Alrighty folks here is the highly anticipated 1/2 way Q & A blog I promised y’all… we passed the 1/2 way mark this past week, so I am officially closer to the end of my Race than I am to the start of it. I can’t wait to be home and share more in depth stories, but I am also so looking forward to all that God has instore for the remaining 5 1/2 months!!
Q: What has been your favorite mission so far on the race?
A: I would have to say it’s a tie between The Philippines and Thailand. The Philippines because I got to snuggle and play with babies everyday- and you know how much I love babies!! Thailand because our hosts did an incredible job of making us feel at home (also Thailand was the first month it felt like I was actually on The Race).
Q: What has been the most challenging thing you’ve faced that you were surprised was actually a challenge?
A: Living in community with others… although I knew that this was going to be hard and was definitely NOT looking forward to it because of past experiences, I underestimated just how hard it would be, I mean how can living and working with others 24/7 not drive you crazy sometimes?
Q: Is there anything specific that you are looking forward to in the remainder of the race?
A: I think the thing I am most excited for in the remainder of The Race would have to be getting to spend my 27th Birthday in Africa (hopefully in the mountains of Lesotho)!
Q: Who is your favorite teammate?
A: Jesus is by far my FAVORITE teammate
Q: What has surprised you the most about your journey? Both emotionally and culturally?
A: Emotionally – the fact that I haven’t really had any tough goodbyes (yet) has really surprised me since I tend to get attached easily and then have the hardest time saying bye. Culturally – I think it would have to be the difference in the openness/welcoming feeling of Sarajevo Bosnia compared with the not as open/welcoming feeling of Split Croatia… these places are close to each other, but Bosnia definitely had a more open/welcoming atmosphere.
Q: Of the ares you have traveled to so far, which has been your favorite and why?
A: Europe for sure… simply because I can walk outside and not be in a instant puddle of sweat, also where we are right now reminds me a lot of home because of the Mountains and cooler air!
Q: Which foods were you intimidated to try and are now a fan of?
A: Honestly I haven’t been super adventurous with my food (most months I have been able to cook for myself or had the safe option of fried rice), but we did have these egg-roll type things called Lumpia in The Philippines that were absolutely delicious and I couldn’t tell you what was in them because everything was all mixed together… I so wish we would’ve had them more and am definitely going to try and make them at home 🙂
Q: How has this experience changed your outlook on your future? On the world?
A: My eyes have been opened and I don’t want to simply return home and back to my same “boring” way of life… I don’t know yet for 100% what my life post-Race is going to look like, but I do know that I don’t want to go back to the way I was living pre-Race. As for The World, my heart breaks for all the people who have been through so much tragedy in their lives – there are some cases where it hits a little closer to home simply because of when the dark parts of their history happened and it could have easily been me/my family/my friends who this happened to.
Q: What has been the most UNEXPECTED challenge you have faced?
A: I think it has been all of the stuff that The Lord has shown me that still has a hold of me that I thought I was walking in freedom from and learning to let other into the not so pretty parts (still working on this).
Q: How do you think you have changed?
A: I know for a fact that I will be coming home with a deeper reverence for who God is and a deeper understanding of who he says I am… although I know that I still have work to do in these areas, I can tell (and others have told me) I have grown.
Q: What was the cultural difference that surprised you the most?
A: I think it would have to be the difference in the openness/welcoming feeling of Sarajevo Bosnia compared with the not as open/welcoming feeling of Split Croatia… these places are close to each other, but Bosnia definitely had a more open/welcoming atmosphere.
Q: How are you being received as an American?
A: I have yet to have (and pray I don’t) and instance where we were not welcomed with open arms by our ministry and the locals.
Fundraising Update!!!!
I am still waiting to find out home much money we made at the Chick-fil-A fundraiser… but I can tell you that as of right now I am $2,213 away from my final goal of $17,400.
Fun Fact – if every one of my friends on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter and everyone who read this blog donated just $3.50 USD I would be FULLY FUNDED… so I am asking that if you read this blog to please consider donating just $3.50 USD (or more if you feel called to do so)!!
