The Results Are In!
Thank you everyone who has written and submitted questions about my World Race journey! Here are the questions asked and my responses to each!
Kimberly Bell asked: “How often, on average, do you poop your pants while on the world race?”
Unfortunately, sometimes on the World Race, dirty water is unavoidable and your tummy will pay the consequences of it. Other unavoidable events such as long bus rides where the bus driver does not speak English and will not pull over for the toilet makes this probability even more possible. I would say on average, a world racer will poop their pants about 1.5 times on the race.
Beth Shumaker asked “Is there anything you wish you brought with you that you didn’t realize you would want/need so much until you couldn’t have it? Is there anything you would tell the next world racers not to leave out of their packs?”
Coming into the World Race, I read a lot of packing blogs and formulated my list from that. I have found that I’ve been pretty happy with the things that I brought, but more than that, my “stuff” has become so unimportant to me on this trip and it seems almost silly that I gave it so much thought before the trip. I haven’t needed my tent as much as I thought I would, (we have only had one tent month so far in India) and I could have packed less clothes, having to do laundry by hand has changed my heart about outfits. 🙂 The two things I feel are really beneficial to a world racer to bring are those Crystal Light flavor packets for the water that tastes like dirty cheese and an iphone. There are so many apps that help you stay connected with home, find directions in crazy foreign market streets, and text internationally for free.
The children’s church at Beaverdam Baptist asked “What are the most exciting foods that you have eaten?” and “How long are the bus rides that you take and do you have potty breaks?”
The most exciting foods that I have eaten probably came from India. We ate a lot of buffalo meat and milk that month because cow worship is still pretty common there, and buffalo meat is their beef alternative. This month in Cambodia, we’ve learned that fried tarantulas and crickets are a common snack, however, I won’t be able to tell you if it is delicious or not. 🙂
As far as bus rides are concerned, they are one of the most consistent features of the World Race. Because we travel with all 45 members of our team from one country to the next, sometimes bussing is the most cost effective travel option. We have bussed from many countries to the next so far, but our longest bus ride to date was from Chiang Mai, Thailand to Phnom Pehn, Cambodia which was 36 hours total. Sleeping on the bus is tricky, but it has become my habit to lay down in the aisle of the bus and sleep on the floor for a couple hours. Potty breaks are normally possible due to a toilet on the bus, but on the 36 hour bus ride, we did not have one, and well.. things got tricky. 😉
Amy Stewart (my momma) asked “If you could pick any of the countries you’ve been to, which one would you like to live in permanently?”
Hands down, my favorite country has been India so far. I loved everything about the culture, the people, and the atmosphere of that place. I fell deep in love with the ministry and have a passion for returning someday. God gave me a vision for a ministry there and I pray that He will open doors for me to go back another time.
Andrew Ingrassa asked “What has been the most challenging part thus far?”
The most challenging part of the World Race for me so far has been falling in love with people from one country and then leaving three weeks later for another. The struggle of continually opening up my heart, giving it away, breaking it, and then beginning again in the next month has been draining and exhausting. It has taught me so much about being filled with Christ’s love though, and not leaning at all on my own strength. At the end of the month when I feel like there is no way that I have any love left inside of me, I have learned to rely on His love to fill me, so I can give it away once again.
Jillian Kain (my sister) asked “Do you crave any American food? Do you ever have dessert? Have you found that you packed the right clothes?”
The topic of food has comes up quite often on the World Race and I guarantee every racer already has their “first meal back in America” planned in their mind. For me, I miss real salads, mom’s spaghetti, and the vanilla coffee creamer we always have in our fridge at home. Most countries that we have been in have dessert, except maybe India, where bananas are dessert. This month in Cambodia, dessert is everywhere and the gelato is my favorite!
I think I packed the right clothes, if I could pack again, I would probably pack more sports clothes, because so far most of our ministries include a lot of hiking, walking, and biking around to villages. I have also been able to give away a bunch of clothes to different people and collect cool international stuff along the way though.
Sharon Grady asked “How do you think you may have changed, having been to the countries you’ve seen so far, and after some of the things you have witnessed?”
I love this question! I do feel so completely different even just being six months into this trip. I feel that each country has been a season of specific and distinct growth in my heart. In South Africa I learned about suffering, Swaziland I learned about patience, India I learned about love and acceptance, Nepal I learned about faith, Thailand I learned about community, and this month in Cambodia I am learning about grace. I feel that the most evident way that I have changed though is in my faith and obedience to God. I am still learning what it means to follow Christ full heartedly and daily surrender my attitude of entitlement, and I am so excited to see more of the lesson’s He has for me.
Alys Seay asked “What is the most unexpected part of the race you’ve experienced?”
I think the most unexpected part of the race for me has been the way I have coped with change and uncertainty. Remembering back to January at our launch, I was so nervous for the constant change, unsettled plans, and not being able to plan for anything that came my way. The race has forced me to go with the flow, be more flexible and handle disappointment and change better. Nothing is ever certain, not even the list of countries that we left America with, but I have learned that the beauty in the journey is the surprise blessings that come along the way.
Hannah Rice asked “What is the coolest animal you have seen on the World Race?”
Almost every country has some pretty cool animals. Monkeys are like squirrels in each country, they are in the tree’s and nobody is very interested in them here except Americans. 🙂 I think the coolest animal I have experienced on the race is an an animal I didn’t know about until I came to South Africa. They are called Rock Hyrax’s and they are like small little badgers that live in the rocks of big mountains. Surprisingly, they are really friendly and I fed a couple of them banana’s when my team and I climbed Cape Point in South Africa.
Here you go, you asked and I answered! Thank you for your support and reading my blog this year!
Abby 🙂
