You asked and I answered! A blog dedicated entirely to questions asked by those of you who have supported me, loved me and followed me through this journey:
Q: What is your favorite adventure you’ve been on?
A: I’ve had more adventures in these past 5 months then my entire life but horseback riding through the mountains of Lesotho takes the cake. Scaling a mountain on the back of a horse is quite adrenaline-provoking!
Q: How does an introvert recharge on a trip like this?
A: Interestingly enough, the Race has shifted the way I receive energy and recharge – yes, I’ve joined the extrovert club! That being said, finding time for myself is now more difficult than I expected because it goes against what I desire.
Intentionality and discipline are KEY – recharging the way you need to is impossible without these two factors. Being disciplined in stepping away from the group to play guitar, pray or read a book has been something I’ve had to build up in myself. Feeding into my FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) has often come at the price of sacrificing my spiritual well being and over the past five months, I’ve had to learn how to not let my FOMO win and take time to fill myself up.
Q: What is the best thing you have eaten and what is the weirdest?
I came on the Race not liking any fruit – not even an apple or banana. But the Race has brought me to LOVE FRUITS! I love them and regret the 24 years I went not trying an apple or peeling a banana. Recently, I’ve been on a mango kick and didn’t know a fruit could bring so much joy into somebody’s life.
The weirdest food will come once we hit Asia but so far the weirdest thing I’ve eaten is a pelibuey (spelling unclear) which is a goat/sheep hybrid.
Q: What is the greatest lesson God has taught you?
The true meaning and weight of the word SURRENDER – what it means to actively surrender my life to Him and how to surrender every day, every moment to Him. Surrender, giving God every ounce of my being, despite how ugly I think it is, is why He’s brought me on the Race in the first place; so to see Him actively show me what surrender actually looks like in my life has been transformative.
Q: How have you seen God already at work in the communities you’ve worked in (prior to your arrival?)
It’s been so sweet to arrive in each new community seeing God already hard at work; knowing we aren’t coming to be their saviors is humbling. Sure we provide lift, plant seeds, and show God’s love but ultimately He’s been moving mountains long before our arrival.
Our work with YWAM Panama opened our eyes to the Ngobe tribe, the poorest indigenous group in Panama. They live in cardboard houses, house multiple families per house, die young due to lack of health care and substantial food supply and live in spiritual darkness – women aren’t even allowed to smile. But God worked unbelievable miracles to give YWAM the resources and passion to share the Word of Jesus with these people and simply provide them hope they can’t find anywhere else. They’re able to provide this population with medical care, prayer and Bibles in their language – it was unbelievable to witness the incredible impact that one person’s heart can have on an entire population.
Q: What is the grossest thing that’s happened to you?
At the end of the school day in Swaziland as we were putting the tables and chairs away, the teacher nudges me and points to the corner under the bookshelf. Expecting a piece of paper or kid’s sweatshirt to pick up, I was horrified to find A DEAD RAT. This wasn’t just any dead rat – it was a massive rat lying lifeless next to it’s intestines. YEP. Its empty body cavity was sitting next to its bloody organs (apologies for the gore) as my teammate Anna and I spent the next ten minutes disposing of the rat via broom and a piece of paper between gags and laughter.
Q: If you could pick one country to go back to which would it be and why?
A: Lesotho. The people, views and culture were breathtakingly beautiful and a month wasn’t enough time to take it all in.
Q: What’s the longest you’ve gone without showering?
A: I shower frequently (even if it’s via bucket) – I think my longest stretch is four days.
Q: What do you miss the most from the States?
A: Iced coffee and rice pilaf
As we head into our sixth month, I have 3 beautiful teammates who need to be fully funded in order to stay on the field
So I ask you to check out their blogs and prayerfully consider donating to them – each of them have walked alongside me in beautiful, unique ways and I can’t imagine doing this Race without them. Reach out to me or them if you have any questions or want to hear a bit more about their journeys! Thank you!
https://sheagreaves.theworldrace.org/
