Do you like living out of a backpack?
It’s cool to say I’ve done it but to be honest, no. It’s hard to organize my things and then pack it all up again. My room is usually disorganized and so Its teaching me how to be more organized and be aware of other peoples space.
What is 1 thing you cant live without? Wish you would have packed?
I could not live without having a phone because I love to take pictures and videos and also calling people. You never know when someone will want to race and you need to pull out a stop watch. Also games come in handy when you have free time. Yoga apps are pretty cool and my brothers new you tube channel, I can miss out on that!! And reading books on the Kindle app is awesome!! I wish I would have packed cute clothes I would actually ware in real life. Because I brought a lot of athletic clothing but we do live everyday life! In a way I appreciate nice clothes a lot more and now I know my style. Looking good on the race is a delicacy.
What are your plans after the race?
My plan is to go to community collage to get my teaching degree and also do missions on my breaks. That way I can study and get real about my grades but also do what I’m passionate about. One thing I have been praying for is what to do over the summer, if I should go on a short term mission trip including refugee work!! So if you could pray for me about that, it would be awesome!! I plan to join a new church and find community wile I go to school because I realize that having a body of believers is important to me.
What has been your favorite and least favorite place you’ve gone and why?
My favorite place has been Kiev Ukraine, surprisingly I enjoyed that country a lot because of how beautiful the fall was and how warm that culture was to us. The houses there are pretty nice and its a place where things don’t cost a ton of money but they value people and time. It’s ok to be late to some places because you got cough up in talking to a friend or life just simply happens like helping someone out last minute. The people are understanding and considerate. I felt at home their in my home country and I love that I’m able to say that. I would definitely go to Ukraine again!!
My least favorite country has been Romania because there was not as many things to do. I mean there were cultural differences that were cool like people riding in wagons and the way the woman ware scarves on their heads. But their government funds things that are not as useful like music outside the streets and where we lived in the country, the buildings were run down and I feel like the country needed more funding.
How have you changed since being in the world race?
I think I have a better understanding of who God is as a loving God and I’ve changed in the way that I want to value my time on things that matter to me. For example, instead of watching TV, invest in art work, or playing an instrument and doing things that will help me and grow me, and figuring out what I like. I have changed my views on how evangelism works because it is getting to know a person, sharing stores, and asking them about their relationship with the Lord and if they don’t telling them about why you believe in the Lord. It doesn’t have to be scary, you just have to have the courage to talk to people who are different than you, who have different views and you have nothing to loose. So in that way, I have become more comfortable with sharing about my journey with the Lord but also who he is and why he matters so much.
How has God changed your heart since being on the world race?
Wow, in so many different ways! I got to learn that I have a story and that people are going to want to hear it! So I am more bold in sharing those story and having a voice. He has softened my heart and made me aware of my weakness. “But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 I have learned to share how the Lord has used my weaknesses and how he humbles me before him. He has shown me the power of repentance and when I turn away from my dead self, I do become light and radiant and I get to be called chosen!! He has also given me a heart of gratefulness for all the things I did take for granite at home. He has made me aware that he does speak to me and it’s a matter of if I choose to listen and build my life around him and listen to him.
How will this experience change your future?
I think this experience has opened my eyes to how people and cultures are around the world and it makes me want to travel more in the future. It has changed the way I want to live my life because I want to go were the Lord leads me and live a life full of his testimony I can see vividly. This experience has also given me the chance to dream about the things I want in my life such as going to Africa someday or even playing soccer again. It makes me realize that I can take ownership over my life and what I want to do with it. I realize that God has given me gifts I can use to help other people and fulfill his call in my life.
Would you advise someone else to go?
I would only advise someone to go if their true intentions are to get closer to the Lord and want to become a Christian. Because sometimes ministry is not what you expect and you are teaching English and cleaning a house, or living with your team is hard because you don’t always get along, because sharing your testimony and being vaunrable is going to be uncomfortable, being sick and figuring out your testimony will take a toll on you, sometimes cold bucket showers and no WiFi makes you miss home, on the days where travel pushes you to the edge and you have no patience left, but these challenges are apart of life, a life you have to be willing to trust God and face the difficult things with.
Are you finding language barriers making your ministry challenging?
Yes it can be a very difficult thing because sometime it makes you question if you are helping because if there are native speakers then why do you need to be there? But everyone has a different perspective and we can also be a testimony that we came all he way from America to speak to them, it really does provide more purpose. You never know how your story can impact those people. Like when I was in Ukraine I got to tell a girl my age that I was actually adopted in Ukraine and it turns out that she was also adopted and so being there felt so right because I could speak into her situation and give her hope even if it was through a translator.
Which is the biggest challenge physically, spiritually, and emotionally?
This is a great question because we have to ask ourselves these questions every week! Overall, physically on this trip the biggest challenge is sickness and not getting enough sleep, some times rice and bread and no exercise will take a toll on you physically. Spiritually, on the race there is heavy spiritual warfare in different countries. In America, distraction is how the enemy works but in Peru and South America the enemy has more of a presence and you will see which doctors and unusual things you haven’t been exposed to. Also, we are finding out our stories and so the Lord will bring back past hurts and so we have to allow the Lord into those spaces which is spiritually growing. The hard stuff is what makes us grow. Emotionally, missing family and friends back at home is the challenge.
What has brought you the most joy on this journey so far?
That is a hard question because there are so many things that have brought me joy throughout this journey but if I had to pick 1, I would say making family all over the countries I have been to. It’s funny how through social media you can still know them and having updates on their lives and knowing if I were to go back to 1 of those countries I could see them again and have a place to call home.
