My scrambled thoughts! And attempts at putting words to experiences that there may not be sufficient words for. For you! Here! We! Go!
Q— How did college applications/ race applications work??
A— I applied to colleges all throughout my senior year of high school. And got accepted into college before I even applied for the race! Once I applied and got accepted to go on Gap Year, I deferred to the following school year to go on gap right out of high-school!
Q— How did you get the opportunity to do such a amazing but hard thing??
A— YOu’re right! It is amazing & it is hard! Its actually super simple to get plugged into the race! You just go online! And apply!
Q— What was the training experience like????
A— What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger: Kelly Clarkson. Its 10 days long! Hard! Crazy fun! I was super hungry! You have meals all together outside! You eat cultural foods! Some of them are wild! But I wont spoil the surprise for all you future racers out there(;! You sleep in tents and live out of your packs! You get to bond with you team and your squad and your leadership! I found a ridiculous amount of freedom in those 10 days.
Q— Packing advice!! What were you glad you brought? What did you wish you brought? What were things you brought but didn’t need? That kinda deal!
A— At training camp, my squad leader said “leave your missionary clothes at home” and I was boarder-line offended by that haha! I had been on months of missions before! “I know how to dress” I thought. HA! The thing is, this isn’t a mission trip. This is life. PACK CLOTHES YOU ACTUALLY WEAR. Don’t go hard on the Some of my favourite things I didn’t necessarily leave home with, but have acquired on the race have been: overalls! you can pair anything with them & their functional! my slip on vans! so easy to wear and you walk forever in them! I had them at home and they were my go-to! Don’t try to break shoes in on the race! Don’t over do it on packing t-shirts! You will not want to bum it everyday. I promise. DON’T BRING MAKEUP unless you really really wear it normally. I have only worm mascara in the past 9 months and for all my “dressy” occasions it was plenty. BUT, I mascara and BB cream is my fancy at home if that gives you any indication of who I am. I also haven’t had a towel for 8 months and I just use a t-shirt or this sarong I picked up in Cambodia. But if you’re gonna bring one! Don’t get a REI quick dry towel because they smell RANK and aren’t that much smaller to pack than a thin Walmart towel. These are all very random but! I hope it answered some of your question hahaha!
Q— What has He opened your eyes up to that you wouldn’t have ever been able to see w/o this trip??
A— I think one of the biggest things has been seeing what the church is across the globe. And Him redefining what the church is for me. Had I not been so totally removed from the western church, I would have never been able to fully comprehend the extraordinary and beautiful thing the church is in it’s fullness without stepping away from westernised experience. There is nothing wrong with the way western churches operate. I love and highly value my home church. The truth is, WE REALLY ARE THE CHURCH. Alive & moving! A group of believers. Gathering together. On a tarp under lights strung in the trees in a small village in Thailand. In a concrete room in Colombia to hear the hope that is Jesus. That is the church.
Q— At what time in the race did you start missing home?
A— It has been sporadic. The first time I missed home was month one when I was super sick in the hospital. I mainly missed the comforts of home. Not having to climb my insanely fatigued body up four flights of stairs to get food. Or crawl up and down from my top bunk every-time I had to barf or go to the bathroom.
Q— In what area would you say you see the most personal growth?
A— In my ability to discern and be led by the Lords voice. Before the race I couldn’t naturally detect which voice was his amongst all the others. Being removed from the “world” and all the distractions that comes with that, it allowed me to enter into a space where I could learn what His voice sounded like amongst the others in my mind. Until it has become natural to hear His voice above all the rest.
Q— What surprised you the most?
A— How the language barrier I was honestly a little worried about really doesn’t stop heart connections. I have made some of the most authentic friendships in Cambodia. Found a goofy little brother in Thailand. Found a sweet Albanian Mama. And all of these connections happened through different languages. Or broken attempts at middle ground. Truth be told, my Thai never got very good hahaha. You don’t really need to say things with your words that a bear hug cant communicate just as well. That and I also have gotten wildly good at charades.
Q— What troubled you most during the race?
A— How the prostitution industry and sex slavery are not only still very real. But flourishing. Doesn’t that statement just gut you. Shatters my heart into a million trillion pieces.
