A Few of My Favorite Things… {100 Days}

 

As of April 15, 2017, I have officially been on The World Race for 100 days!

WOW!!!

I have done some reflecting on this crazy adventure of following Christ that I get to live. I’m still trying to comprehend all the things of the past 100 day – lessons I have learned, scripture I have read, ways I’ve experienced God, sayings I have started to use, memories I will forever hold onto. One thing I am sure of is that I have fallen more deeply in love with my Lord! 

In honor of 100 days, I sharing a few of my favorite things from my Race – 100 to be exact. 

 

Here are a few of my favorite things from my Race so far. 

 

1. “Today when you hear my voice do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:15
2. Life is ministry: Ministry is Life
3. “Drop the mic!”
4. Acting is often needed when there is a language barrier. Communication through acting is so much fun!
5. Rice mixed with peanut butter and strawberry jam is great for breakfast.
6. I fight from victory, not for victory.
7. I can now successfully cook beans! 
8. Make it simple.
9. “Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” John 17:3
10. Living in community is hard, but so good.
11. This is living now!
12. Blood is just an expression; family goes far beyond it. Only one blood matters. 
13. Cooking over charcoal requires skill!
14. I have attended not one but two Rwandan weddings!
15. Joy is a choice I make.
16. The world has so much to teach us. 
17. Squatty potties definitely make pooping easier… In my opinion. I hope to install one in my house someday. 
18. Rwandans love salt.
19. There are places were complete strangers will invite you to their homes for coffee as they pass by as you sit watching a Sunday afternoon soccer game. 
20. Spiritual kingdoms of darkness present in different areas can have direct affects on you. The important thing is to not stay in the darkness but take the awareness and fight in prayer. Bring the light only He provides. 
21. Cassava is delicious! I wish I would have eaten more. 
22. Asian papaya is so much better than African papaya. African papaya smells a bit like cheese. It is hard to get down.
23. God is a God of surprises… Korean Sushi in Kampala, Uganda with fellow brother and sisters in Christ, yes please!
24. Muzungu— My label throughout Uganda and Rwanda. It is a term used in Africa for “white person”, but literally translated it means “someone who roams and wanders”
25. “I love you sweetie!” ~ The phrase I heard so often as I walked the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 
26. God is GOOD.
27. “I remain confident of this: I WILL SEE the GOODNESS of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalms 27:13
28. Malaysian Ringgits are very colorful and feel like Monopoly money.
29. I took a boat ride on the Nile River and Lake Victoria. 
30. When you have an eight hour layover in Egypt and the opportunity to see the pyramids arises, take it!!!
31. “Taste and See that the Lord IS GOOD; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” Psalm 34: 8
32. God is FOR us.
33. Toilet paper is a beautiful thing! Keep some with you at all times. 
34. Egypt ~ God taught me about seizing opportunities. He blesses us in unexpected ways.
35. Stars and city lights… Both so beautiful. Same Same, But Different
36. Trying to define ‘SASSY’ to an Ethiopian taxi driver is quite fun! 
37. You never know where Bubble Tea can take you. God used Bubble Tea as an avenue through which relationships were built and love was shared. If you are ever in KL, Malaysia, stop by the Each A Cup in Central Market and say ‘Hi!” to TenTen and Anni for me.  
38. Jackfruit has a strange texture, but tastes like Juicy Fruit gum. It is the poor man’s fruit. 
39. “Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel.” Proverbs 25:4   
40. My team and I would stay with a teacher from New Zealand, who teaches fourth grade at an international school in Jakarta, for FREE. Praise God! I met God as my provider in Jakarta, Indonesia. 
41. God’s timing is perfect. 
42. Life is anything but boring.
43. Coffee! Coffee! Coffee! 
44. A doctor in Ethiopia would tell my teammate that her infection in her tonsils was her fault!
45. Uganda ~ God taught me about living a missional life with the person in front of you.
46. I would learn to drink and love coffee in Ethiopia. Coffee ceremonies will forever be a memory of mine. Coffee ceremonies = Coffee done the right way!
47. If your card is eaten by the ATM, go to the bank to retrieve it. 
48. “African Time” is a real thing. “We’ll leave in 20 minutes” is more likely to mean 40-60 minutes.
49. A tree right next to my tent in Kampala, Uganda was struck by lightening during a middle-of-the-night thunderstorm. 
50. “Life is like Ice Cream – Enjoy It Before It Melts” – A simple reminder from the street in Jakarta, Indonesia. 
