“How was Greece?” I asked a hand full of my squad mates who just came back from working in Moria (a refugee camp they where approved to go to off of a proposal they submitted). We were at debrief in Azerbaijan and I was scarffing down two whole value meals in this swanky McDonalds. Earlier that night, I got lost going to our evening session and missed dinner. So naturally, a group of us took a trip at 10:30pm to grab a bite. I’ll spare the details of how hangry I was because no one wanted to go, then all of a sudden, 1,000 people wanted to go (buddy rule and community at their finest).
As I shoveled a fist full of the most delicious fries I had ever had in my entire life in my mouth, I looked around to find some quiet stares, shrugged shoulders, and shaking of some heads. “Ask us some specific questions and it will be easier for us to answer,” said Carla, as they all echoed with a “yeah!”
So I did. Let me tell you. What came from it was one of the most beautiful, funny, inspiring, sad, and insightfull conversations I got to share with my fellow racers. It was so beautiful listening to the stories just unfold and the questions began to flow naturally.
After we were all done unpacking Greece, and I ate the last few grains of salt left on my tray, I thought out loud to the group, “Imagine what it’s going to be like when we get home?” “How was the Race? Is the question we are going to hear over and over” We all just nodded and returned home linked arm to arm not letting anyone brake the 8 man chain as we walked down the streets of the Azerbaijan square! Oh the fun that was!
One night in Kazakhstan, on the same topic of going home, I shared the idea for this blog with Hadassah and she so eloquently said “It‘a going to be like their asking “How was the last year of your life? How do we answer that?” Good Right? I know!
So, I stayed up that night till 4am and made an extensive list of fun, serious and intentional questions to help us paint a beautiful picture of what our awesome God did to us, through us, for us and in spite of us. All for His Kingdom!
Please enjoy and remember, maybe It’s not about getting through the list. It’s about listening to what is being said or not said and judging the next question from there. I love y’all and see you soon!
Blessings,
Nashiely Aguilar
HERE WE GO…
What was the most adventurous experience you had while on the Race?
When was the time you felt the most celebrated?
When was the time you felt the most frustrated?
What did your teammate(s) do to make you feel encouraged?
What is one way you grew that you never expected?
Were your expectations all met and why?
What did you think about the most while you where on the Race?
What was your biggest pet peeve?
What was the biggest way you allowed the Holy Spirit to use you?
What local relationship(s) stole your heart the most?
What squad relationship(s) stole your heart the most?
What is one thing you are most proud of yourself for doing?
What was your biggest regret, if any?
What is something the Lord spoke into your life the most?
What did you finally understand that you hadn’t before?
What vision did the Lord most clearly give you?
What was your favorite drink?
Did you eat popcorn?
What local influenced you the most while you were on the Race?
What squad members left you better than they found you?
How did you receive love the best from other teammates while on the Race?
Which local blew you away with their display of love for you?
What was the best physical gift you received and why?
What was the best spiritual gift you received?
What fruit of the spirit did you grow in the most?
What mistake did you make over and over and over?
Did you get sick a lot?
Did you visit the hospital? Why?
What was the worst travel day you had and why?
What was the best place you stayed in and why?
What reminded you of home the most?
What was your favorite dish?
What were you forced to eat or drink and why?
What was your least favorite meal or food?
What encounter did you have or witness that broke your heart the most?
When were you the most misunderstood?
How did you pamper yourself?
What were some of the spiritual journeys the Lord took you on?
What was your favorite and least favorite country?
What culture did you like the most?
What fruit of the spirit do you still need growth in?
What was the latest night you had and why?
What did you lose sleep over?
What was the most comfortable place you slept and why?
What was the most uncomfortable place you slept and why?
What was the most uncomfortable situation you were in and why?
What was the most embracing moment on the race and why?
What was the funniest thing that happened to you?
Who made you laugh the most while on the Race?
Who challenged you the most?
What did you hand over your time to that you wish you wouldn’t have?
What scripture(s) did you memorize?
What scripture meant the most while on the Race and why?
What did your quiet time look like?
What was your most exhausting day?
What was your favorite treat?
Did you get a haircut?
What relationship(s) started differently then how it ended?
What items did you end up dropping or sent home?
What did you bring that you wish you would have left and vise versa?
What friend(s) back home made you feel the most loved?
How did your parent(s) show you love?
What was your favorite team time?
What was the worst team activity ever?
What holiday did you miss the most?
What local holiday did you enjoy the most celebrating?
What was the most amazing view you had?
What was the best sunrise or sunset you experienced?
What experience with creation did you have that forever left a mark in your heart?
What are you ready to get back to as you come home?
Where will you live now?
Did you go see a movie?
What was you favorite swimming experience?
What was you most adventurous experience?
What prayer did you pray that you saw answered immediately?
What miracle did you witness?
What was you favorite blog you wrote?
What prayer did you pray that you most felt the Spirit of God move?
What did pick up off the free table?
What was your favorite picture?
What game did you enjoy playing the most?
What teammate did you connect the most with and why?
What was a missed opportunity?
What are you the most thankful for now that you’ve traveled the world?
What made you the most happy?
What made you the most excited?
What made you the most mad?
When where you the most sad?
What day did you feel the most lavished or loved?
What was one time you had to try one thing over and over and over until it finally worked out?
What meal/food did you cook that impressed you the most?
What was your favorite song to play over and over?
What words in other languages can you say now?
When did you most inspire your teammates?
What did your coches tell you that you will always remember?
When did you feel the most seen?
When did you feel the most ignored?
What was the worst thing you did when you were hungry or mad?
What were some running jokes or phrases that were used a lot on your team(s)?
What was your favorite debrief and why?
What was your worst debrief and why?
What was the best unplanned day you had?
What was the worst thing you had to do?
What country did you find to have the most beautiful women or handsome men?
What country was the most fashionable?
What was the biggest inconvenience you experienced?
What month was the hardest?
What host will you miss the most?
What are you most self-aware of now?
What were some of the most resourceful things you did?
How long did you go without shaving?
How many clothes did you bring?
What was your most worn article of clothing?
What did the Holy Spirit teach you?
What was your favorite/worst form of transport and why?
Rapid ?? Fire:
I hate this food…
I love this desert…
I never thought I would eat…
I cried when…
I was my best self when…
I impressed myself when…
I loved to…
I hated…
I figured out that I’m…
I stole this when…
I hit…
I almost died when…
I got hit accidentally when…
I have a talent for…
My goal this year is…
My favorite sports game I played was…
The word(s) I now say the most is/are…
I got the most hurt when…
The worst time I got lost was…
The craziest dream I had was…
I woke up abruptly when…
My favorite meme was…
The worst toilet I saw was…
The worst toilet I used was…
I learned how to…
I shared this the most…
I used this everyday…
I wouldn’t have made it without…
I was the most shocked when…
I will never forget…
I will forever be grateful for…
Blessing and Love,
Nashiely Aguilar
