This might possibly be the LONGEST blog in the history of blogs. BUT I blame you, my readers because you asked so many darn questions. [and I appreciate it SO very much!]
I have broken down the questions into 6 categories.
1) Countries.
2) Ministry
3) Team[s]/The Q/The World Race in general
4) Personal Schtuff [serious-ish].
5) Future Schtuff
6) Everything That Didn't Fit into the other 5 Categories.
Part 1 �" Countries
1. What country did you have the most fun sleeping loose in?
Ha. I think I would have to say The Philippines. We had 14 of us share the same room — 7 sets of bunkbeds. It was a beautiful way to begin the 11 month sleepover. 🙂
2. What was your favorite country & why?
Thailand! Why? Because everything was great. I fell in love with the culture, the ministry, SHE, the women we worked with, the baby we watched during morning devo times, the weather, the sky, the beaches, … just everything. Nothing was bad in Thailand. It was probably my strongest month spiritually as well. Yeah. Thailand was amazing.
3. How many countries did you end up going to?
NOT including airports… only including countries I actually stepped foot in, 16.
Philippines.
Malaysia
Thailand
Cambodia
Kenya
Tanzania
Rwanda
Uganda
India
Nepal
Ukraine
Transnistria
Moldova
Romania
Austria
Hungary
4. What country was most like the US? Least like?
Most like — Romania. Lots of English. The clothing is very similar, etc. This could also be my thoughts based on our numerous American contacts there…
Least like — Malaysia. Very few people spoke English. As free as America is, I feel like Malaysia was in that much bondage. Just a totally different culture.
5. Which country made you cry the most (broke your heart)?
Tie:
a) Thailand. As much as I LOVE that country, my heart broke for the brokenness in the country itself.
b) Romania. The country and the people are SO beautiful, however, there is SUCH a spirit of religion here. We visited a few cathedrals & such… the buildings are gorgeous — so meticulously designed, yet, people who “worship” there are so works-based-minded. It completely breaks my heart to know that thousands of people have tried to work their way to earn God’s love when His love is so free for us. My heart breaks knowing that thousands of people believe in God, yet have never had a relationship with Him. =/
6. Which country made you smile and laugh the most?
Rwanda — it was a great month for my team/my fave month in Africa. Definitely a month of laughter.
7. Which places would you visit again?
I would definitely go back to The Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Rwanda, India, & Ukraine. The others … well, God would have to be VERY clear that He wants me to return in order for me to go back. 🙂
Part 2 �" Ministry
1. What was your least favorite activity?
Preaching. I’m not a huge fan of public speaking & trying to come up with an hour long sermon is not quite my idea of a good time… props to all you preachers out there!
2. What was your favorite place that you helped at?
The dumpsite church in The Philippines. Ahh. Definitely an amazing atmosphere. The PCF staff is phenomenal. The children were so much fun to be around. God is doing BIG things there.
3. What was the single most heartbreaking thing you saw?
Nepal. Sara. A beautiful orphan. My heart shattered knowing her and knowing her situation. You can read about it here.
4. What was the most awe inspiring thing you saw?
The youth in the Philippines worshiping at their Wednesday night youth group.
5. What was the most memorable moment with someone not on your team?
Praying for Jja Jja in Uganda — twice. The 2nd time we had a moment that I will never ever forget. [Read her story here].
Part 3 �" Team[s]/The Q/The World Race in general
1. 20 years from now when you tell people about this trip, what will you tell them?
This year was a gift from God to me. He wanted to show me more of Him, more of me, and more of His beauty — all over the world. I will hopefully still be learning from this year 20 years down the road. I am beyond thankful that I have had this opportunity.
2. Would you do it again?
Oh HECK no! World Race was great, awesome, wonderful, etc. HOWEVER. Knowing what I know now, there’s no chance I’m in for round 2. 🙂
3. Most memorable moment with one of your teammates.
Jared [and Patrick] baptizing me in India.
4. What was your favorite team combination?
Team Kindle was phenom. We worked/lived/did life together well. Dream team, man. [read about them here]
5. Who was your favorite teammate?
Ahhhh… not a nice question. SO I’m going to give you ALL my favorites 🙂
Favorite Swiss-German accent – Stefan
Favorite Driver – Christina
Favorite Ninja Ho – Taylor
Favorite Sister – Amy L.
Favorite Rapper – Jenny
Favorite “Girly” Teammate – Laura
Favorite teammate to share everything with – Amber
Favorite Story-teller – Sarah
Favorite International Superstar – JD
Favorite Euchre-Playing Teammate – Jared
Favorite High-Knees – Aimee
Favorite Disney Princess – Carmen
Favorite shimmyer – Bethany
Part 4 �" Personal schtuff [serious-ish].
1. In what area do you think the WR has changed you the most?
Ooh. Probably my worldview. I am much more Kingdom-minded now. I now see an urgency for the Kingdom and know that it’s my responsibility to release it wherever I go.
