11 countries, 11months, 11 questions
1. What is the World Race?
The World Race is an 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries, where we partner with local ministries already established in the country. I am currently about to begin my final month in Peru.
2. What did you expect you would miss the most but surprisingly don’t, and what surprised you that you actually miss?
I expected to miss my bed a lot! Surprisingly, that hasn’t been a big deal to me. I have slept on super soft beds, to beds as hard as the floor, to actually sleeping on the floor. Thankfully my body has been able to adapt really well.
I miss the smells of home. Especially now that it is summer back home, I miss simple “summer” smells: fresh cut grass, late night campfires, or my dad BBQing on Sunday afternoons.
3. Has seeing other culture’s faiths broadened your perspective on God? If so, how?
Watching monks in Nepal walking around temples as penance for sin, made me realize how simple the Lord had made it for us. So many cultures and religions I’ve encountered are based on works. My salvation and my relationship with the Lord isn’t based on anything I can do. I deserve death, but God has graciously made salvation a free gift. All we have to do is accept that.
4. What had been the most meaningful event where you really sensed the presence of God?
At our debrief in Kathmandu, Nepal, we had a vulnerability night. I shared how my relationship with the Lord has always been a struggle. I knew the right things to say as a Christian, but to say I had a deep personal relationship with Him was a stretch. I had a one-on-one with one of my squad leaders, and she told me to imagine the place where I felt the safest in the world. I imagined sitting in my best friend Heidi’s car. We would talk for hours in her car sometimes. My squad leader told me to have Heidi get out of the car and the Lord get in. When I did, I literally felt my fingers start to swell. I truly believe the Lord was giving me a physical reaction to being filled with His love in that moment. Now whenever I pray, I imagine myself in my best friend’s car just talking with the Lord.
5. What is the biggest benefit you have gained from this experience, and flipping that, what is the best thing you have given to the experience?
The biggest benefit I have gained would be that I have found my voice. Before the race, it would usually take me a long time to warm up to people. People always perceived me as quiet, shy, and even rude. Being that way isn’t really possible on the race. You only have a month with people, so you need to make the most of that time. I have shared the Gospel, spoken in churches, and shared devotionals that would have been very hard for me before.
I think encouragement to fellow teammates would be the best thing I have given. It is easy for me to tell when someone on my team is struggling, especially since we spend 24 hours together. Speaking truth and life into people’s lives has been an amazing way I have grown.
6. Who is your favorite person on the squad?
There is no way I can pick just one! On my first team, I was placed with four men and two other women. Ashley Soto and Toni Cheney were the two other women. I ended up staying with them for six straight months. They have become such special friends and sister to me, that I can’t imagine my life without them. Love you ladies!
7. Highest high and lowest low?
The highest moment of my race was in Vietnam. I was able to share the gospel intentionally with two different people in a country where that is illegal. I am not longer afraid to share about my faith. I wrote a previous blog about it, No Longer Afraid.
Click here to read No Longer Afraid
I think a low point for me was in Argentina. I was so sick of the race life. I really didn’t want to be told where and when to be places. I just had the worst attitude ever. But thankfully that didn’t last long! This year has been such a blessing, and anytime I think back to times my attitude was like that I get mad at myself. I’ve wasted precious moments feeling sorry for myself. This life I live is crazy, and I want to be thankful for every moment.
8. In what country did experience the most spiritual growth and challenges?
Botswana was a challenging month for me. My dad was going through major surgery back home. And my team was way out in the bush, so there was no access to internet at all. I finally was able to get ahold of my brother to have him call my team phone, which racked up his phone bill $130…oops! Two of our teammates also went home that month, which was hard to accept.
The Lord really taught me a lot that month about provision. Even through all of that hard stuff, He was still there. I never felt abandoned by Him. Here is a link to my blog from that month.
Click here to read What are the Chances?
9. What is the dumbest thing you have done? And what is your most embarrassing story on the race?
Thanks for the question dad!
I think the dumbest thing I have done happened in Botswana. We were evangelizing to a family in their hut. They had a tiny fire going with milk tea boiling on it. I motioned to their son to throw me the tennis ball he was playing with. When he did it bounced off my finger tips and went straight into the tea, splashing everywhere. The wife quickly threw the ball out of the tea, and reassured me that it was fine. Milk tea was a treat for them, so I felt horrible!
My most embarrassing moment was probably during a layover in Bangkok. I wasn’t feeling well so I laid down near our gate on some airport chairs. I ended up throwing up quite a few times. Right before the flight, I had a medium sized bag in case I needed to throw up again. Well, I did. I ended up filling the entire thing! On my way to the bathroom it began to spill because it was so full. A bunch of strangers stared and commented how disgusting it was. Thankfully some of my squad mates saw me, and they helped me clean up and get to the bathroom. Right after that, we boarded our flight for Nairobi where I again threw up. The flight attendant brought be to the back, and was concerned that I was drunk. Quite an embarrassing travel day!
10. Who were the nicest people you met?
I have met a lot of amazingly friendly people in South America. This month my team did ATL (Ask the Lord). We weren’t given a ministry contact, but relied on the Lord to find us ministry. A super nice family that we met in Argentina got us in contact with a pastor in Bolivia that they are friends with. Without hesitation, the pastor invited us into his home. We stayed with his family for about six days. They knew nothing about us, except that we were fellow believers. They cooked for us and gave us a place to stay for no charge! That kindness and love for complete strangers is exactly the way I think God intends for us to love each other.
11. How has God powerfully and inticately used you specifically? What giftings have you been given?
I think God has used me to see the unseen. I have been told many times by my teammates that I see people that others might overlook. Especially whenever we have gone out to just meet people and just talk with them. I’ve also been told I’m a very good listener, and I love giving people the space to just verbally process whatever they need to.
I would say the Lord has given me the gift of discernment. I don’t always do what I know is right, but He definitely makes it clear to me what is right and wrong.
Thank you for following me these past 10 months. One month left, and then I’m home!
