I’m coming home soon. In two weeks I’ll be on American soil. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been to a lot of countries. I have stories to tell. Long story short, please don’t ask “how was the Race?” or “how was your experience?” when you see me. It’s the equivalent of me asking you how the year of 2017 was for you. It’s impossible to summarize a year’s worth of experiences into a couple of polite, conversational sentences.
But I understand that you care and want to know more. And I want to share! So I’ve developed a list of questions that will help both you and I talk about this past year on the Race. Some serious, some fun, but all relevant to a year on the field.
GENERAL
What did you learn about being a follower?
What lessons did you learn as a Beauty For Ashes coordinator?
What were some of your favorite moments with Unsoundable, Relentless and AfricanLoveYou (my three teams)?
What lessons did you learn being married on the race?
What places and moments broke your heart?
What places and moments made you come alive?
Who are your closest friends you made on the Race and why?
How was life on a coed team?
What were some of your best living conditions? Your worst?
Which ministries were most challenging for you? Which most fit your passions?
Where could you see yourself living long term?
How many countries did you end up going to?
ASIA
What was the weirdest thing you saw being carried on a motorbike?
What was public transportation like?
What is traditional (Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, etc.) food like?
How was using our right hand for everything?
What’s one of the funniest bad translations you saw?
Ask me about a ministry that intrigues you! We preached in remote and persecuted Indian villages, did prayer ministry and worked in dance clubs (where women are trafficked) in Nepal, worked in a pizza shop in Vietnam, taught private elementary school students in Cambodia, and taught English camps to children in Thailand.
What did you see in nature that amazed you?
Ask me about my off day when we hiked to a hidden beach and camped overnight!
What was it like living in 115 degree weather, with no AC, and sleeping on the floor for a month?
How do you survive a 24 hour bus ride in Vietnam?
Ask me about the major cities we visited in each country (Hyderabad, Kathmandu, Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Bangkok)
Ask me to describe the cheapest meal I could buy in each country.
What new foods did you try?
What did the Lord teach you about adventure days in India?
Ask me about our overnight layover in Malaysia.
EUROPE
What did you do during your layover in Rome?
What’s it like to switch to another team?
What familiar foods were you excited about in Europe?
What surprised you about the Balkans region?
Ask me about our Beauty For Ashes event in Albania.
Ask me about a ministry that intrigues you! We worked with the Roma (gypsy) street community in Albania, worked with tourists and homeless people in Macedonia, and worked at a special needs orphanage in Bulgaria.
Ask me about Bryce and I’s first “vacation” on the Race – The Netherlands/Belgium
Ask me about our strange travel day to Montenegro.
What was is like during “manistry” month, when Bryce and I were separated?
AFRICA
What did you do during your layover in Qatar?
Ask me about the youth camp we led in Zimbabwe.
Ask me about the obstacle course we built from scratch.
What did you do while you were at Victoria Falls?
Ask me about a ministry that interests you! We worked at a leadership camp in Zimbabwe, served at care points for children in Swaziland, and did soccer and baby ministry in South Africa.
How was your time in Cape Town, with your family?
How was celebrating your birthday in Swaziland?
Ask about our all squad dance party in Zimbabwe.
Which people were hardest to say goodbye to from each month in Africa?
How did Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and South Africa differ from each other?
What were some of the weirdest bugs you saw?
What wild animals did you see?
Ask questions! Ask away! And please, let me ask you! Life in America might seem routine and mundane, but I sincerely miss the routine, and I want to hear all about it. I want to know what you last purchased at Target, your favorite new restaurant, and what’s the best sermon you’ve heard lately. I want to hear all about you too, friends! Thanks for taking the time to read this, I cannot wait to catch up with you!
[Thanks to McKenzie Tritt for inspiring this blog!]
