Hello all! My squad is currently in Nelspruit, South Africa for the week at debrief. On the World Race, we have debrief after month one, and it is a time for us to relax ad have fun, while also process what has happened for us in the past month. Here is a selection of the processing questions that we were given to fill out on our own time, and I thought there would be no better way for y’all to see hoe the first month of the Race was for me than to see my answers to these questions!
What do you wish you would have known coming into month one that you would go back and tell yourself at launch?
At launch, I was questioning everything that I had signed up for. All of my friends were at college, and it was easy for me to doubt why God had called me to the World Race. I wish that I could tell myself coming into month one, that don’t worry too much- days will be long, but time will fly. Even if moments are not comfortable, they are not forever. There are ups and downs, even in “normal” life back in America, so it’s nothing too different here.
What has been your greatest challenge since you’ve been here? What have you done in order to overcome it?
My greatest challenge has been homesickness. It has settled down now, but the first week in Swaziland was extremely difficult for me. I feel as if relying on God, and just simply adjusting to my new environment, has allowed me to overcome my homesickness. I know that it will not be gone forever, but it is something that when the thoughts come to my head, I do not allow myself to dwell in it.
What has been the best God story you’ve been a part of while been in Swaziland?
During our first week of ministry, we did a “home visit,” in which we walked to the home of a grandma of 7 of the kids who go to the carepoint. She cared for all 7 of the children on her own. When we got to her house carrying a couple bags of food, she told us that she had just run out of food for the kids at breakfast. She was so grateful and we got to pray over her. This is a true example of not knowing where your next meal is going to come from, which is something that me and the majority of my friends have (thankfully) never had to experience. It is easy for me to know that God will provide in the bigger things because they can be trivial, and I already have food on my plate, but I have met people with nothing, who expectantly pray for God to provide, and He always does for them just in time.
What is something the Lord is asking you to leave behind?
The number one thing that the Lord is asking me to leave behind is the comfort of being with my parents. Just coming home to my mom and dad and talking to them about my day and knowing they are there if I need them. On a less deep level, I miss my couch, Publix Premium cookies and cream ice cream, and going on runs on my own.
What is something the Lord is calling you to step into?
Reading entire books of the Bible!! It is something that I have tried to do alone many times, and never finished one, other than if I was a part of an organized Bible study. There are almost the same number of chapters in the New Testament as there are days on the Race, and I have completed Matthew during my first month, and am now in romans.
What has been good about ministry? What has been hard?
Seeing the children jump up and down and smile when they see our van pull up is so sweet. The more that we are at ministry, the more I see different member of the community. Ministry can also be hard because sometimes there aren’t as many kids, or the schedule is off, or it’s just plain a long day. Overall, it is pretty good!!
What has made you laugh the hardest?
When Ashley had diarrhea at ministry and missed the squatty potty.
What has made you (want to) cry?
The question asked what has made me WANT TO cry, but that would be a lie because there have definitely been tears haha. The first week of nights were pretty restless, and as I said before, homesickness and doubts caused some crying. Also, slow WIFI connections while trying to get college stuff done is also a place of much frustration.
What has been your favorite sight, sound, smell, taste, feeling since being here?
Sight- all the baby goats around the compound
Sound- worship music always being in the background Smell- my vanilla-scented perfume that reminds me of my mom and home
Taste- Death by Chocolate Magnum Bars
Feeling- the kids at ministry playing with my hair
What are you most excited for going forward? What are you not so excited about?
I am most excited to see the relationships that develop as we spend 6 more weeks in Swaziland. I am not so excited about 6 weeks of no connection. It’s difficult to explain, because being cut off from the world can be such a blessing, but there isn’t reliable Wifi to get even on the weekends, so practical things and just communicating is hard.
What has been a rhythm you want to keep? What is a habit you want to break?
I want to keep my rhythm of alone time reading my Bible in the morning, but I want to break my habit of unhealthy snacking. (we will see how that goes hah)