2. Have you adopted any other cultures’ feelings and beliefs for your own?
Definitely. Ukrainians think that ice cream at 9am is perfectly okay. I am more than okay with adopting that belief as my own. 🙂
In all seriousness… I have kind of adopted a lot of “World Race Culture” beliefs and feelings for my own. We are a culture of high honor, high safety, high courage, and high grace. We meet people where they are. We call people into greatness and walk them into freedom. Yes, these are what I sometimes deem as cheeseball phrases, but they have really become my life. I cannot wait to implement some of these into my everyday life & the “culture” of McClain Hall.
Besides just the “World Race buzzwords,” I’ve also come to know The Holy Spirit — who He is, what He can do, and how to utilize the gifts He’s given me. Before World Race, I didn’t know who the Spirit was…
3a. Did you have any fears before leaving? If so, what was your greatest one?
Okay. I definitely had to consult my teammate, Jenny [from my 1st & 3rd teams], on this one. We couldn’t come up with any fears I had before coming on the Race… The one thing I think was in the back of my mind was that I would fall in love with another country so much that it would make me want to leave America forever.
3b. How did God work through that fear or remove that fear?
Well, He has confirmed over & over throughout the course of the past 11 months that He didn’t make a mistake in the Spring of 2008 when He told me that He wants me to do ministry in America long-term. I like that. 🙂
4. Did you fall in love?
YES! definitely. I fell head-over-heels in love with my Savior, Jesus Christ. [cheeseball answer? Yes. honest answer? Definitely.].
I am a little ashamed to admit that I feel like God had to take me away from America, everything that I know and love, in order for me to fall in love with Him. I did + I’m eternally grateful that He loves me enough to pick me up & move me to 11 different countries to make this happen.
Oh. And I may have fallen in love with a 3-year-old boy in Romania. I would take him home if it were possible…
5. Do you feel like a missionary?
I don’t know what a missionary is supposed to feel like. If a missionary feels like life is ministry and ministry is life, then yes, I feel just like a missionary. 🙂
Part 5 �" Future schtuff
1. Do you think you will stay in America from now on? or do you see yourself going back internationally for missions?
I am very careful in answering this question. In the spring of 2008, I told my Denver MIA team that I would never leave the US. … 16+ countries later, I am writing this blog…
I will tell you that I do not foresee me leaving long-term anytime in the near future. As much as I despise the buzzword “confirmation,” I know that this year, God has confirmed over & over again my passion for America & the ministry He has for me there. 🙂 God Bless ‘merica.
2. Has this trip influenced your thoughts on doing long term missions in the future?
That’s hard to say. Yes, I was technically a “long-term missionary” BUT it was really like 11 short-term trips. There’s a whole World Race time-warp thing that went on. Hard to explain.
I do know that if I ever go to visit long-term missionaries, I will take them some essentials — JIF pb, Reese’s cups, Swedish Fish, Bath&Body Works stuff, Starbucks coffee, etc…
Again, as you can see from previous answers, I’m pretty certain America will be my long-term mission field.
3. Will you continue to blog after the race? or could you at least start a newspaper column?
Yes, I will continue to blog. I do have a new address, though. You can now follow me here:
http://samanthas-smiles.blogspot.com/
oh. If anyone wants to give me a newspaper column, I would love to begin writing! 🙂
4. Because of your obvious love for small children, do you think you will have children of your genetics or adopt children of your heart?
🙂 good question. I really do not know the answer. I’m not quite sure I will ever have my own kids/adopt any. If the Lord decides to bless me with a family of my own, I’m thinking maybe a combo. My parents seemed to do a good job with their fam — 2 biological + 3 adopted. I am a huge advocate of domestic adoption, so my kiddos, either way, will come from the States.
5. How will your life at home be different because of this trip?
I don’t actually know what it will look like, but I do know that I am not the same now. After a trip like this, you just cannot be the same person.
I think the biggest change will be how I love people. I will be a much better lover than I was before the World Race. I have see God’s perfect, unfailing, beautiful love so clearly this year that I cannot help but want to give it away.
6. How will you continue to keep World Race in your life?
I think I’m going to “pay it forward” in a sense… I want to either a) financially support a racer or two, b) adopt a squad — pray for them, read their blogs, etc., or c) become a professional blog commenter — I know how much World Racers love blog comments! 🙂
Part 6 �" Everything that didn’t fit into the other 5 categories.
1. What was the worst smell?
Besides my teammates? The dump in the Philippines. However. It’s SUPER easy to get past the smell when you fall in love with the people who live there.
2. Have you fallen in love with gardening yet?
Aye… maybe one day I will have my own garden & be able to garden the way Webster’s says I should. 🙂
3. Are skittles available in every country? 😉
They are not — which is rough. 🙂 I did receive Skittles for Christmas from my teammate, JD. We also had them in Romania. Besides that, I don’t remember buying them…
4. What event are you most upset that you missed at home while you were gone?
Two weddings. 1) My cousin Nick & his new wife, Dawn.
