“What was the most eye opening experience?” Ashley Anderson
When God used me to give a woman a new knee. It was while we were in Mozambique helping run a Crusade in the bush of Africa. This village elder came forward for prayer and I felt a stirring to go and pray for her. As I walked towards her I was moved to pray for her right knee. So, I did. And The Spirit moved in big ways. I felt her get a new knee UNDER MY HAND!! It was instantaneous and so God. It showed me not to limit God to my human understandings of how the world works. He is bigger and more powerful than anything I could fathom.
“What will be the hardest transition when your home?” Maggie Puch
I think there are two parts: “meeting” my family and friends again, and not becoming bitter towards my neighbors who haven’t had the same experiences as me. Relationships can ebb and flow through seasons, and I have had to accept that may happen with certain relationship as I return home. But my hope is that we can share lots of laughs, joy, and stories this holiday season! And in regards to fighting bitterness, I think I will be able to maintain the peace and joy I received this year if I keep my eyes looking where they should be; upwards. As long as I continue to keep my eyes on Him and His plans for me I won’t have time to look around at others’!
“In what situation did you really see God “show up” just when you really needed Him to?” Kate Habegger
The beginning of Thailand (month 9), was a crazy time for my team and I. We had just been placed together a few days before into what seemed to be a very random pairing. We didn’t see the big picture, we didn’t understand, and we complained a lot. On our first “off day” at this location our team leader decided we needed to have some team time, talk about somethings, and give feedback. It all started out normal, but then someone opened up with vulnerability… And that changed everything. After she opened up about her personal struggles, team struggles, and home struggles, then another person did, and then another! It was like a domino effect. The Spirit was thick and moving as we shared our current hurts and prayed so boldly for each other! Fears were broken off, love was shared, and a team saw God’s purpose that night. It was the beginning of the hardest yet best team I had on The Race. God most defiantly showed up and bonded us in a way that the Enemy couldn’t take away over the next three months.
“What was the most difficult or uncomfortable situation you found yourself in?” Spencer Lasley
When I was sick in Nepal was probably the most difficult time for me on The Race. I couldn’t keep food down, and water went right through me. I was achy, freezing, and couldn’t get out of bed. Luckily I had wonderful teammates that brought me food, prayed over me, and took me to the hospital when it got bad. It was no fun at all.
“What is one thing you’ll miss from the race? What is one thing you have missed from home?” Lee Henderson
I will miss the community we formed on the field. We truly became brothers and sister to each other. We loved each other so well during the fun times and the hard times. We were always together… Like 24/7, so we quickly passed surface level conversations and got to real relationships. It was such a growing, supportive season.
This might be lame but, I missed Chipotle….. I really enjoy my bowls to-go! What can I say!? And yes, I have had my “welcome home” chipotle bowl already 🙂
“Favorite new food? Least favorite new food? Weirdest food you ate? Favorite country and why?” Corey Hamersma
Favorite new food: Karums (Latvian treat of cream cheese squares covered in chocolate… yumm!)
Least favorite: Cow stomach baked beans (it is just how it sounds… Eaten at a Mozambique wedding)
Weirdest: Cooked tarantula. Tasted just like barbequed potato chips. Was even crunchy!
Favorite country: This is really hard because I like a lot of them for different reasons, but if I had to pick one I would say South Africa. I loved our ministry, our host, the food we ate, it was a rare month that I had a real bed, and our team spent a lot of time together.
“What was the thing that made you decide to do this? Who played the most in this part of encouraging you along the way?” Aubrey Robinson
I heard about The Race many years ago at a youth night at Destiny church in Burnsville. I had gone along that night with a friend who frequently attended the teen night services. Luckily for me, a member of the church had just returned from her World Race, and had been asked to share some stories and pictures from her trip. As I listened I got so excited at the idea of traveling and helping others’ (I’ve always liked those!). I went home and researched it, but I was too young (only 19 at the time, have to be 21), so I saved the page and put it out of my mind. Over the years it would return back into my mind through others’. The one the sparked me to pursue the possibility of going was a classmate at the University of St. Thomas who happened to sit by me in our Positive Psychology course. Throughout the semester I would hear about and watch her journey. It encouraged me so much to see someone go through the process from applying all the way to preparing to leave. On Christmas Eve while spending time in Chicago I applied! My family and friends were extremely supportive from day one!
“What was the biggest lesson you learned about God? About people in general?” Kate Habegger
To not put Him in a box… I will never underestimate Him, I should never limit Him, and I will never confine Him!
And with people in general, that everyone is a broken hurting person, even the “healthiest” of Christians. There needs to be grace given to every person. Even me.