In Asia, I mainly encountered this in Cambodia, there are these places called KTV’s. There’s a road we biked down daily that had three within half a mile. Essentially, KTV’s are “businesses” that people (mainly men) can go to and do karaoke. (Karaoke is all the rage in southeast Asia). But here’s the catch. These Karaoke joints are simultaneously bars and brothels. Women are dancers. Women are submissive. Women are objects. Women are no more than a body to have for a night within those walls. Its degrading. Its demoralising. Its heartbreaking. Its so many of their realities. Annie and I would leave early for ministry and ride our bikes over to this massive KTV. And intercede boldly over these places. Praying these massive God-sized dreams for the building and all who enter. That these women would have a respectable way to earn money for their family. That they’d know their worth. That they’d encounter a God who says “I still think you’re the most beautiful thing in the world”. And that the men who spend their money and nights at these places would be shaken by conviction. And that they would find no satisfaction here. That they would view the women as women. As people. I could go on for hours about this injustice. It’s wrong. And it’s all too real. Im still holding on tight to the promise that Our God is a so much bigger than prostitution, sex slavery, and shame.
Q— What one new thing should be done to help racers prior to the race?
A— Implementing some sort of time prior to the race where we have in depth bible education. Im envisioning something like a speedy seminary. Most of us are fresh out go high school and are going simply because we feel the Lord say go. Not because we are deeply established in our theology understanding or in ways to share the gospel. Just like a crash course to a learn super crucial things along those lines.
Q— What is it you thank God most for from your experience?
A— The wild growth inDepth and dependency in my relationship with Him. Something I will never lose. But get sweets every single day.
Q— Which ministry opportunity did you enjoy most?
A— Our second month on the race we lived in Quito, Ecuador and worked at this place called Camp Hope. Its a day camp style facility that works with special needs friends anywhere from 8 months old to early 30’s. This was so out of my element. I feared what I didn’t know. And I didn’t know people with severe disabilities. On our orientation day, I looked over at Moriah and said “This is overwhelming. Im gonna come home and cry everyday”. Turns out I was right. It was overwhelming. I had never experienced such raw joy and sweet sweeeeet hugs in such an overwhelming amount before Camp Hope. And I did cry a lot of days. A lot of times still in shock that Jesus wrecked my heart like He did. Like only He could. I ended up in the class with the most severe disabilities, not by coincidence. Barely being able to comprehend how deep of a love I felt for these people. And a lot of times out of pure astonishment that these new friends of mine loved me so well. While they were completely non-verbal. In their giggles. In snack time when Mariuxi didn’t spit her food back out on me and get that mischievous twinkle in her eye. Oh who am I kidding?!?! It was so funny when she did that. I have such special heart for friends who are special needs now. And my heart for them grows everyday. I miss my people from camp hope something fierce. But I just said a see you later. Not a goodbye. I pray everyday Papa brings me back.
Q— Was it anything like you expected + how did you decide “this is it, I’m going”?!
A— It wasn’t anything like I was expecting. It was better. And way harder. And much more real. This isn’t a mission trip. This is 9 months of life. I didn’t fully realise that until I was here. Living it. It surpassed every expectation I had. In all the ways. Being on the worldrace comes with tons of new lingo. HA. And one of the things we say is “Send it”. That can apply to sending it on buying the family size bag of chips for yourself. OR sending it on just going on the worldrace regardless if your mom isn’t totally bought in or your dentist tells you a smart girl would go to college first and fiddle with a mission trip after. If the Lord is telling you to go! GO! Send it! The best place to be is in the center of His will.
Q— Other than being apart from family and friends, what was the hardest part of the race?
A— Community! Its hard. Its messy. Its lonely and overwhelming all at once. Having to hide in the bathroom to find alone time. Living on top of 6 other people for the majority of a year comes with its difficulties. But it has also created deep heart ties with friends that will be my family for the rest of forever.
Q— How did you know God was calling you to the race?
A— Plain and simple. You’ll know it in your bones and doors will open. Papa will pave a way.
Q- Any book recommendations for someone headed onto the field?
A- Jesus among other Gods. Ravi Jerharias && Kisses from Katie. Katie Davis.
Q— Favourite place on the race?
A— THE LITTLE FARM IN CHAING RAI THAILAND. check it out on facebook or instagram! or my instagram! IT WAS THE MOST NATURAL && WONDERFUL LIFE I HAVE LIVED.
Q— How often do you shower?
A— HA! Wonderful question. That all depends on where you live! In Colombia we had cold outdoor showers and started almost everyday with one. But in Month two of Thailand our shower was a 10 minute walk down the road to the nearest river. Which was cold and also has a ginormous python calling it home. Showering didn’t feel like that big of a priority so it only happened like twice a week.
I know I might not have answered everything your curious about! But I hope you walk away with a better picture of what this life is! And what my journey has been like!
Thanks for being apart of this.