2) My roommate Kalen & her new husband, Dan. I wanted to be there more than anything — I tried to convince them to move the wedding up to August [before I left] or back to August [when I would come home], but they didn’t…
5. What's the first thing you are going to do when you get home?
Hug my dad. 🙂 He’s the one picking me up from the airport.
6. What American food did you miss the most?
Corndogs. Definitely. They are my favorite food anyway… and not having them for 11 months was rough. [well, I take that back. Thailand had waffle-dogs which were similar to corndogs…]
7. Did you get sick while you were gone?
Ha. Yes! Funny quote from another member of the Q. “You know you’re a world racer when … your friends at home don’t remember the last time they had diarrhea, and you don’t remember the last time you didn’t.”
But honestly… I had a double ear-infection/tonsillitis in Cambodia, a super high fever in Kenya, and a parasite in India. I got the common cold several times… but that’s to be expected in a normal year.
8. What was the most interesting place you used as a toilet?
Ugh. Okay. So during the India-Nepal travel day(s) extravaganza, I think this was around day 2? … I am actually just going to copy/paste from the blog series I wrote about this event.
Woke up around 5am. Realized the bus was stopped for some reason. Thought little of it. Fell back asleep. Woke up around 7. Bus was still stopped — in the same place we were at 5. Decided it was completely worth finagling my way through the crowd of aisle sleepers/legs sprawled over the armrests to use the bathroom. Turns out. No bathroom at this stop. I crossed the road and found a tree in the middle of a dust field — filled with Indian children. No shame. [World Race chh chh].
What I didn’t mention before was that this was a VERY open field. With only 1 tree. Egh. Not a wonderful moment in my life, BUT I survived. 🙂
9. What was the strangest thing you ate and enjoyed?
Okay. So it’s not so strange in Africa, but I would have to go with matoke. It’s a type of banana that is boiled [I think]. Most people do not care for it, but I absolutely loved it. Kenya’s was the best I had out of the 3 African countries I visited.
10. Who was your best friend on the trip at any given time?
Not on my team – Harriet in Uganda. She was phenomenal. I highlight her in an upcoming blog. 🙂
11. How did the equipment you bought at Dick's Sporting Goods before you left hold up in 11 countries?
Oh the equipment. DSG served me well. The rope I bought was used frequently in each country. The stuff sacks & compression sacks were amazing. I think the DSG associate who helped me pick all of this stuff out should get a raise. 🙂
12. Did you meet anyone who reminded you of people from home?
When it comes to looks, Rwanda was a big place for this — well, the African version, at least, of the following:
My childhood best friend, Meghan, when we were in 4th grade. My cousin Quinn when he was 10, and Carson Walker — last summer. I met SEVERAL 8-10 year old boys who reminded me of my brother, Nicky B. [Don’t worry, Nick; they weren’t as cool as you].
13. How many kids did you want to bring home with you?
Ahhh. Several from the Philippines. One or two from Malaysia… oh Africa — I would bring them all home. A few from Nepal & one from Romania. 🙂
14. What did you spend the most money on (tourist wise)?
Rafting/Bungee Jumping in the Nile. I bought some dresses/t-shirts/jewelry along the way, but those were super cheap in markets & such…
15. How many stamps are in your passport? Visas?
36 stamps. 4 visas.
16. How many people did you see from the U.S. who you already knew before the trip?
Zero. BUT. It is such a small world & I was able to meet people from all over the world who knew people I knew… like in Romania — one of our contacts, Dawn, knows one of my social work profs at ONU/just saw her a few weeks before I came to Romania.
+ one of Dawn's friends, Bev, knows my college classmate & friend, Lindsay. Crazy.
17. What was your favorite part of the trip?
Honestly, transition times when I was able to hang out with The Q. I love these crazy ragamuffins.
[18-21 were asked by my youngest brother, Nicky B.]
18. Did you see many snakes on your trip?
The only snake I remember seeing was the one that a Ukranian man put around Bethany's neck as we were walking through a park one night.
19. How did you like being gone for 11 months from your little brother ?
I loved it! [only kidding, buddy]. I missed him like crazy, but God definitely provided me with a lot of little brothers around the world to fill the void.
20. Do you think you can beat me in Jenga?
Bring. It. On. You've had 7 months of practice + you still don't stand a chance.
21. Did you meet many friends?
Yes! I met a lot of amazing people — 35+ of my new friends are people on The Q, + then I was definitely blessed to meet a lot of friends in each country.
22. How about I just talk to you when I pick you up from the airport?
Good idea, Dad. You’re always coming up with the best ideas. Talk to you soon! 🙂
…oh. by the way. I'm landing in AMERICA tonight! 🙂
