As most of you know I was in Asia the first 4 months and I truly enjoyed that time a lot. It was a time of growth and I got to really build some relationships with some amazing people. An example of that is when I got to visit my friend Kristie who lived in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia and that was amazing too because seeing her was really exciting. Being able to see a friend of mine really early on in the Race was really helpful for me because it allowed me to get familiar to the new culture and have a friend there too. I also learned about new ways on how to help people through praying for them and other things too through my World Race’s routes training camp and I am glad that I was able to know more know about how to bring Jesus to the rest of the world and living in a way of not knowing everything. An example of how I found this to be useful is because I learned how to encourage people to receive their freedom in Jesus and just grew into knowing how to continue to incorporate a healthy spiritual atmosphere everywhere I go and I also found that when I just allowed God to show me places He could use me to impact a lot of people. He says that when I trust in Him He can do all of the things He wants me to do and through me Jesus can be spread to places where people wouldn’t ever think of going to. I just love how the Father can do that with us if we obey Him.
I also had an experience in Nong Khai, Thailand with Sarisa, which really changed my thinking about my whole life when God had me and “The Boyz” just were supposed to encourage and keep her going with her faith in Jesus and all the things that we did together like us serving to play with Joshua whenever she would get tired or even just helping her out in her yard, I’m glad we got to help her with that. Another example of where we had fun was when we did the bible study together everyday because it really did impact her life and it was also cool when we actually did a church with her and a few others she knew in her house by playing music and going through the Bible because she lives in a community that is pretty much all Muslim people and right before we arrived she prayed that God would bring some people that would help her out and I’m glad we were those people. We also received some amazing news, which was that after a long time trying to get her visa to visit her husband in England, she finally gets to go there. We also learned that a Malaysia church is looking to start a church in the Nong Khai where she lives in and wanted to start something really good there. God is always good with those that help others and I know that God is going to do a massive revival there and I’m excited to hear more about that.
We then went to Penang, Malaysia and I have to say that it was cool staying a little longer there until we left for Cameron Highlands because the area there was just so active with good vibes and it was really awesome to be around. It was a place that was fun because most of our squad got to eat dinner together one night and even some of us started singing for other people at bars, which was awesome. It was a time where they also had really good Asian food and we also had good roti that was pretty inexpensive and tasted really good. They also had a guy that makes mango and coconut shakes and they are really good. I have to say that Penang was probably one of my most fun places that I’ve been to and I’m looking forward to the next time I go there and exploring more of the fun things they have there.
We then traveled to Cameron Highlands and I had a lot of fun interacting with the different travelers that I came across talking to at the hostel we were working at and I have to say that that place was such a powerful part of my journey. It was a time when God just told us to have fun and be an encouragement to everyone and I am very glad that I was able to help them out. It was also cool to explore the area when I got to go on a hike even though I fell down a lot and slid down the mountain as well and I had fun doing that too. I hope to one day visit and explore that hostel again and see some of the people there too because they were awesome. Here’s to more adventures in Cameron Highlands!
Another moment that I’ve mentioned before about having fun and exploring the place is when I got to visit Jakarta, Indonesia. The reason why I say this is because if you remember that it was a time when all of the guys in the squad got to hang out playing cards and other fun games and movies with some of the amazing locals that have become my friends and can’t ever forget them ever because that time was special. Another thing we did while we were there was that we got to go to different malls around the area we were in and just see what was there, which I thought was a lot of fun. I have to say that I am glad that I got the opportunity to begin my time on the Race in Asia because I got to witness all of these different cultures and people right away because they were really fun to be with and I am looking forward to the next time we see each other.
Then me and my team traveled to Namibia and South Africa and I must say that that experience was a lot different than my time in Asia. The reason why I say this is because the areas that I served were less crowded in Africa than in Asia. The people we served in Namibia were kids who just wanted to experience a fun filled time by just playing sports with us and we showed them that by just spreading joy and excitement. We found out that they could receive Jesus’ presence every single day and I believe that by my team being there, we made an impact on their lives. I look forward to the next time I go there because of the fun things that they showed us and I hope to see them all being Christ followers as well. I also hope to do dune bugging again too.
While we were in South Africa I also had a fun time when I got to see my friend Wianè in Pretoria because it had been a long time and I knew that we would have really good conversations about our lives and I was excited for that opportunity. However, I realized that we would only have one day to say all of that stuff, so I was a little disappointed, but when I arrived we ended up getting dinner, so that was pretty awesome and I am now content with it. Here’s to hoping I can get the opportunity to see her again.
We also went to Jeffery’s Bay as you all know and that time was also fun building that soup kitchen and encouraging Wendy and some of the others while we were there. It was also cool that we all ended up putting an 1000 piece puzzle together and finishing it all together. I also really enjoyed that we got to watch movies every night and that was really amazing too and really fun as well and I hope to do more of that again. I can’t wait to come back there and check out the soup kitchen when it’s finished and I’m excited for all of the connections that I made there as well. It felt great that while I was in Africa, my time was about the fun things I learned about myself in everything I did. It is amazing.
