I asked everyone on Facebook and Instagram to ask me questions about my journey so far and these are the questions I received!
? Question: What place inspired you the most?
Answer: Ukraine was the most inspiring and encouraging country so far. I was inspired by the way they do ministry there and how they really want the children to know English and also I had the opportunity to live with a family so I was taught some family things as well with their culture and just overall had a really good month there and I think most of my teammates would agree. We stayed really busy there, but in the end it off a bunch, because we saw the same kids constantly during our English classes and even just in the youth group we were a part of. Not to mention, European architecture inspired me to think about possibly being an architect.
? Question: What’s something from home that you miss?
Answer: There are definitely a few things that I miss. One of them being driving. You don’t realize how nice it is to drive anywhere you want, until you go to another country with only pocket change and your walking feet. Another thing I miss is having the comfort of the same bed and living room. Yanno those really cozy spots in your home. On the Race it can be really hard to find a space that is just as the big couch at home. The third thing I miss is probably my dog. I see stray dogs all the time that remind me of my own dog at home, but I know I won’t see them again and that in reality my dog is in New York haha.
? Question: What’s the weirdest thing you ate and what has been your favorite food?
Answer: Well I haven’t had anything too extreme, but there has been some funky dishes I have ate like this Ukrainian dish called borscht which is like a beet soup (it’s super good). I have also eaten a lasagna in Chile that our abuela made that had mashed potatoes and sliced hot dogs in it, which was pretty decent. I do have the opportunity to eat alpaca here in Peru, but have not tried it yet. My favorite food has been the ice cream in each country. Europe has the BEST gelato ever, so smooth and full of flavor as well as fairly cheap.
? Question: How has the weather been on your race?
Answer: Well, it definitely has ranged in each country so far. In Romania, it was really warm around 70’s, but by the end of the month there, it got to around 50’s. In Ukraine, it started out around 60’s and dropped to about the 40’s which was really really cold with all the rain we got. In Chile it was very very hot, somewhere between 80’s-100’s like literally sweating everyday. In Peru, it has been a nice temperature of 50’s-70’s which is definitely much more livable.
? Question: What languages have you come across?
Answer: Romania was Romanian, Ukraine was Ukrainian, Chile and Peru is Spanish. I have come across many many people that have spoken Italian, French, German, Creole, etc. but that was mostly at our hostels we would stay at for a few days before we get to our ministry sites.
? Question: What is transportation like in other countries?
Answer: The main transportation is public buses. Everyone can use them and they are probably the cheapest way to get somewhere. Also, taxis are super popular in South America and they can range from prices, but they are also very popular jobs in these type of places. My team and I used Uber a ton in Chile, which was probably the most expensive, but most efficient way to get somewhere. So far in the countries I have been in, people have their own cars as well.
? Question: How has it been being so far away from home, for so long?
Answer: At the beginning of my Race, I did not experience much homesickness, but there have been times like during Thanksgiving and Christmas where I was missing home quite a bit. I definitely took it to the Lord and realized that I have community right next to me as in my teammates. They were really helpful during this feeling and they had felt the same homesickness, so we all kinda related! This past month in January, I haven’t missed home that much, I have more hope for the future and I am trying to stay as present as possible and it is really working.
? Question: What has been your favorite ministry?
Answer: My favorite ministry had to be teaching English in Ukraine. The kids in Ukraine were so full of brightness and every time we showed up for them, they would always be so happy and I even had my own little group of girls that I loved a lot and met one of the sweetest little humans alive in Ukraine. Also, the kids here loved being with us all the time, so it helped a lot when they constantly pursued us as well as us pursuing them.
? Question: What were you most afraid of when you left?
Answer: The thing I had the most fear for was getting really sick on this trip. I know that the Lord is the ultimate healer and I found out real quick to not let the fear overfill in my heart, but replaced it with joy about how healthy I actually am and that if I did get sick, my Lord was right there with me. In other countries it can seem like you can get sick easily, but I have only gotten sick once in Ukraine which not bad at all.
? Question: What has surprised you the most about being away from home?
Answer: Probably the most surprising thing was realizing that I can live without WiFi for a good chunk of time and live without other comforts of home like my bed. Not having WiFi some months was really nice, because I could actually have conversations with the ones around me and not be distracted or them be distracted by our phones. It did suck sometimes not having it on the go like when you need to check for an email or write a blog or just look up something on Google. Missing comforts of home was something I never thought about when I was leaving, but it really hits you when you’re 5 months gone from your own house. I did get used to sleeping on whatever I was provided and my sleeping pad and also every month besides this one so far, I had a bed so it hasn’t been too bad at all. Also, I was surprised that South America has been more expensive than Europe was, which seems surprising.
? Question: Who has been the most influential person you had met so far?
Answer: My leaders of my team have been super influential. Every time I need to talk to someone, they are always there for me and really know how to pour out into my team and I. Mason is one of my leaders and he is so full of knowledge and always has a really cool way of looking at topics and things we need to grow in. Emily is really cool because she acts like the sister I never had. She is full of sweetness and comfort and knows how to help us deal with our emotions so well.
? Question: What’s been the hardest part so far?
Answer: The hardest part for me has been leaving Ukraine and learning that it is okay to cry. Leaving Ukraine was an emotional wreck for me, because it was the first time where I experienced true community and what it is like to leave someone you just met and not ever knowing if you will see them again. Another thing is showing my emotions, and usually I tend to bottle them all up and just let them all out at a really bad time, but learning from my teammates and leaders that it is okay to cry in the moment, has been a really cool experience, but was extremely hardfor me to admit at first that I needed to cry or was scared to express my sadness.
Thank you guys so much for sending me questions!! I really appreciate all the support you guys give me and the love I have been shown so far through my journey and walk with the Lord.
If you want to follow me on Instagram, it’s : camryn.mckinnon
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