Thanks to Facebook’s new Memories feature, I realized that today marks one year since I announced to the world that I was going on The World Race! In honor of the occasion, here are 11 reasons why I’m glad I chose the World Race (or maybe, why I’m glad the Race chose me.)
1. I’ve seen some really beautiful God-made wonders. From the mountains of Nepal and Rwanda to the waterfalls of Uganda and banana tree forests all over the world, God has shown me some amazing sights.
2. I’ve seen some really beautiful man-made wonders. Think Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Monkey Temple in Nepal, the beautiful twinkling lights of Kigali, Rwanda.
3. World fashion! Brightly patterned African dresses, Indian sarees and kurtas, Nepali elephant pants…and why do half of the clothing items in Thailand feature cats??
4. Ethnic foods! Yes, we eat a lot of rice…but there’s spicy fried rice in India, pineapple and pork over rice in Cambodia, dahl bhat in Nepal…and there’s also chapati and rolexes in Uganda, medazi in Rwanda, momos in Nepal, pad Thai, fried ice cream, fresh fruit smoothies, and so much more!
5. Making friends all over the world. For me, there’s John and Isabella and Seth in Uganda, the Muyimba family in Rwanda, Masre in Ethiopia, everyone at SCH in India, Alisha and her family in Nepal, Dara, Sao Thy, and the Chhan kids in Cambodia, and now the refugee community in Thailand, plus many more! It’s extra cool whenever new friends are also sisters and brothers in Christ, because we have so much common ground already and we know we’ll see one another again someday!
6. I get to experience my faith in new ways. I now know that there are all sorts of ways and places to connect with God – like on rooftops, or in churches, or in nature, or in your bedroom; by listening to music and doodling, or by seeing Him in the person I’m talking to, or by reading a Christian book that makes me smarter, or by reading my Bible and journaling, or by playing around with my Nepali flute, or simply by sitting in silence (which is, occassionally, possible).
7. I have more Christian friends than I’ve ever had in my life. There are 45 of us on the squad and I’ve been on teams with 15 of them, and I feel like there’s always someone around who’s willing to have a conversation or to play cards or to just be alone together with me. It’s been amazing to get to know the life stories and testimonies of so many different and wonderful people from all over America (and Canada. :)) I have learned a lot from these friends!
8. I’ve had amazing adventures! White water rafting and going on safari in Uganda, paragliding in Nepal (even though that didn’t end well), hiking through rivers, exploring new cities…I look at these things and just think, What is this life??
9. I’ve been able to learn more about the painful experiences that people around the world have gone through. I’ve been to the genocide museum in Rwanda, talked to people in Cambodia who grew up as refugees because their parents had fled the civil war, played with little children who were abandoned by their parents because of their special needs, sat in the homes of Hmong refugees in Thailand, and done life with people who have no idea how poor they are. It’s been a privilege to get to see and learn firsthand about what life is like for most of the world. It’s also been amazing to witness the positive attitudes and the faith of people who have been/are going through such hardships.
10. I’ve had incredible opportunities to grow in ministry! I’ve taught English and preschool, visited people in their homes, preached and sung in churches, and prayed for my brothers and sisters all over the world. Sometimes I’ve been uncomfortable, and pushing through that “uncomfortability” has helped me grow in ways I don’t think I’ve even fully realized yet.
11. I get to live amazing stories, like finding my sponsored child, and I get to share those stories with all of you!! I don’t know if distance makes the heart grow fonder or what, but whenever I think of all of you at home, I just feel incredibly grateful to have such a wonderful support system. I can’t wait to see you all again!
