Profile
My name is Kristen. I am 24 and am from Lubbock Texas. I joined the World Race in February of 2019. I signed up for 11 in 11 international but ended up on World Race America. My job for the squad: logistics. This means that I and my logistics partner schedule travel days, book places to stay the night, make sure everyone gets on the plane/bus/van, and a bunch of other stuff.
All the information to follow is some of the experiences that I have had over the year 2020
Palacaguina, Nicaragua — January 2020
- We were in a little village in the northern part of Nicaragua. Here is where I became a construction worker. We would wake up and start work early in the morning. We were helping to build the foundation for a new school and church. It was too hot to work after 12, so from then on we would spend time with the LORD and getting to know each other. We each would take turns in the kitchen. We learned to cook Nicaraguan food from our host. We had a Sabbath day where we went adventuring to a nearby canyon and I got to jump off a cliff; we also walked across the Honduras boarder. My team and I also acquired parasites.
San Josa, Costa rica and Jaco, Costa Rica — February 2020
- This was where we had our first and last international debrief. First time with the full squad and we stayed at an AIM base in San Jose. This base is used to having around 30ish gap year racers. There was 12 of us. We did around 9 different ministries. it was exhausting. It was a beautiful city though and we got to explore it.
- In Jaco we painted light posts all around town, one of my favorite ministries. It is a little beach town. It was hot; I have never sweated so much in my entire life. I am not exaggerating, I lost weight just from existing. We also got to work a women’s conference called “The If Gathering”. Our mini debrief was ruff. Bright side is we were right on the beach; not so bright side is the entire hotel smelt like drugs and alcohol.
Lima, Peru — A week in March 2020
- We were rerouted here from Chile due to political unrest. We were pretty excited about it. We were there for about a week and then covid. We were evacuated out of Peru at 5 in the morning. It is probably the most traumatic experience of my entire life of 24 years. The most depressing thing I have ever read in my life was an email the said ‘You’re race is over”. We weren’t even 3 months into an 11 month mission trip.
Lubbock, TX — March-June 2020
- I did not want to be home. I was not a happy camper. How can being pulled off the field saying goodbye to my friends and being told that my race was over be good? Spoiler, it was. I traveled back and forth between my parent’s house and my sister’s house, I spent quality time with my family. I was able to see my brother graduate and hang out with my friends from back home. I spent time with the LORD and went of worship drives. I learned about faith and hope.
Colorado — July 2020
- First stop on World Race America! We were at our coaches house for the entire month. We worked on a farm. We tore down fences and built/repaired fences. We built a laser tag arena and set up a festival for watermelon. I got to walk a llama, which was fun. This was also the first quarantine of the Race. It was a scare only, non of us got covid. Praise God! But we were still quarantined for 2 weeks.
Utah — August 2020
- Here we stayed with racers who had also been pulled off the field. This is a very impactful state for me. This is where ATL really clicked for me. ATL (ask the Lord) was my least favorite ministry. Basically we go into the city/community and ask God what he wants us to do. It made no sense to me until we went out one day and the LORD just opened my eyes to the point of it all: obedience. I was also baptized here, in Eden, Utah on the 15th. (wrote a blog about it)
Oregon — August 2020
- I loved Oregon, mostly because of our hosts! We attacked blackberry bushes, love the fruit but the bush is evil, and we went to Portland and Salem to ATL. This place has beautiful memories attached to it
Idaho — Travel Day
- Got my first tattoo in Boise.
Washington — September 2020
- The Awakening. Our first domestic debrief and the Awakening were back to back. It was a time of growing and fellowship. I was also little crazy. We camped at a KOA which was a super nice campsite.
Northern California — September 2020
- Northern California was an interesting time for me. This state has a lot a spiritual warfare going on. For ministry we did prayer walks and stood on street corners praying for people.
Southern California — September 2020
- Again, spiritual warfare. Ministry here involved a lot of prayer as well.
Nevada — Travel day
- Went to Las Vegas
Arizona —travel day
- Grand Canyon attempt
utah — travel day
- Zion National Park
Wyoming — travel day
- Yellowstone National Park
Montana —travel day
- Also, Yellowstone National Park
Colorado — October
- I love Colorado. We got to work with the Denver Dream Center. It was an amazing experience. I was able to do ministry and share stories with people from all walk of life here. Also, I just love the Dream Center vision.
Texas — October-November 2020
- Quarantine part 2. We got covid this time. This has been an experience. Learning how to do ministry while being exiled to a house in a little town in the desert wasn’t on my to do list. God always has a plan though and I’m sure I will write a blog all about what I’ve learned.
Education
- 10 days of training camp
Skills
- Ability to be flexible, not having expectations, patient, basic communication, understanding, eagerness for new things, humility, adaptability
References
- My squad mates