Then the next place we traveled to was Cape Town, South Africa and while I was there, I learned that after being in Asia and Africa with “The Boyz”, the leadership group was having us get into new teams for the remaining 4 months of the journey, while I am in Europe and South America and after wondering who was going to be in my group for days, I eventually learned that the people who were going to be on my team were Ana, Josh, Hunter, Emily, Kaelyn and me. Then the leadership team made Jacob and Hannah squad leaders and my team all were we had to meet up to talk things through about our expectations, what we like or dislike in teams and we also all had to come up with a name for our team, so after long thoughts about it and asking a waiter of suggestions while we were eating lunch, we all felt like we wanted to be called Chimichanga, which I think is really cool. However, before we met together I was uneasy about having another group because when I was with “The Boyz”, we got a long so well and were in a unified place with each other, but after spending that lunch time with them, I truly knew that they were going to be people who I feel are legends and huge prayer warriors always seeking after the Lord. I felt like they also would be good for me because they are very encouraging to me and I felt like we would instantly get along with each other. We all felt like we wanted to be about being ourselves and trusting the Lord with every direction, while also having a lot of fun doing that, which I’m thrilled about. We also all are about creating a unified group, so that is amazing as well. I now know that God went before us and prepared this team to be great.
I will also now tell you about what my new team did while we were in Sofia, Bulgaria and also about how we had a fun time being there. I also will mention about the different types of things we have done to explore the area as well, which has created a unity between our team. I hope this next section can show you the type of people we are.
I’ll begin by saying that after our debrief session in Cape Town, my new team flew at two different times depending on your last name from there to a place in Europe called Sofia, Bulgaria and as the first group left, my teammate whose name is Ana thought we had an AirBnB booked for all of us, but when she arrived there she found out that the host of that place canceled on us staying there completely, so of course we all were disappointed, but after awhile she eventually we were lucky that she was able to find a place for us to stay there for the night. I must say that that is probably something that I will never forget and never stop thanking her for. I also found that the place was really nice and I enjoyed being there because there was a park in that area where you could go to and just be with the Lord for however long you wanted to. Another thing about my team that I find cool is that we also ate some dinner together at a pizza place nearby that house and I must say that I enjoyed it because it was one of our first meals together and I thought that it helped us create better friendships with one another.
Then a day or so later we realized that we had to go to another AirBnB because the first one was already booked up for a longer stay and so when we arrived we found that the new place was near an area that had more shops, which I was excited about as well. While we were in that apartment, we also had a lot of time when we were all together and we even all chose a day when we wanted to do a “team day” where we went on a free food tour, which was a lot of fun because it was a time when we went to about 6 different Bulgarian restaurants around that area. During that time we ate some things like special Bulgarian cheese and some of the other really expensive food that was pretty good and I think it was a pretty exciting day full of fun. One day I hope to go back there again to explore even more and have even more good times like that.
We also had a time while we were there when we had to process our “next step”, which was when we all asked the Lord where the next country was after our time in Sofia, so after some talks between all of us we decided to take a few days and come back and tell each other what kind of things God was sharing with us. So after those days went by, we all talked about it and realized that we were all getting different answers for different reasons. For example, I had a strong feeling about going to Serbia, but Josh or someone else felt like going to Macedonia, so after we all said them to each other, we decided to write the three countries Serbia, Romania, and Macedonia on a piece of paper and then we put them in a hat. After that we all prayed and all agreed that we heard that this place would be the one we go to and so then we told Hunter that he needed to pick the piece of paper up from the hat and as he did that we all felt and agreed that the place was supposed to be in Macedonia and when he opened it up it said Macedonia. We were all really excited and shocked that all 6 of us agreed completely about it and later after looking on AirBnB we chose Ohrid, Macedonia. We all felt God wanted us to stay for a week and had some amazing things for us there. We truly felt like it was going to be a fun time.
When we got to Ohrid, Macedonia we all kind of relaxed and were excited for Fourth of July. We actually were so excited that we made burgers and had fries and it was a very good time of just getting to feel like we were in the United States and I truly found it fun and exciting. We also live near a huge lake called Lake Ohrid and it is one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen because the water is so clear and it was so much fun just getting to view it will all of the others in my team and I definitely won’t ever forget it. We also got to view a really cool looking fortress that is on top of a huge mountain, but the view is so amazing and it just cool to walk by and just talk to travelers that also were there that day. My team and I also decided to go out for a boat ride for like 6 hours where we got just take it all of the views while also talking to some of the people on the boat as well and swimming in the fresh water. It was honestly my most favorite birthday ever and I’m not sure I’ll be able to ever have another one like it. I also got surprised by my team when Emily started doing a rap for me and it was one of the most loving raps I’ve ever heard and they then brought me a cake and said happy birthday and I felt so loved there. I also want to go there again for sure on day and have more amazing places like that as well. God is so good.
In the end, I am really happy for all of the fun adventures God has given me so far on this amazing journey and I can’t wait for more of those experiences with other everyday of my life. It is just awesome to see all of the fun things my teams have done to make me feel so joyful and fun and I’m looking forward to more of those. God will always provide that joy for you in all you do. Blessings to you all.
