Q: Best A.K.A. Worst odds you lost on the race?
A: HA. For those of you who don’t know what the game “what are the odds” is- it’s basically like a game of dare. The worst one that I lost that I followed through with was probably swimming in a gutter puddle fully clothed in public. Wasn’t my finest hour. The worst odds that I lost but have yet to follow through with is getting beaded bangs. We’ll see about that one…
Q: How has the race changed your perspective?
A: This is a tricky one, it’s changed my perspective in more ways than I can put words to, so I’ll just give one example. One major way that the race has changed my perspective is how I view people. I’ve met drug lords and I’ve sat with drunk men and I’ve talked to people who have committed unspeakable acts. I’ve heard the testimony of a previous Satanist who now serves God and I’ve played with children that visit witch doctors. I’ve been in conversations with people of all different walks of life and though all of that, the theme that keeps coming up is that God is not intimidated by your circumstance and NOTHING is impossible for him. If you’re doubting God’s ability to do something, I know a few stories that might change your mind. Before the race, if I’m being honest, I was pretty sheltered and judgmental. But I’ve come to realize that I’m not any better or any worse than those people. I need Jesus JUST as much as they do. I’m really thankful for the people I’ve met along the way and I’ve learned more from them than I ever thought possible.
Q: What have you learned about the world outside the U.S. that you didn’t know before?
A: Oh man, SO many things. I will only list a few though. I had a very narrow scope of the world before I went on the race. I’ve experienced some beautiful cultures and learned some of the strange and frankly, untrue superstitions people believe. For example, in the Dominican Republic, the people think that if it’s hot and then the rain gets them wet, they’ll die- which is not true and kind of funny for a place that gets a lot of rain. On a more serious note, my knowledge and understanding and heartbreak about sex tourism and slavery has grown. Before the race, I knew slavery and sex trafficking still existed in the world, but my eyes have been opened to it since I’ve been on the race. I’ve stood face to sex tourism and It’s heartbreaking and it’s everywhere. I might write a blog about this later on, but if you want to talk about it more, please reach out.
Q: What’s been your favorite food abroad and what food have you missed the most?
A: Hmm. Overall, I enjoyed the food in Dominican Republic the most, but my favorite food abroad so far has been fat cakes in Botswana. They’re basically fried dough and we would put cinnamon sugar on them. The food that I’ve missed the most is probably sushi. I’ve had it once on the race when we went to an outdoor mall one day. I miss spicy food a lot. We haven’t had much of anything spicy at all.
Q: In what way has the race fulfilled your expectations and in what ways has it been completely different than what you expected?
A: This is a very broad question so I’m only giving one answer for each question. (But if you want to know more, feel free to text or email me). When I signed up for the Worldrace, I definitely thought it was going to be constant adventure 24/7. I don’t remember what was in my head, but it was probably climbing mountains or eating monkey or something wild like that. I don’t want to ruin your expectations if that’s what it is for you, but it’s not quite like that. Most days are pretty close to life at home- especially here in South Africa. I did expect to grow spiritually and I definitely have seen growth since the race started.
Q: How do you leave for so long and adapt to a whole new life and love all new people?
A: Well, the first few months of the race are constant change. New people, new places, new sights, new foods, new experiences- everything is new. There are days that are really fun and days that are difficult, just like at home. But when God calls you to something, He is not going to leave you without the tools and passions to do it. I knew God called me to do the Worldrace, and when I chose to go, I knew I would have to make sacrifices- I.e. MY family, MY people, MY diet, MY nice clothes, MY agenda, MY exercise routines, MY unlimited access to wifi and social media, the list goes on. Honestly, it’s not easy giving those things up. I mean, even the people you’re with aren’t the people you necessarily choose. I had to work through abandonment BIG TIME. But I’ve come to realize that I don’t need those things to feel fulfilled or satisfied. Of course, there are days where I miss my family and friends. Trust me. Sometimes I miss certain foods and things that I like to do. But the thing is, I’m fixing my eyes on what is eternal, not what is temporary. And when I align my life to the plans that God has, there is a far greater reward. So yeah, there’s a lot of sacrifices and change, but those are two vital aspects of life, so I think coming on the race has helped me adapt easier to both of those things.
Q: What’s one thing you would tell to someone who is about to go on the Worldrace?
A: The race, like life, is what you make of it. You’re given ample opportunities, ample free time, and ample resources to pursue growth and self-discovery. Make the most of what is given to you.
Q: if you had to do it again, which route would you choose?
A: Any route that goes to India. Im fascinated by their culture now and I want to go there!
Q: Is the food good? Or Manageable?
A: This is a difficult question to answer, because every race is SO different. I haven’t had any trouble with food on the race, but I’m not a picky person. You’ll have access to a lot more “American food” than you would probably expect. Most of our hosts have made us at least one meal a day, but we’ve been able to shop and cook the rest for ourselves.
Q: Did you take your phone and how much contact do you have with your family/friends back home?
A: Yes I took my phone! Everyone has their phone and most people brought their laptop, but I didn’t. I’ve been able to contact my family every month, but some months we had very limited wifi. It all depends on where you stay- not just in the country but at your ministry site. In Haiti, we only got wifi for 10 minutes a week and some weeks we didn’t even get it. But in South Africa we’ve had a lot of access to wifi. So it just depends on a lot of factors. Halfway through the race, I got an international phone plan so I could talk to my family more. I would advise anyone doing the race in the future to figure out the phone plan thing before you leave.
Q: What’s your favorite thing you brought with you?
A: my pillow from home.
Q: What do you miss most about home?
A: My family, Sara White (God bless that lady), my bed, and driving. In that order.
