Worst food – It’s called fufu, and it’s all over Africa. Take the starchiest vegetable imaginable to man and pound it into something like half dried play dough and then dip it in pure red oil. Now eat a ball the size of a softball…what repeated painful experiences.
I may have eaten a few bugs like fried tarantula in Cambodia and every fishy fish dish you can imagine.
How much more do you appreciate a hot shower?
Actually, when it’s 100+ degrees outside and you’re drenched in sweat 24/7 really don’t desire a hot shower. There’s a lot to be said for a hot shower, but even more to be said for CLEAN water and water PRESSURE.
Who is your favorite person on the squad??? – Mike Sanders
What has affected you the most on the race (i.e., poverty? children? relationships?)
All those things break our hearts in different ways. 2 things have been particularly hard for me to see…
1 Women selling their bodies – sometimes for basic things like
food and clothing. To see women who truly believe that they cannot
rise above their circumstances and rely on selling themselves in order
to live…that’s heartbreaking.
grade 5 or 6 is devastating. It’s mind blowing to see it’s effects –
poor hygiene, poor management of money or resources, even basic
reasoning like “cause and effect” is practically non-existent with out
a basic education. It’s absolutely absurd and heart-breaking to see
the arguments and reasoning of people who haven’t had a good education.
My team! They’re quite possibly one of the funniest, most joyful, and
gifted groups of people I’ve ever been with. They’re my brothers and
sisters who surround me with genuine encouragement and tough love.
We’re absolutely real and transparent with each other. THAT is
something I will truly miss.
Did you ever run into tensions between people on the your teams? How did you handle those struggles while living in such close quarters and trying to do such important work?
Conflicts were actually encouraged by our leadership and spiritual parents – seriously. Tough love and correction (OUT OF LOVE) is how the raised us. It’s iron sharpening iron. Our secret to doing it well? Feedback. It was a regular (almost daily) occurrence where we all sat down together and shared how we were doing/what God was teaching us and we gave encouragement/constructive feedback to each person. THAT is the only way we could live in the awesome community we experienced – being with the same 5 people day and night.
Did you get any cultural education before entering each country and ministry setting? Did you run into any cultural tensions on the race, and how did you find a balance of respect and acceptance of other cultures while not giving up your own?
The 2 or 3 briefings we had were invaluable.
Jesus offends. Let’s make that clear. He offends because he’s opposite of the world. That doesn’t give us the right to minister in a self-righteous manner. It’s all the more reason we should do everything out of LOVE. Cultural tensions arose almost every country. Sometimes it was over money people thought we had, sometimes it was over our way of ministering. Often we were asked to do awkward things like stand in beauty salons in the marker and give testimonies/sermons. The only answer we had was to look to see where/how God was working and join in that.
How did you survive the heartbreak that you saw around you?
Every day. =) Call me!
What were your 3 greatest moments of weakness?
1 Being dog tired the past month and having a difficult contact to work with
2 Learning to love and interact with people who have the spirit of rejection all over them
3 Being a leader and having to rely on God for EVERYTHING
What were your 3 greatest moments of strength?
1 Ghana – speaking in schools and churches multiple times a day, my speaking gift just went crazy that month!
2 Being able to walk in peace in stressful situations of ministry or in our team
3 Being a leader and having to rely on God for absolutely everything! His joy is our strength!
What are you most thankful for from the world race?
I now know who I am in Christ and have found freedom in areas where I’ve had struggles or guilt/shame most of my life. When we pressed into serving Christ and knowing his heart, he transformed us into the people he’s always desired us to be. When we choose him he transforms us.
Do the foreigners really appreciate US visitors?
Cambodians are in awe to find that you traveled ½ around the world to love them. Most of West Africa welcomed our wallets and nothing more. Serbians weren’t so keen on us because of a little issue they had with Clinton. Ukrainians wanted to talk to us just because we’re American.
Do they want to hear about Christianity?
Some want to hear about a god who will bless them if they do the right deeds. Others want to know white missionaries who have money. Everyone wants to hear about an endless and vast love that gives hope in all circumstances and pain. Everyone wants to know an unconditional acceptance. Sadly most don’t know that that is what Christ meant for knowing him to be. Many think it’s following rules and going to church. No one is interested in that.
