Hey all! Welcome to the questions and answer blog, its been three months in the making (some things just get away from you…) Hope this answers the questions you had asked awhile back! 4 months to go!
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Conrad: Did you get any parasites thus far?
umm kinnda sorta maybe??…..After we went swimming in lake Malawi, we all had to take parasite pills 6 weeks afterwards, due to the lovely vermin that did go into our skin, layed eggs, and hatched 42 days after our water contact. But technically I got rid of them…I hope 😉
Lyndi: What do you do on a typical day?
I don’t know if a ‘typical’ day exists on the race. 😉
A typical day: Well, it totally depends on our ministry contact.
It depends on the weather.
The location.
The local holidays.
Really anything and everything.
In Malawi we had to wake up at 5:30 am to carry water to our hilltop to cook with. In Estonia at Village of Hope, our day didn’t start in the forest until 10 am and ended at 6 pm. But here in Mongolia currently, we’ve been doing homeless, soccer, and construction ministry. We have to be at the homeless shelter early morning, afterwards we generally crash and sleep, followed up by prayer walks in the afternoon, or painting, dinner, teamtime and feedback. We prepare our meals all together, and that generally includes runs to the local market, an actual store with everything in another language, maybe a street stand, and then back to the market to get things we forgot. There is nothing at all like Safeway, Wal Mart, Target, City Market (whatever store you so choose), in which you can find all your meal items in one stop. But cooking meals takes a big chunk out of everyday in preparing for everyone. We play a lot of card games, and love watching movies together.
Bran: What’s been your favorite language?
Latvian. 🙂 love and miss it.
Katie: In what way/situation has God challenged your thinking the most so far?
In every way. I don’t know how to even begin to put it into words. I feel like I may need a lifetime to process everything I’ve been learning. He’s been challenging my understanding of the body of Christ and unconditional love. I think specifically he’s challenged me in my understanding of community. We toss that word around like a beach ball at home, and it generally implies those people in which we enjoying spending time with after school work is done, those who know us and our favorite ice cream flavor, people that we worship with around fire places and live everyday life with. But it doesn’t generally imply those who may annoy us, those that we don’t naturally get along with or gravitate towards, yet those who are still part of the body of Christ. Community is meant for the whole body. Not just the legs, nor the arms. And believe it or not, it can be just as beautiful and more refining.
What character quality of God have you clung to the most on this trip?
That God is good.
Because some of the things I see absolutely break my heart and make no sense.
Tyrion: What’s it like only having four outfits to pick from?
It’s actually been freeing. We wear clothes at home to hide. A recent blog I read challenged young people to wear clothes like costumes to communicate and celebrate—but not to withdraw into. Four outfits at first was difficult, but then you just grow numb to it. Throw in some earrings and a necklace here or there to switch it up—trade with teammates, find a second hand store here or there. It’s completely doable. But I am excited to have options when I get home. J
Jheri: this is really simple, but Cody and I have been wondering– what was the purpose of your lumberjacking?
One of my favorite months thus far on the race. It was a rehabilitation center for men recovering from drug and alchol addictions. Some of these men were by far the roughtest, most tattooed, giant looking guys I’ve ever met—who were being shown the love of Jesus by the men working full time there. Some of these men had the option of going back to prision, or this center, where they could work for their food, lodging, and be outside. Many of them had encountered love itself in the Estonian forest, and others had yet to make a decision for Christ. It was AMAZING. We helped in the forest chopping down wood that heat the houses at the village. During the time, we would also form relationships with the men, participate in their worship nights, shared our testimonies, and enjoy delicious soups.
Daenerys: Grossest food you’ve eaten?
coagulated pigs blood sausage in Estonia and fermented horse milk in Mongolia.
Margaret: Do you miss your Mom?
Umm yes. 🙂 Majorly yes. I miss parts of her I don’t think I ever fully embraced or expressed gratitude towards. I know she’s not perfect, she’s made her mistakes, as I have mine—but she is worthy of the title mom: caregiver, hero, provider, humor relief, lover, and overall ‘awesome human being,’— I can’t wait to her and my dad in December.
Rob: How do you hope the next five months are different from the first?
I think I’ve discovered I’m good at being a ‘Christian,’ but not the greatest at spending time with Jesus. If I say I’m going to pray, pray. Talk to the creator of the universe. If I believe what I believe is truly real, then I need to actually study his word on my own, not just get comfy with my seat on Sunday mornings. Spending time requires the sacrifice of what my flesh deems important—and its not easy to make that choice, I can see that. So yea, I hope these next months will be different in terms of ‘spending’ time with Jesus.
Catelyn: What restaurant do you miss the most?
Chipotle, hands down. With a bowl of guac.
Angela: Tell me one new thing you have learned about yourself and one new thing you have learned about your Heavenly Father?
This is my 7th month leading a team on the race, and I’ve learned an insane amount about falling on your face, grace, and decision making. I’m actually an expert ‘face faller,’ if you need any tips. 😉 (hoping to write a blog about it here soon). I had no idea what it took, what its takes, or what it means.
I’ve learned about the love of God this race. His unconditional love towards me what I shut him out, and when He keeps coming back. About His love for people. His love for differences and cultures. I’ve learned to look for Him wherever I go.
Amanda: If you could have a home cooked meal what would it be?
Chicken enchiladas, guac, mashed potatoes, Cesar salad, chocolate cheesecake, more cake deserts, coffee, and broccoli with cheese sauce and a bottle of hidden valley ranch dressing. 🙂
