If you’re here because you asked questions on my instagram: welcome!! If you’re here because you’re subscribed: hey mom! hey mrs. bingham!
Okay, you asked and I answered. Here we go:
Favorite day on the Race?
– I could talk about this all day. I have so many. I think I would say my favorite day was a sabbath in Costa Rica. I sat in the sun, did my laundry, and then read. After lunch some of our friends who lived on base invited me and two others to the beach. We went to the store, bought snacks, swam, and played uno on the beach. tip, seriously, choose into base staff wherever you are. Some of the best people I’ve ever met I met working on base!!
What’s your favorite shirt you wear?
– My zeta man shirt. Its giant and I love it
How many shirts should I bring, how should I choose?!
– POV: you’re me, crying with every shirt I own surrounding me because I’m too stressed. I brought 5 and I chose them by narrowing down my favorites, then doing it again and again until I was down to 5. Don’t convince yourself you need more though!!
Tips on how to fit all toiletries in your bag?
– get the smallest you can get and buy in country!!!
Tips for shaving
– Don’t do it that much. I do it like once every two weeks. I brought my razor from home with a bunch of replacement ones.
How much of the stuff you took on the field is actually coming back with you?
– most of my clothes and that’s about it. I’m dropping a lot of the random stuff: like my fan, makeup, watercolors.
Do you have time in the morning to put on makeup?
– I would say no. I guess it depends where your priorities are. No one on my squad wears makeup more than twice a month. This is a good opportunity to explore with the Lord why and get uncomfortable in things! let’s go growth!!
Can you bring a hydroflask
– Of course!! I have a nalgene but it’s just preference.
Would you do it again?
– yes!! the Race has grown me what feels like years in 9 months. It’s like a pressure cooker. It’s hard, it’s growing, it’s FUN! it’s GOOD! I’ve loved it.
Have you experienced judgement from others? How do you deal with it?
– I live in the South, so it was a lot of passive judgement. “oh you’re really not going to college?” “How are you going to raise all that money?” “Why would you ever choose that”. at first it was hard, but it actually got me more excited. When you say yes to the Lord, it’s not supposed to look normal. As Christians, we should strive for the uncomfortable and sometimes our uncomfortable makes others uncomfortable too! take it as encouragement, that the enemy is trying to stop you big time.
Do people bring their cameras or is that too much?
– no I loved having mine! I used it for ministry like a lot. I became a communications photographer and videographer for my host in Costa. Bring it knowing it could break. Remember to be socially aware when taking photos outside of wherever your base is!
How has what you learned/ experienced affected your relationships with others at home?
– Whoa. It’s hard because I sometimes feel really disconnected honestly. I feel like I’m a completely new person so it’s hard to keep up with others. Scary to go home because Race culture is different than I’ve ever experience in my life. Growth is definitely faster on the race and you have to be really intentional with keeping relationships up. It’s easy to feel like you’re 5 years older and everyone is the same, remember that life goes on for them too! On the pro side, on your race your family and friends kind of go on one too. You can use it as ministry. It’s hard to know what to say to friends sometimes because you’re kinda in your own world. A good question to ask is, “what’s the Lord been teaching you?”
How is communication with your family?
– good!! depends where you are, but I’ve called my mom pretty much every week. we went to a super far removed from a city village for a couple weeks and wasn’t able to talk then. usually there’s a town with WiFi close by. I say it’s not worth it to buy a SIM card. Explore life without a phone!
Do you use your tent on the field?
– when we went to a village, yes. and now I’m the Dominican I use it by choice because our room is really squeezy for me. You could bring a hammock with a hammock rain cover/fly instead though.
Do you suggest bringing a Mac or iPad?
– I brought my Mac and loved it but probably iPad I’d say. Preference!
Something not on the packing list that’s essential
– a tin mug!! thread!! hammock!! wire fairy lights make me feel at home. I wrote a packing list – check out my last blog!
Clothes that you brought that you are glad you did
– a thin pullover sweater to layer
Something you regret bringing
– a dress over a skirt. I brought both and the dress was bulky and not worth it. so many medicines. so much makeup. sentimental things other than photos. extra batteries.
Do you think all the vaccines are helpful? Is there anything you wouldnt get?
– I got Meningitis, yellow fever, and typhoid. Unless you’re going to Southeast Asia, don’t get typhoid. obvi check the CDC website. Even if it’s not required, get yellow fever!!!! if you have any layovers in certain countries they won’t let you in without yellow fever. Better safe than sorry.
Whats the hardest thing about the race?
– Hands down, goodbyes. Saying goodbyes to team leaders, friends in countries, or even people you’ve evangelized to is HARD. also community is equally my favorite and hardest part. There’s no such thing as secrets or alone time, but you’ll get there eventually. Together alone time, earbuds, and communication are the key things. Also, take the difference of theologies as time to learn and seek to understand! Know where you stand, know what’s biblical, and have an open heart and ears to hear.
What does the race prepare you for when you get back home?
– a lot! the race has prepared me to be able to talk to anyone anywhere. also, the biggest thing for me was how to seek the Lord in everything you do. there’s such a difference between like reading your bible in the morning and actually carrying that out and living in the Word and in abiding. And! A lot of clarity about my future! and my passions!
thats about it! my dms are always open and this was fun hehe. theres a week or so left of this whole 9 month thing which is scary!
– Han!!!!
