Here we are. Month 11 is coming to an end. The Race is almost over. I have experienced and learned so much over the course of this journey; it is hard to put into words. However, while everyone is writing their sappy and emotional blogs about this season of their life coming to a close, I decided to go a different direction. There’s a time for me to be sappy and emotional, but it is not this time. Trust me, I have those thoughts and feeling, because the Race has been truly amazing, and I’m sad it is ending, but I do not feel prepared to share those with the general public just yet. We talk about personality types a lot on the Race. If you’re familiar with the Meyers Briggs, I am a hardcore T, which is where the title of this blog comes from, and why this blog has more numbers than feelings.
After 11 months of travel, we have racked up quite the list of new experiences, some of which are quantifiable, and some are purely subjective to my opinion. In this blog I will attempt to give you some insight into my last 11 months with some fun facts about my Race. Keep in mind, these things can be different between squads or even within P squad. Everyone’s Race is a little different, so these facts and figures refer to my experiences.
Home changes often, and you learn to get comfy in every situation. Rest is an important godly principle, so one must learn to adjust. Luckily, I can sleep virtually anywhere. I have slept in 40 beds on the Race. The term “bed” is used loosely here, in that a bed on the Race could mean my trusty sleeping pad on the floor (shout out to Cara for that gift, it has come in handy), a hammock, a couch, a shared bed, a bunk bed, or when I was especially blessed, a proper bed all to myself. Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite! (FYI, that cute phrase gets a little more real out here on the field haha)
Planes, trains, and automobiles are plentiful on the World Race. We have used just about every mode of transportation imaginable, some sketchier than others, but hey, we made it. I have been on 22 planes on the Race. P squad has transversed the world, spending approximately 100 hours in the sky. And, yet, flying is still my favorite way to travel. (I’m posting this from India on the way home so this includes flights I will take soon) I have been on 16 long-distance buses. It would be impossible to include the number of local buses we have taken, but let me assure we’ve been on more than a few. Daily transport changed month to month. Taxis, tuk-tuks, and trolleys, you bet. Uber came in clutch. Throw the occasional boat in the mix, and you get the picture.
My particular cocktail of countries has landed me at the grand total of 21 countries on the World Race. Granted, I am including countries we only set foot in the airport for layovers, so if you remove that inflation, the total is only 16. Here’s a nice list for your viewing pleasure: Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Turkey (layover x3, Turkish Airlines FTW), Uganda, Rwanda, Albania, Macedonia, Greece, Montenegro (bus stop on the way to month 7), Bosnia, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Thailand, Malaysia, China (layover x2, but we shuttled between airports, so that sort of counts, right? No? Ok.), Mongolia, Sri Lanka, India (layover), and finally, The Netherlands (layover) before we set foot back in the good ol’ US of A.
One of the best parts of the Race, in my opinion, is getting to know the amazing people in each country who are bringing Kingdom there all the time. It has been a distinct pleasure to meet and work with individuals and ministries all over the world that are doing His work. On the conservative end, I can say I have met with and worked with 26 ministry contacts. I say “met with” because in a UH month we may not get a chance to work with a ministry directly, but we do get to learn about the ministries and hear the stories of the amazing believers that run them.
I will finish out this end of Race blog by assigning a superlative for the thing I loved most each month. Each month had something about it that was unique that I enjoyed. These things could be personal, meaning they could have taken place anywhere, or they can be dependent on the actual location. This list refers to months rather than countries for that specific reason. Remember, this is all 100% my opinion, and therefore biased, purely based off my experiences, and should be taken with a grain of salt if you’re a future racer seeking an inside scoop.
Month 1- most Scripture read, whole NT to start the Race well
Month 2- favorite holiday with the squad, Thanksgiving
Month 3- favorite location, ministry right on the beach, hollaaaaa
Month 4- favorite worship, those people know how to sing and dance for Jesus
Month 5- most confidence gained, raised up as a team leader
Month 6- most beautiful view, Lake Ohrid
Month 7- most adventurous off days, 3 countries in 4 days, no problem
Month 8- coolest cultural experience, Thai culture fascinates me
Month 9- favorite food, food is my love language and Malaysian cuisine had me figured out
Month 10- cutest babies, baby-holding ministry is a personal fav, but these kids just melt your heart with their adorable chubby cheeks
Month 11- best all squad month, finishing out the Race with the whole P squad family together was the cherry on top of a great year.
Perhaps I will write another final thoughts blog about this year more on the emotional side of things, but I doubt it. Trust me when I say the Race has changed me forever. I will always cherish the people I met and the experiences I had. I sobbed on the bus as we pulled away to the Colombo airport. This has been an incredible season with the Lord, and I am so sad to see it come to an end. However, I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for the future, and I can’t wait to be home with my dear friends and family. Thank you for following my Race. I love you all.
