And here we have it everyone! Your Q’s and my A’s. Some of the questions are serious and some are not. However, I hope you enjoy scrolling through these and getting a peek into my brain. We have officially entered month six of the Race. That is crazy! Your prayers mean the world to me as we enter into our second half of ministry in South Africa.
Q:How has the Spirit helped you on the Race?
A:Whew, the Holy Spirit is an aspect of my faith that I have grown the most since being on the Race which has been way cool. I’ve been able to hear the Spirit while I’ve been out doing door to door evangelism encouraging me to talk to certain people or pray healing over someone. Especially with ministry these two months here in South Africa, I don’t think I’d be able to get through the day without asking the Spirit to give me a word or bible verse for the people I am speaking to.
Q:What is your favorite food that you miss the most?
A:My favorite food that I miss the most is definitely my mom’s chocolate chip cookies. I’ve tried to make them on the Race, but they just are never the same as when she makes them.
Q:What is sleeping/showering/eating like on the other side of the world?
A:Sleeping/showering/eating is pretty normal on the other side of the world. In South Africa I sleep on the bottom bunk of a little bunk bed in a room with three other girls. We have a full bathroom connected to our room (which in all honesty is bigger and nicer than my bathroom at home). This month we are blessed with hot water too! In previous ministry locations we have had normal showers as well but we have had serious water usage restrictions. Did someone say military showers? Yep. In the Dominican and Haiti someone cooked our meals for us, but in Botswana and South Africa we cook for ourselves in a kitchen. We eat very American meals here. Taco Tuesday night, breakfast for dinner, mac and cheese, chicken. We grocery shop at a Pick n’ Pay that is comparable to Target… Living here is pretty comparable to living in America. While it wasn’t what I was expecting, it has been teaching me a lot about what it looks like to live with a ministry mindset while having access to first world luxuries.
Q:What are you reading now?
A:I am currently reading Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. It is about a woman’s soul and living as a woman of God.
Q:Will you have dread locks when you return?
A:NO Josh Dahm I will not have dread locks. No way. Never.
Q:What does it smell like over there?
A:In the squatter camps it smells a lot like burning garbage and animals, but outside of the squatter camps I couldn’t identify a specific scent of the air.
Q:Do they have squirrels running around – what kind of animals scurry about? Do they wear hats?
A:The most common animals to see scurrying about on the Race are goats, chickens, and rodents. Also a lot of ants and spiders. And no Josh, none of them wear hats.
Q:Scent of the air that reminds you of a specific place?
A:The smell of burning garbage will always bring me back to Haiti. They burned their garbage on the sides of the roads daily and that smell was everywhere.
Q:What first world comfort do you miss the most?
A:The first world comfort I miss the most would probably be AT&T phone service if I am being honest. Being able to connect with anyone, any time is a luxury that does not exist on the Race. Or being able to drive a car.
Q:What third world comfort do you think first world needs more of?
A:The third world comfort that first world needs more of? Jesus. Definitely Jesus and Christ-centered community. In places where material things hold little value or consistency, Jesus and the community around hold so much more weight and comfort. While material things come and go here, Jesus always remains. That has been a big lesson I’ve been learning throughout the Race. Letting go of finding comfort in tangible things and seeking comfort in Him over everything.
Q:Favorite food?
A:In the Dominican our cook Elva made us hot chocolate and cornbread for dinner often and it was the BEST.
Q:Worst food?
A:I don’t think I’ve had any food that I just couldn’t stomach. I suppose Haitian spaghetti (spaghetti noodles, hot dogs, and hot dog juices) turned into the worst food for me only because we had it so frequently in Haiti.
Q:Where have you seen Jesus today?
A:Today I saw Jesus in a man named Adam. He was one of the people I had the opportunity to talk to in the squatter camps. He is an alcoholic who is desperate for life change. His eyes screamed for Jesus and we had to privilege of leading him to Christ. Wow. Amazing.
Q:Worship song that’s speaking to you?
A:Once and for All by Lauren Daigle or Not Afraid by Mosaic.
Q:Do you think the Race has changed your mind with what you wanted to do afterward? If so how?
A:The Race hasn’t necessarily changed my mind with what I wanted to do afterward, but I have been able to check things off my list that I do not want to do. Things like being a preschool teacher. Don’t get me wrong, I love the littles, but I am not called to that field.
Q:What has been the most rewarding part of the Race?
A:The most rewarding part of the Race has been the relationships I’ve built within my team and my squad. Godly community that seeks first Him has changed my view on relationships in my life. It has been so fulfilling to fight for my team and see the fruit that come from choosing them each and every day.
Q:What has been the hardest maybe not so fun part of the Race?
A:The hardest part of the Race is being completely present in a ministry that you do not always feel comfortable in. Not every ministry on the Race is going to be something that you are super passionate about or gifted in and so finding God’s plan for you and the strength and heart that He has for that ministry can be difficult. But it is also one of the most rewarding parts of the Race. You grow so much for choosing what God is passionate about and owning that ministry for the months you are there.
Q:Would you do it again?
