Uganda. The hospitality was amazing
and the kids were adorable. I met a little buddy named, Marvin, who reminded me
so much of Emmitt. And the pastor’s wife spoiled us with yummy food and lots of
fruit!
2. What has been your least favorite country?
Honestly, I loved them all, but India
was my least favorite month. The country was ok, but I struggled being there
and was in a bad mood a lot.
3. Who is the coolest person you have met in a country?
Man, I
don’t know. I’ve met a lot of amazing people.
4. What will you miss most when you return to the states?
Community living. No doubt. I love
living with and getting to know people on deep personal levels and being able
to call each other into greatness. It’s awesome.
5. What will you be happiest to leave behind?
Wearing the same sick and nasty clothes for 11 months gets old.
6. What is the best thing you’ve experienced/done on your
free days?
Getting to see Mt.
Everest was the coolest thing I experienced on an off day. God is so great and
made an amazing earth and I was blessed to be able to see just a small part of
His splendor.
7. What is the best thing you’ve experienced/done as a
whole?
Just getting to travel the world
and seeing how God is working around the world. I only got a small glimpse in
seeing 11 countries. God is doing so much more and I am blessed to have gotten
to do this thing called the World Race.
8. What is the most extreme “God-thing” you have
experienced?
Seeing God heal five little boys at
our medical clinic where they could walk out healed and not even have to see
the doctor. It was incredible and totally God.
9. What is the coolest thing you have purchased?
I haven’t purchased much for myself
other than some mittens in Nepal.
I didn’t want to have to carry things around so I didn’t buy much.
10. What is the saddest thing you have lost?
accidentally left it in Malaysia
(month 2) at our contacts place. Not only do I love the Tigers, but it was my
only piece of warm clothing brought on the race.
11. If you could vacation in one of the countries which one
would you choose?
Philippines. Everyone on my squad
talked about their beautiful locations and we were on a pretty ugly island for
the most part. I’d like to go snorkeling or island hopping on some of the more
beautiful islands.
12. If you could live in one of the countries which one
would you choose?
Thailand. I loved the culture there
and the food was wonderful. And it’s a beautiful country. The land of smiles.
13. What type of ministry was your favorite?
Sports ministry for sure. I loved
doing softball camp. I also really loved doing kids summer camp sessions.
14. What type of ministry was your least favorite?
Solo door-to-door ministry. I’m not
that confident in my ability to share by myself without someone to back me up
so it was hard. It also pushed me into something greater.
15. What type of ministry grew on you the most over the 11
months?
ministry. Before the race and in the early months I had a hard time praying for
people to be healed. Throughout the race and after some Biblical research I’ve
discovered a new eye for that ministry.
16. On a scale of 0 to 100 how much do you think you have
changed (where 0 is not at all and 100 is like you are one of those people in
the identity theft commercials where physically and characterly you are someone
completely different)?
Man, this is a tough one. I’ve
changed a ton. Grown a ton. But I’m still Ashley. I’m Ashley with a new twist…a
better one at that. Maybe a 68?
17. What have you missed the most?
Well, besides family and friends
I’ve missed being able to get where I want to/need to go on my own. Constantly
having to find public transportation and then fighting for a fair price because
I’m white gets tiring.
18. What was you favorite mode of transportation?
Boda bodas in Uganda. They are motorcycle taxis
and are super cheap and fun to ride!
19. What was you least favorite/scariest mode of
transportation?
None of the transportation was that
scary. Buses in Malaysia were probably my least favorite because they were
never on any type of schedule and one time a few of us waited for 1 ½ hours and
it still never showed up.
20. What was the most interesting animal/creature that you
saw?
visiting a home in Ukraine.
They are the largest of the rodent family. The family we visited raises them
breeds them, and kills them to eat.
21. What was the most interesting/gorgeous natural
thing/landscape that you saw?
Besides the Himalayas and Mt. Everest
I would have to say the lookout from Prayer
Mountain in Uganda
overlooking Lake Victoria.
22. What was the hardest thing that you had to do or that
you faced?
Leadership. It’s tough and I really
don’t know what I’m doing. Just trusting in God to take my team where He wants
it and believing.
23. What was the scariest thing that you had to do or that
you faced?
The scariest thing I had to do was
face my fear of water while rafting the Nile.
I hate water and am deathly afraid of it, but I had to face it as we flipped
down the rapid. I thought I was going to die.
24. What was the most rewarding thing that you had to do or
that you faced?
The most rewarding thing on the
race was pursuing two different guys (one in Malaysia
and one in Thailand)
and building relationships with them to later find out that they chose to
accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. There is not much more rewarding
than to see God work in their life and to play just a small, minute role in it
is so rewarding.
25. What was the most fun/enjoyable thing that you had to do
or that you faced?
most enjoyable things during the race was being able to sit up on the rooftops
in Asia reading, writing, journaling, or
worshipping. I loved it.
26. What was the worst bathroom/shower situation on the
race?
Rwanda. We had a mud hole in the
ground (with 4 walls around it) but it was fly infested. For a shower we had a
small mud hut with some holes in it and a small bucket of water to shower with.
27. Do you feel like you were adequately prepared for the
race?
Yes and no. I was prepared for the
living conditions, but I had no idea that self growth/community would be so
important. And ministry…I had no idea what that would look like and that I would
have such a variety.
28. Was there a country you didn’t go to but you wish you
could have gone to in place of one you did?
Not really. I loved all the
countries we went to. One day I’d like to check out South
America. Or Latin America.
29. What was the best thing you ate?
I loved a lot of the food. I’m
going to have to go with mangos and pineapple. I love them. Oh and Thai fresh
fruit smoothies. Mmmm.
30. What was the worst think you ate?
too terrible, but I am really sick of white rice. We had way too much of it in
Asia and Africa. Oh and the mystery mush in India to put on
the white rice was not that appetizing.Ugh…and soda. I hate it
31. Do you still keep in contact with people from the
countries you visited?
Yes I do. I keep in touch with
people from every country. Some people more than others, but I get a lot of
facebook chat boxes when I sign on.
32. How did the race change your view on America?
I think the trip has made me more
patriotic. I appreciate the freedom that we have to worship and be who we want
to. There are not many restraints. Good roads to drive on (not sure I’ll ever
complain about the MI roads again) are a blessing. I’ve also realized the
influence that America has
on the world especially Hollywood
and that is not always a good thing.
33. How did the race change your view on other countries?
The race has given me a much more
real view. I’ve realized that we have all kinds of stereotypes for
countries/continents and they aren’t all very true. Don’t judge a book by its
cover…well I say don’t judge a country by its sterotype. Example…East Africa is not super hot. It’s not all mud huts.
There are buildings. Skyscrapers. Malls.
34. How did the race change your view on God?
forever on this topic. God got bigger to me this year. I always had Him in this
box and He is far bigger than any box in the world. I remember worshiping in
the Philippines
and just thinking about how the God that I serve is the same one they serve.
He’s big. And mighty. And powerful. I’ve seen God perform miracles. I’ve heard
Him speak. I’ve seen Him free people from bondage. I just want to seek after
Him more now.
*This is the awesome group of people I get to travel the world with*
