I posted on social media earlier this week about doing a Q&A blog where you guys could ask me whatever questions you had, and I would do my best to answer them. Some of the questions were pretty similar, so I combined them. I hope these answers give you a clearer look into my year!
What were the best and worst parts of your trip?
The best part has definitely been all of the people. I feel like I have family in 11 different countries now, and that is truly incredible. I like to think it is just a glimpse of what Heaven will look like one day, and I can’t wait for that! I also loved seeing more of the Lord’s creation and just experiencing life outside of Springfield, Mo. The hardest part has probably been missing home. I love my family and am so close to them, so it was really hard to miss out on the special moments. It was also hard to be put in super sad circumstances and have such a burdened heart, but not be able to fix all of it. It really challenged my trust in the Lord and His power.
What was something culturally different that shocked or surprised you?
I really didn’t expect to be the center of attention pretty much everywhere we went. Europe wasn’t as bad because we were able to blend in until we started talking, but this was especially true for Asia and Africa. The excessive amount of attention that strangers gave us merely because of our nationality was super surprising and took a lot of adjustment. Random people honked at us all the time while we were just walking down the street and people would just stop and ask to take selfies with us. I really didn’t understand it, and I also realized that I could never be famous because my tolerance for those people was very low…
Would you move to any of the countries you went to this year?
If I moved to another country it would definitely have to be 100% led by the Lord. I have loved living in these different countries this year but haven’t felt called to live in any of them long-term. To me it is really hard to live in cultures that are so different from my own. Plus I’d really miss my family and Chick-fil-a if I’m being completely honest!
How did the actual trip compare to what you thought it would be?
This is a hard question. I knew this year would be amazing, yet also challenging. And it definitely was both of those things. However, I think it can also sound a lot more glamorous than reality. Traveling around, seeing so many different places, meeting so many people- it all sounds like a dream to me. However, those hard parts were just as real, and at times they really wore me down. They were 100% worth it though. What surprised me most about this year was how easy it was to adjust. My new normal quickly became constant change, and I honestly really enjoyed that for the most part. It was such a contrast from any other way I had lived long-term, but I surprised myself at loving all of the change.
What are the most important lessons you learned from this experience as a whole?
I can’t even begin to cover all that I learned this year. I learned how to see God in different ways and experienced Him leading me like I never had before. I learned a deeper dependence on the God who still has all of the power. He changed my perspective so much, mainly reminding me that this life is not about me. It is so easy to fall into that trap of only thinking about myself while disregarding His desires and the desires of others, but that is so far from how He created us to be. I no longer want to get caught up in the insignificant things in life (complaining or dwelling on things that don’t matter), but instead I want to remain focused on what really matters (representing Christ and furthering the Kingdom). One last thing that He really taught me was the importance of intentional living. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I am doing, there is opportunity everywhere always, and I want to take advantage of every opportunity He gives me. (I’m sure there’s more, but I’ll just leave it at those truth bombs for now!)
Which country was your favorite?
I have different favorite countries for different reasons. My favorite country for ministry was probably Bosnia. As you guys know, we worked with refugees and I just absolutely loved it. My passion for refugee ministry grew so much and I know I want to continue on with it in some capacity. I had amazing hosts all year, so it is so hard to pick a favorite. But at the top of the list was definitely Thailand. Suzy, Kristen, and Sprite were amazing and welcomed us in so well. My favorite location for ministry was probably Vietnam. We were by the beach and mountains, and it was just absolutely stunning all of the time. But another top on all of these categories was Lesotho. It was stunning, and I loved the ministry. We evangelized and taught, all while living in the mountains. We just got to South Africa a few days ago, but I think it is already near the top of that list as well!
Would you ever want to go on the Race again?
I have loved this year and wouldn’t change it a bit, but I would not want to go on the Race again. It is an intense, exhausting year. Through that God has shown me more things than I ever could have imagined, but now I am just excited to live out what I have learned and continue diving deeper into what He is teaching me.
What were your favorite fun adventures that you got to experience this year?
I absolutely loved getting to do so many different things! My favorite adventures were: swimming in a massive waterfall in Indonesia, island hopping in the Philippines, paddleboarding in Bali, petting an elephant in Thailand, exploring Budapest, and riding a horse down a canyon to a waterfall in Lesotho.
How has this trip changed your perspective on life and people?
Oh my, SO MUCH!! Of everything that has changed this year, my perspective is what has changed the most. God opened my eyes to see His people as invaluable, worthy creations. They deserve to be loved, not criticized or judged. He really gave me a new lens through which to see His children and how to best be His light to them. He also showed me a lot about the power of joy and positivity. Sometimes we can’t control our circumstances, but we will always be able to control the lens through which we view them.
Are you apprehensive about going home after a year abroad?
Yes, I am. Honestly this year I haven’t had much culture shock in any of the places that I have been. But I am most nervous for going home and trying to immerse back in after having changed so much. We come from a very influential culture that is very different from the rest of the world. I wouldn’t say it is a bad thing, but I also think that my perspective has changed and my eyes have been opened to so much more. And that doesn’t exactly align with the American way of thinking anymore. So yeah, I think it is going to be difficult to adjust and will take some time. But I am excited to use what I have learned this year and allow it to influence how I live my life back in the States.
What country do you see yourself wanting to go back to out of all of them?
I really want to go back to so many of the countries I have been to this year, whether just to visit or to lead a missions team. I would really love to go back to Thailand, Vietnam, Lesotho, and South Africa.
What is the craziest thing you did this year?
The strange experiences have certainly come in abundance this year, but snuggling with a Cheetah was probably one of the wildest! I also ate a scorpion and ate monkey, which were interesting to say the least (don’t need to experience that again, though…).
What are your plans after you finish the World Race?
SLEEP. That’s the first thing on my list when I get home in December, and I am stoked about that!! But on the real, I plan on resting and just enjoying time with my family and friends through the holidays. I know it will be some much-needed downtime. I would really love to be able to catch up with people and share about this year, so hit me up for some coffee dates after the holidays 🙂 Then in January I haven’t quite made any set plans. I really feel the Lord leading me back into the classroom, specifically Special Education (which completely THRILLS me and even just the thought of it gets me SO PUMPED!!!). I also feel really strongly about doing something with my dream of beginning Special Needs Ministries of some sort in churches, so I will begin pursuing that as well.
Which family member did you miss the most?
Jade. Hands down. (Sorry, Mom)
Thanks for the questions!! I hope this gave you some more insight into what this year has been like. If you are considering doing the World Race and have more questions, hit me up! I would love to answer any of them and help in any way I can.
Countdown to home: 24 days!!!!!
