All your questions answered!! :))
How did you have the courage to just say yes and go after doing the World Race Gap Year?
The night I stumbled across the World Race website I knewI was called to do it.
I applied and didn’t really look back.
I know everyone didn’t experience it how I did,
so if you’re questioning whether or not say yes and sign up:
Say yes and sign up.
What was your biggest struggle with expectations vs. reality for the race?
I was under the impression we’d be doing more manual labor/human trafficking/non-teaching ministry.
To be honest, we’ve recently been teaching a lot of English.
I know it’s an avenue to building relationships, God works wherever we are at, and teaching is sometimes the only available ministry, but I would love a change of pace and get to try out other ministries.
What do you wish you had/hadn’t packed (I got tons of packing questions)
My hammock was super useful in Guatemala, but if you’re considering bringing one: Don’t. I mailed mine home in L.A.
Left home: My tent (this is super route-specific; you’ll probably need one)
Wish I brought: My black high top converse
General packing advice: Pack less. Just do it.
You will find cool clothes in every country you visit and you can buy most necessities overseas.
When travel day comes, you will wish your pack wasn’t 51 pounds.
(Not that anyone is keeping score, but my big pack is 30 pounds right now)
Also, there’s no Reese’s ANYWHERE. If they are your favorite candy as well, bring some.
What’s been your biggest surprise?
I thought I would experience greater culture-shock in foreign countries, and I haven’t felt it at all.
To be honest, I experienced the most culture-shock during our 24-hour layover in L.A.
Most embarrassing moment?
Using the squatty potty incorrectly for two weeks in Thailand.
I’ll leave this up to interpretation.
How has your view of Jesus changed since the beginning of the race?
Long story short:
Life with Christ is this wild, difficult, joy-filled adventure. It’s never boring.
And there is always more. Always more to learn, to grow in, to celebrate.
In what ways do you see yourself becoming more like Christ?
In selflessness, grace, gentleness, and gratitude.
It is a constant battle of refinement, dying to fleshly desires, and letting the spirit lead, but it is one of the most worth-it struggles. Character is built in the fire.
Has there been a verse or a passage that has been particularly meaningful to you?
“So you’ll go out in joy,
you’ll be led into a whole and complete life.
The mountains and hills will lead the parade,
bursting with song.
All the trees of the forest will join the procession,
exuberant with applause.
No more thistles, but giant sequoias,
no more thornbushes, but stately pines –
Monuments to me, to God,
living and lasting evidence of God.”
– Isaiah 55:12-13
I love the Message version of this passage because it uses the word “sequoias”.
They have been a huge theme for me on the race.
Where do you think you’ve grown the most?
Choosing, even seeking, discomfort. It sucks, it hurts, but it’s where the growth happens.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned?
I’ve learned more things than I can count, but a big one is :
How to love and live with my team of 7. We all have extremely different personalities, so we have to work super hard to choose into love and friendship.
Best ministry moment?
Hosting all our friends from our Guatemala ministry village to dinner at the base.
Songs, prayer, tears, laughter, no-bake cookies, all the best things.
Hands down one of my favorite nights on the race.
Best team moment?
-Dressing up/impersonating our squad/team leaders for Halloween
-Emma falling through the roof of our house in Thailand
-Visiting Lauren’s friend Katie who lives in Chiang Mai. We got to sit on a *couch*, ate Greek Salad, and it felt like home
Best adventure/excursion?
-Going to the ocean for my birthday in September
-Climbing/overnight on Volcano Acatenango in Guatemala
Worst part of living with 50 other people?
wanting to be alone but you can’t really ever be all-the-way alone (buddy rule)
Best part of living with 50 other people?
Oof. List is endless.
Community living is such a sacred, challenging, beautiful gift.
Anyone will tell you community is the best part of the race because it’s true.
Thankful for my 50 brothers and sisters is an understatement.
Most bizarre thing you’ve eaten so far?
Cow tongue in Thailand
What is your daily ministry/life like in Myanmar?
Lucky for you, I wrote a blog on it with all the details:
https://marygracecurran.theworldrace.org/post/24-hours-on-a-bus
What are your current post-race plans?
College!
(For now lol)
Are you more excited or nervous to come home?
As time goes on, I simultaneously become more excited to go home and less excited to go home.
When the time comes I’ll certainly be ready for the comfort of my house and seeing my family/friends.
At the same time, I’ll probably experience a lot of culture shock reentering America.
Do you think the race has changed how you think about things?
Absolutely. All the new perspective. It’s changed/solidified my whole life’s purpose.
What do you miss the most about America?
My family, healthy food options, driving, lamps, and couches.
What is it really like to do the World Race? Is it worth it?
Short answer: yes, it’s worth it
Long Answer:
The “race” feels like normal life so much more than I anticipated. Social media is a huge lie, and you won’t magically turn into a perfect/artsy/quirky missionary when you arrive in your first country.
You will struggle. You will gain weight (because rice/tortillas), you will get annoyed at your team, you will be bored at ministry, and you will just want to eat a freaking salad.
You will also experience the greatest joy you’ve ever felt. The Lord will show up in BIG and faithful ways. You will be moved to tears at the words of a woman in a village. You will ask yourself, “is this seriously my life?” over and over again. You will be wrecked, broken down, and built back up even stronger.
Something that distinguishes racers is we have learned to celebrate the little moments and find joy in the mundane; so even though the “race” is actually just normal life in another country, we are choosing joy where our feet are at. Anyone can do it wherever they are, whether it be Myanmar or America.
I’m only 4 1/2 months in, it’s nothing like I expected, but it’s one of the most worth-it things I’ve ever done.
And we haven’t even gotten to Swazi.
(I’m STOKED for Swazi; don’t even get me started)
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If you’d like further insight on any of the questions or have any new questions, please reach out to me and I’d love to talk with you!
Thank you for reading !
All glory to God
MG