51. Bartering for Birkenstock sandals in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur can include paying with Malaysian Ringgit and Rwandan Francs 
52. International Evangelical Churches are fascinating places…Glimpses of heaven. 
53. “Look at the nations and watch — and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5
54. Rwanda ~ God taught me about believing and receiving His amazing grace and His goodness. 
55. When blowing your nose in African, local dirt comes out every time. The color depends on the location. (Red – Uganda, Brown – Rwanda, Grey and Black – Ethiopia)
56. I had a dress custom made for me by the same tailor who makes gowns for Miss. Rwanda.
57. Believe Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast: He FoRgIvEs, hEAls, ReDeEmS, CrownS, SaTiSfIeS, and reNeWs. {Psalm 103}
58. The Lord is teaching me about BALANCE and BOUNDARIES. 
59. My heart was saddened and heavy as I stood in a majestically beautiful natural wonder that was intricately created by the hand of God. Why was I saddened? Inside this cave people were more focused on bowing down to man-made idols than standing in awe, wonder, and praise of our God who created this beautiful part of creation. 
60. God delights when one asks questions. 
61. It is not about seeking answers. It is about seeking Him.
62. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
63. I learned to love injera! 
64. I met an amazing boy who thinks and learns a little differently than others. He taught me a new card game. 
65. Sabbath Rest is important and a gift. Delight in resting in Him. 
66. Donkeys are a very special animal! I have learned so much about donkeys and my love for them has grown. Someday I would love to have a couple. I would name them Ky and Lee. 
67. Over the past four months, I have packed up my things and have moved at least 12 times. 
68. The first place I would find real dill pickles on The Race would be in Jakarta, Indonesia.
69. Eating with only your left hand takes practice. 
70. God answers prayers, but the answer is not always what we expect. 
71. Sometimes the best thing you can say is nothing. Silence can simply allows space for others to hear the Lord more clearly.
72. “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 
73. You never know when one of your squadmates will fall into a fountain. 
74. Praying with your taxi driver… Priceless! 
75. Sometimes God calls you to step down from using the good gift He has gifted you with so others can grow .
76. Ethiopia ~ God taught me about living fully in the JOY that is only found in Him.
77. God is God. 
78. I lived less than 5 minutes away from the trash dump in Addis were a tragic landslide claimed the lives of at least 200 people. 
79. Celebrating my 25th birthday in Malaysia was awesome. I got lots of hugs, went to Batu Caves, and spent time with my teammates.  
80. When fish in a Fish Spa eat the dead skin off the bottom of your feet it tickles!
81. There is such joy that comes from seeing the bride united with her Groom.
82. The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur are architecturally and aesthetically grand. I enjoyed visiting them for sure.
83. We have arrived in every new country at night, in the dark. 
84. I love You, Oh Lord my Strength!  
85. WIFI is tricky in Africa. 
86. Many people have never hear the name JESUS.
87. Ice Floss is delicious! Peach flavor was my favorite.
88. When praying for direction, God gave us the letters J and M. We could never have imagined that with that He would lead us to Masaka, Uganda to meet Joseph. 
89. Malaysia ~ God taught me about healthy boundaries and the tension found when we love people through letting them learn for themselves
90. Less of Cary. More of Jesus.
91. The average African church service lasts about 3 hours. 
92. The will of God is not a “spot” on the wall, it’s not a pass or fail; it is a call to come, walk with and follow Jesus
93. JESUS. JESUS. JESUS. 
94. When God brings two World Race squads together, it is a beautiful thing. Here’s to Fusion 3 and R Squad. 
95. I never thought that I would see the movie Beauty and the Beast in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with one of my teammates and three other World Racers I had just met hours before. 
96. The process of discovery is messy. 
97. Indonesia ~ God reminded me that He is a God of details. 
98. Life is made up of small decisions. 
99. I am not on a mission trip. I am doing life for 11 months among the nations as I seek the Kingdom. 
100. Living WITH Jesus is such an amazing adventure!

 

I’m still $2,430 from my deadline of being fully funded by the end of this month. Please consider partnering with me. I want to thank everyone who has already joined me in sharing the Good News with the nations. All prayers and financial contributions are so appreciated!