How did you deal with being away from your boyfriend for 11 months?
Skype is a wonderful wonderful thing…if you have internet. Otherwise a lot of prayer and clinging by a string to God’s faithfulness – which never fails!
What things (food and amenities) did you miss most while being out of the country?
In no particular order…
Couches, fluffy towels, genuine Italian pasta, a shower that doesn’t come out of a bucket or a garden hose, the ease of getting anywhere in a respectable amount of time…(3rd world buses and traffic are HORRIFICLY slow. Walking might have been a better option, no joke.)
Would you do it again?
I may have wondered how to work out a 2nd trip, but I figured my very patient family boyfriend wouldn’t be so patient anymore.
What countries did you like the most/least?
Cambodia – the fav – hospitality that blew my mind, a true hunger for and hope in Christ like I’ve never experienced, don’t be surprised if you hear about true revival happening there in the near future
Ghana – least favorite – too much stifling religion, too much of a power struggle between pastors, too much fascination with money
Are there any foods/habits/personal preferences etc. that you have you decided to give up, do without or adopt when you return?
1 Never drinking instant coffee again
2 Praying out loud because our words shift the atmosphere
3 Being transparent and real 24/7
4 Operating in spiritual gifts 24/7 and not just in a ministry setting
5 Bringing more encouragement but also bringing more feedback (constructive feedback) to people around me
6 Looking at a situation thru God’s perspective and seeking his plan instead of wanting to fix it my own way
Did Christina get enough funds to stay with your team?
YES! In fact, NO world racer has EVER been sent home because of lack of funds. God has provided $15,000 for every one of the 1,000 racers to date.
Are you anxious to get home?
Are you kidding?!
1 Family, friends, church, and the boyfriend
2 Real towels
3 Couches (much of the world doesn’t believe in seating or comfortable seating)
4 Clean bathrooms
5 SNOW! (and anything else that is slightly cold)
How did you handle only being there at each place for a short time and having a small influence?
Sowing and reaping – We learned a lot about being willing to sow what we won’t reap.
Partnering with a long term vision – Everywhere we went we worked with contacts who had a long term vision and ministry for that country or area. We partnered with that in a way that 1) the people we ministered to weren’t dependent on us and 2) we would only leave positive, long lasting effects.
If there is one thing that you could change about your trip in the aspect of what you could have done differently to the places you were at, what would it have been? How could you have made a difference in other ways if you had your choice?
Woah, good question!
At times I wish we had spoken up more about when we disagreed with our contact or a situation in a ministry site. There’s a very fine line of honoring the contact and bringing truth out of love. We tended to lean toward honoring the contact. There are times when the right thing to do was honor them, even when you disagreed with them. However, sometimes the need to bring truth (out of love) to a situation is also honoring and necessary. I wish at times we hadn’t been so timid about it.
What exactly is in your pack?
Generally, at any given time, this is what you’d find in my pack…
Sleeping bag, silk sleeping bag liner, sleeping mat, tent
Rain jacket, Milty moose
An entire pharmacy in a ziplock bag
2 pairs of pants, 3 pairs of capris, 2 dresses, 1 skirt
3 tank tops, 2 long sleeve shirts, 1 jacket, 6 tshirts
very basic toiletries
sneakers, flip flops, sandals
3-4 books
laptop, hard drive, journal, bible, markers/sketch book
And a huge bag of jewelry from all over the world – maybe my favorite item…
How do you expect the transition back home to be?
I anticipate a breakdown in a large supermarket and sheer ecstasy
hiking in the mountains. I expect friction as I attempt to live as a
new version of me in familiar surroundings. I also anticipate a shout
of joy once I realize a balanced diet is once again possible when
you’re eating on more than $3 a day. And I plan to cry once I realize
my team is displaced across 1000s of miles.
I’ll be living at home until December. I plan to visit the boyfriend in Wyoming a few times, and make a trip down to Gerogia to visit some friends. Plus I’ll be speaking at several churches and groups. Woo hoo!
