I want to thank everyone who asked the questions. I’ve seriously had to think and pray about them, and I’m glad that those were the questions you chose not only for you to know but for others to get to know as well:) Thank you and Shout Out to you guys!
It’s month 9 and a half here in Costa Rica, two months left of this crazy, insane, hard, amazing, life-changing journey. Over the past year I also have had so many questions mostly for God about things ranging from “Lord help me understand your reason for mosquitoes” to “Lord I can’t wait for eternity, yet so many people don’t because they don’t know You, why did you make it this way” etc.. sometimes I don’t get answers but whenever I do whether through other believers or God Himself, He answered with His word. Surprise Surprise. The more this experience has gone on the more my faith has grown deeper because His word has become truer. It’s not just for answers and knowledge, but it’s to know His heart and His heartbeat for His people. So I could answer the questions without scripture, but it really wouldn’t be giving you the truth, so here we go~
What was the least surprising thing?
The insects! The sicknesses! The power and trustworthiness of the word of God! I will explain. Before coming on the race people informed me graciously that there would in fact be spiders and who knows what else. (I loathe small moving creatures) And then when I got to Africa, I was not surprised by the fact that flies are everywhere and annoying but it did take me back. Then we went to Asia and good Lord I had to pray through some instances where bugs were a concern. Cockroaches, I am a self proclaimed professional cockroach killer, not so much spiders but they don’t freak me out as much anymore. Just kidding! That’s a lie! I still freak out. I hate them.
Sicknesses, everyone told me and gave me advice on not eating certain foods and taking my vitamins, keeping clean and always having germ X and sometimes with all of that you can still get sick. So I wasn’t surprised when I got sick or any of my team mates got sick. Some on my squad have gotten bacterial infections, sun poisoning, food poisoning, dengue fever, malaria, diarrhea, the throw ups, fevers, parasites, worms etc..
The power and trustworthiness of the word of God. I am not surprised that what God has said in His word has held true, I’m not saying that with arrogance but with awe. I’m not surprised when someone is healed. I’m not surprised when a miracle takes place. I thank Him that He has done it and has a plan. He likes to show off because all of creation shouts at His fame and testifies, we just get to be a part of it.
If you asked me what was surprising, that would be a really long blog, because everything.
What can the American church learn from followers elsewhere?
That is a loaded question, and I feel inadequate to answer that but from being able to walk with and work with churches and organizations I’ve been able to witness the good, the bad, and the ugly of ministry. The first thing is learning unity. I’ve seen the amazing bond that Jesus has over His church. When His people choose it, the body is seen as the body and not bits and pieces that don’t want to work together. Our God at His being is united. America is extremely divided and unwelcoming and it doesn’t show our God. it portrays Him has an exclusive, passive, and overlooking God.
The second thing that the American church can learn is how to be less seeker friendly. Churches have expensive lights, expensive performances, to please people when they walk in and has in turned made seekers judge churches based on how they are viewed. Jesus pursues and reaches people. America can learn how to be raw about their faith and making it theirs, pastors not sugar coating the gospel for comfort.
That rolls into the third, I’ve had to learn the difference between spreading the kingdom of God vs spreading western culture Christianity. It’s a hard thing to swallow but the American church isn’t the greatest, the American church doesn’t have it altogether. The American church is massive because people like being good and thought of as a good person and then they forget the greatest command, loving the Lord YOUR God with all your HEART with all your MIND and with all your STRENGTH.
What are differences and similarities in faith in Christ?
Differences. In every country or culture it is different just because of traditional practices or the cultures means or history. Going deeper, I don’t know how to say it right, but every place we have faced different battles. For example, evangelizing in India is illegal, that’s a spiritual battle we had to face. In Malaysia if you were a national, it was illegal to be a Christian and was a very Islamic closed country, a spiritual battle we had to face. Africa had twisted views on anything supernatural and lack of education fed unbiblical practices. Every country has had their own demons, own struggles, and battles, but the coolest Similarity is that wherever we have gone and whatever ministries we have partnered with love Jesus and do the best they know how to in welcoming us and caring for us. Jesus has never changed, not on the World Race, not in billions of years. Has my relationship with God deepened to know Him more? Yes, but He’s still the same. That’s cool folks.
“As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity. Of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all”
Ephesians 4:1-6
How will this experience change your life when you get home? How will you keep active the things God has done in your life in the U.S.
I’m praying that I will guard my disciplines and follow through on my convictions. This experience has changed me and if we get specific here it was Jesus, and it gives me comfort to know that He is going to be with me wherever I go. But to be honest, I’m so nervous about going home, that all of a sudden I’m going to forget everything and everyone and relapse into who I was, and that scares the crap out of me. But I know that’s just fear and my sweet Jesus won’t ever leave me or forsake me. His word is just going to be my lamp everyday to navigate where He is taking me next. Something I have learned on the world race is a saying our leaders share with us ALL the time: “Life is ministry and ministry is life.” When I come home my ministry isn’t over. I won’t clock out, I won’t fall back asleep because Jesus is never done moving in the lives of His people. I hope that summed it up! Haha
1. Guarding my disciplines 2. Following my convictions 3. Falling more in love with Jesus
Were you amazed that the USA church is very rich?
I’m not going to skate around this question, and I have a feeling you already know the answer. Yes. In every way. The American church is rich in money and rich in opportunities but poor in laying up their treasures in heaven. I can’t speak for every single church on the planet but I wonder why people are in the faith because all they care about is how they are going to be perceived at church, what to wear, how to act, thinking carnally with their faith and not being thankful for the opportunity to go to church. I was there in it, and the race has taught me a lot about contentment and even though we do only take a backpack and travel with limited amount of things, we still are like royalty comparatively.
The world outside the U.S is significantly poor. People don’t become humble if they are poor. People don’t become prideful if they are rich.
How thankful you are determines that. Still convicts me.
Where do I go to the bathroom.
I remember the first time I had to go soooo bad was when we were headed to our first country Mozambique via bus and we stopped at a roadside gas station/market. Random people were everywhere and you had to pay for the toilet! I didn’t have local currency yet so I was pretty upset, and our bus driver said their would be one at the boarder crossing… hours later. The worst time of my life is having to go and waiting for a gross bathroom with no toilet paper or soap.
To answer the question, mostly in a bathroom, but most places call it the “toilet” or the “washroom” or the “loo” if your on a team with the Britt. Its a tricky business because it will say “toilet” but it’s really a squatty. I’ve spent most of the race using squatties. But to be frank bathrooms are the worst. It’s a day in the spa if there is a toilet to sit on, toilet paper that you can flush, soap that is not watery, and a mirror that isn’t broken. Also I’ve seen many people going on the side of the road, so wherever you feel comfortable. And I’m not ashamed to say that when I had to go, I find a place to make it work.
How do you think this experience will color your future?
I love that question! This experience has undoubtedly changed my projection of how I see my life and others. I don’t know what I’m going to do with my life but I know who I want to be. This experience has brightened many parts of my life and made me aware of dark things in the world.
Thank you for reading the answers of a girl who doesn’t have all the answers. I hope you didn’t take any of the answers the wrong way. I can’t do anything about that,! but I hope it brought light to your questions:)
Psalm 25:4-5
Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
