In my last post, I invited you to ask questions about my experience on the Race. I compiled the questions and responded to the best of my ability. What you always have wondered:
- What was your favorite country?
- The combination of the impossible task of choosing a favorite country compounded by the number of times this question is asked could make this the most frustrating question that a Racer gets asked.
- Every country was unique. As well as the experiences in each. Choosing a favorite country would be like asking a parent to choose their favorite child. It can’t be done. There are things that I like and could have done without in every country.
- Albania was the first country, so it was new and exciting. Also, I was working at a day camp for kids and living on a farm, so that was a lot of fun.
- In Romania we had All Squad Month, so the whole squad was together, which was fun. We also got to visit Greece and Transylvania, so that was pretty awesome.
- In Malawi, my team had our first month by ourselves, so we had a great time coming together as a community (of course, there always are growing pains).
- In Zambia I had one of the most incredible spiritual experiences of my life (more on that later).
- In Cambodia, Katie, Stacey, and I recently had been raised up as Squad Leaders, so we spent the month shadowing Christina, Kay, and Logan (the Alumni Squad Leaders). I had a lot of fun hanging out with the five of them. And we got to hang out in Siem Reap, visit Angkor Wat, travel from Phnom Penn to Siem Reap by boat, and do adventure bingo in Phnom Penn as a new team.
- Thailand was Manistry (all of the men were on a team together). And the ministry was awesome. And Thailand is beautiful.
- I spent Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, which is as developed and advanced city as you’ll find anywhere. That was a nice respite from discomfort in the middle of the Race.
- Ecuador was my first country in South America. And I loved living with my host family – that was such an incredible experience.
- While we were in Peru, I got to spend a fair amount of time in Lima, which is a really cool city. And we had the Parent Vision Trip (PVT in the Adventures in Missions (AIM) abbreviations parlance), which was way cool.
- Bolivia was restful as we approached the end.
- Chile was our last stop. The ministry was awesome. And Patagonia was incredible.
- What did you learn?
- I spent 11 months traveling around the world, experiencing numerous cultures very different from my own, living in constant community, and being engaged (to be married) – I learned more than I possibly could recognize or communicate.
- A few highlights:
- God is present and active in our world today. (Which, unfortunately, means that so are the forces of the enemy.)
- God desires personal relationship with each and every one of us.
- Nobody cares what you know until they know that you care. I naturally am a very task-oriented, low-relational person, so learning how to be (more) relational was an awesome and challenging experience.
- Love is a choice.
- Being tall, white, and blonde, and having a beard make you very popular (or at least fascinating) outside of the US and Europe.
- We have a tremendous quantity of comforts, conveniences, and luxuries in the States that many people around the world couldn’t imagine.
- Most of the world eats lots of carbs, with some veggies and meat. Rice, potatoes, bread, and pasta have been ubiquitous.
- What was the hardest part?
- Learning to hear God’s voice and follow His instruction. I still don’t do this very well, but I have come a long way.
- What is one challenge that you have encountered that was unexpected?
- I do not travel well. It wears me out. And I’ve been sick a couple of times on travel days.
- What is one thing from the Race that you will miss when you come home?
- Constant community. As someone who is not relational by nature, being forced to live in community has been really special (and uber-challenging).
- Do you have one experience that has really stood out beyond what I imagine to be countless incredible moments? A moment where you really felt like God moved.
- Deliverance in Zambia. Without question. Check out my teammate Deb’s video recap.
- What is one new aspect of God that you have discovered while on the Race?
- He desires personal relationship with us. He wants to talk with us, not just a one-way prayer or commandment.
- He is present and active in our world today.
- What does God look like to you now?
- God is an incredibly patient, loving Father. He knows what is best, and tries to tell us, but allows us to stumble our way through things until we (finally) turn to Him for help. Then He gives us that loving smile, and shows us where we messed up. There still have to be consequences for our actions, but He does not enjoy seeing us suffer.
- How does He speak to you?
- Usually through impressions. Occasionally in visions – He’s shared a few visions with me while I’m running. Also through other people, songs, scripture, etc.
- How do you see this past year changing your future? Both immediately and long term plans?
- Short-term: I will seek out community much more than I did previously. I have become more intentional in my personal relationship with God.
- Long-term: I recognize my life and my blessings as gifts from the Lord, which I want to steward well in sharing, caring, and returning to Him. This year has made my relationship with Him my highest priority.
- What is something you’d want everyone to know after your experience?
- God is present and active in our world today, and He desires personal relationship with each of us.
- What is a strange habit that you picked up on the Race?
- I don’t use water to brush my teeth. In many of the places we’ve been, it hasn’t been safe to do so, and now I just don’t even think about it.
- What was the best food you tried?
- I had a heaping plate of fried rice in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Siem Reap, Cambodia for $2. It was delicious, filling, cheap, and I was with a great group of friends.
- What was the grossest thing you ate?
- I tried chambo (fish) in Malawi.
- I ate a (fried) cricket in Cambodia.
- I did not much care for nsima (or nshima) – corn meal, which is a staple in Africa.
- How in the world have you survived not being able to spend quality in-person time with your fiancée?
- Not easily. Although she has had a more difficult time than I. I am planning to post a blog in the next weeks with a little more info – stay tuned.
- Are you better prepared to love your future bride as Christ loves His Church?
- What an excellent question. Yes – I have a much better understanding of who Christ is and how He loves, how can I not be more prepared to emulate His example?
