out of a pack?
Best: It doesn’t take me long to get dressed!
Worst: Sometimes I miss clothes that make me feel like me.
4. How hard is living out of a pack?
It’s not too hard. It makes you realize how unnecessary so much of the stuff we own is in the grand scheme of things.
5. How much stuff have you left behind?
I haven’t left anything big behind, but I’ve dropped some clothes and small things I haven’t really needed. It may not be exactly what we are used to, but necessities can be found in every country.
6. What has been your favorite airline?
My favorite airline is definitely Qatar. The food was awesome, and they helped rush us through security to make our next flight… We had a 45-minute layover.
7. How many hours have you spent in airplanes, buses and hours sitting or sleeping in airports?
Wow. This would have been a fun thing to keep track of… I may try to figure it out! The longest, single flight was our second flight- Chicago to New Delhi, India. It was about 14 hours long. The longest we’ve spent in an airport was about 17 hours. We arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa around 1pm, and slept overnight in the airport. I slept like a rock!
Thank you for sticking it out! Your prayers, support, and encouragement mean the world to me!
Joyfully yours,
Mary Catherine