A:Would I do the Race again? After this, no. The Race is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I don’t think doing the Race for a second time would be beneficial for me. The point of the program is not to continuously do it over and over again but to reap the fruit from the experience and then apply it in other areas of life. But, if I hadn’t chosen the Race last year and had to go back and choose again, I would do it. For sure. But it is a one and done kinda deal.
Q:If you could go back to August and make the decision over again would you have gone to college or are you satisfied with what you did?
A:I would have hands down chosen the Race again. I have been able to develop my faith, pursue things I am passionate about, and get real life experience all before the age of 19. I would not trade that for the world. It has been the best decision of my life.
Q:What has surprised you the most about South Africa? What have you learned about the people there?
A:The amount of people who live in Johannesburg who have come from other countries has blown me away. This city is a melting pot of Southern African countries. People flock here looking for work and then live with next to nothing in squatter camps outside the city. Everyone is just trying to make it work, sending money back to home countries, and providing for the families here.
Q:What place have you felt the closest to God so far?
A:The place I have felt the closest physically to God is in the Dominican Republic on our roof overlooking the mountains. I spent a ton of time with the Lord there in the mornings and at night.
Q:What food has been the strangest?
A:I ate a worm in Zimbabwe while we were visiting Victoria Falls? Wouldn’t eat that again, but it was fun.
Q:What are you most and least looking forward to about coming home?
A:I am most looking forward to seeing my family because I have missed them lots. I am least looking forward to leaving my teammates. We have lived together all day, every single day for what will be nine months in May and I am not quite sure what I will do without them.
Q:When is a time you know the Spirit gave you power to minister?
A:There have been multiple times when we are out on ministry going door-to-door when I have felt the Spirit nudging me to talk to a certain person or go knock on a certain door and the people inside have been some of the most hungry-for-Jesus people I have ever met. Ministering to people from the other side of the world who I sometimes have hard time relating to directly is only possible through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes things just come out of my mouth that I didn’t even know I knew. Holy Spirit. Dang.
Q:How is worship different around the world?
A:Worship around the world might be my favorite thing. Singing and dancing in African church is so much fun. They love getting loud for Jesus. There is also something strangely powerful about praising the King in a different language. When you simply sit back and listen it kind of blows you away at God’s reach. Here I am in Africa, worshipping God in Zulu or Setswana… dang.
Q:What is the craziest/biggest/weirdest bug you’ve seen?
A:There were giant ants in Botswana that appeared to have taken steroids. They were huge. The size of small people huge.
Q:For Adam Henson – Have you caught all the region specific Pokémon? this is important.
A:Hey Adam Henson! I am not an avid Pokémon collector/catcher. So, I have not caught em all.
Q:What advice would you give a new Racer now knowing what you know?
A:I would tell a new Racer to completely buy in to the Race. It can be easy to go through the motions and just do your time. But there is so much growth that can happen over these nine months. My mantra for the rest of the Race is “I want to grow through it, not just get through it.” Find the ways you can grow. Utilize the advice and discipleship of your leaders. Soak up anything you can from your ministry hosts.
Q:What are three items you didn’t pack that you wish you would have?
A: 1. My Birkenstocks
2. Another pair of jeans. They work for everything. Need nice outfit? Jeans. Need something to do manual labor in? Jeans.
3. A nice camera.
Q:Something you looked at and said “ain’t doin’ it?”
A:Bungee jumping over Victoria Falls. When all your team jumps off a bridge, trust me, you don’t have to.
Q:What do you do on a weekly or daily basis to refill your cup?
A:Every morning I wake up early and have some alone time with God. I listen to worship music, read my bible, and eat breakfast alone. I will also sometimes work out in the morning. This is crucial to my spiritual and mental health as I need to be completely spiritually filled to pour out into others. I also need the space to have some alone time before everyone else gets up for the day. This satisfies my introverted side and lets me have some space to think alone.
Q:In the three stages of a Journey (Abandonment, brokenness, and dependence according to the book Kingdom Journeys) where do you feel you are at?
A:I am currently in the brokenness stage. I have been realizing over the past few weeks that there are aspects of my life that I have chosen to avoid and that have been sitting broken and bleeding for years. It is difficult to face, but it is so rewarding as I enter into the dependence stage and find God in those areas of my life.
Q:What “thing” do you miss most from home?
A:A physical thing I miss most from home is my bed. Not going to lie. It is just nice to have a big, cozy bed with lots of pillows and blankets to bury yourself in and that is just not something that exists on the Race.
Q:Favorite country so far? And why?
A:My favorite country so far has been South Africa. Aspects of this ministry really speak to me and some of my strengths and things I am passionate about and so I am looking forward to spending more time here!
Q:Most surprising thing about the people or places you’ve visited?
A:The most surprising thing about the people and places I’ve visited is the hospitality. I am constantly blown away and just how willing and ready people are to offer up anything they have to complete strangers from America. Just the other day at ministry a man gave a bible to one of my squadmates. They exemplify true hospitality in the midst of some of the most broken situations and that has been seriously humbling to myself and my squad.
Q:Where’s the strangest place you’ve fallen asleep?
A:The floor of a public, night bus in Botswana.
