11×11

11… 

1. Random cravings

1. Nachos 
2. Mushrooms 
3. Fruit snacks
4. Ruffles (all-dressed or salt and vinegar) 
5. Gatorade
6. Saltine crackers
7. Steamed vegetables
8. Leafy greens 
9. Good pasta
10. Pretzels
11. Pears

2. Practical learning opportunities: How to… 

1. Crochet 
2. Pick out nits and lice
3. Navigate foreign countries – often upon arrival 
4. Muddle my way through conversations I don’t fully understand 
5. Sign the alphabet “fluently” 
6. Braid friendship bracelets  
7. Make chapati, mandazi, tortillas, pupusas… basically all sorts of carby goodness
8. Strum different patterns on guitar and ukulele
9. Fold origami envelopes, hearts, and cranes  
10. Be a better bilingual teacher 
11. Bargain boldly 

3. Things I won’t miss

1. Waiting for laundry to dry in humid weather 
2. The howling of all the neighborhood dogs at night
3. Packing a lot of things or people into small spaces 
4. The bugs – malarial mosquitoes, lice, package-defying ants, “junebugs” – and the bites
5. Fighting to get on public transportation during rush hour 
6. Obnoxious car horns/traffic noise
7. Standing out on the streets 
8. Dusty roads and dirty feet 
9. Ugandan speed bumps 
10. Sweating 24/7
11. The team phone ringtone 

4. Things I will miss 

1. Spontaneous a cappella 
2. Street food 
3. Team time 
4. House visits
5. Always having someone to talk to 
6. Worship in other cultures and languages
7. Holding hands with children all around the world 
8. Getting around by interesting modes of public transportation
9. Random ministry opportunities
10. Serving logistically 
11. My Z Squad family

5. Moments I cherish dearly (in country order)

1. Playing soccer with Muchiga no-longer street boys
2. All-squad worship on Halloween
3. The Great Ethiopian 10K Race
4. Helping Eden learn how to stand by herself
5. Paragliding over the Himalayas
6. Building trust and relationship with Chanan 
7. Receiving photos from my fourth-graders 
8. Visiting our hosts (and another team) in Gua Musang 
9. Inventing activities for our English classes
10. Hugs from my first-graders 
11. Making music with our host

6. Things that will probably make me disproportionately emotional after the Race

1. North American prices
2. Finding myself alone at an airport
3. Landing at YVR
4. My first hot shower
5. Extra rolls of toilet paper in the cupboard under the bathroom sink
6. Mama’s home cooking 
7. Waking up in my room by myself 
8. Trying to pick an outfit 
9. Walking around my neighbourhood and driving 
10. First Sunday back at CTBC 
11. Anything that reminds me of anyone or anything from the Race 

7. Best packing purchases/decisions (in no particular order) 

1. Sleeping bag liner
2. Kindle
3. Passport holder/travel day lifesaver/logistics carryall
4. Charles Schwab debit card
5. Multiple-charge power bank
6. Scissors, tape, pencil crayons and paper 
7. Vegetable peeler
8. Solid shampoo bar
9. Collapsible hanger
10. Rain jacket
11. Tiger balm 

8. Superlatives (with a little inspiration from Carly)

1. Favourite country in Africa: Rwanda
2. Favourite country in Asia: Thailand 
3. Favourite country in Central America: Nicaragua 
4. Favourite ministry: Sarah’s Covenant Homes
5. Favourite city: Antigua, Guatemala 
6. Favourite transportation: Songtao (Thailand) 
7. Favourite adventure: Caretaker for a day at an elephant sanctuary
8. Favourite food(s): Rolex for breakfast, Thai school lunch, Indian street food for dinner
9. Lowest cost of living: Cambodia
10. Cutest children’s activity: Duck Duck Goose 
11. Longest travel day: Kuala Lumpur to Guatemala City (44 hours flight to flight, or 53 hours hostel to hostel) 

9. Newfound appreciation for

1. Cars like Noah, Jeeps, and pick-up trucks (or any vehicle that has flexible passenger and luggage space) 
2. Reliable and accessible electricity
3. Potable, running water
4. Hot showers and driers 
5. Napkins and all manner of towels (paper, dish, hand, beach, shower, etc.) 
6. Fresh bread and real toast
7. Abundant availability of choice 
8. Sidewalks and streetlamps 
9. Accurate menus
10. Wastebaskets  
11. Routine and seasons 

10. Firsts

1. Stepping foot on African soil
2. Cooking on a charcoal stove
3. Safari (and camping out in a national park)
4. Preaching
5. Riding a motorcycle
6. 5K and 10K races
7. Lighting a gas stove
8. Painting walls 
9. Planting banana trees 
10. Leading worship in Spanish 
11. (Legit) zip-lining 

11. Lessons

1. Blessing can take many forms. 
2. Evidence of God’s grace is everywhere. 
3. I am good and I am enough. 
4. I can hear and discern God’s voice. 
5. God calls me to a life of radical servanthood. 
6. How to share. 
7. How to be resourceful. 
8. How to be for people. 
9. Prayer is the same in every language. 
10. To be holy where my feet are. 
11. Seek the Kingdom in everything. 

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This blog post is not just information overload, or a collection of lists. These are 121 facets of my experience on the World Race. Each bullet point comes with a story, like the time we tried to learn how to twist weave into African hair, or the day I forgot the lyrics to “Lean On Me” on stage, twice.

As I prepare to come home, I am trying to process as much of my time on the field as possible, to be able to put it all into words. As you prepare for me to come home, please keep in mind that a lot happens in eleven months, stateside or abroad. I’m excited to share everything with you; some days, I may even crave an opportunity to externally process. But what you want to hear about may be different from what someone else wants to know, and I will need time and practice and grace to sort it all out.

And don’t think for a moment that your year pales in comparison to mine, because it doesn’t. What you have experienced, and learned about yourself and God, is equally valuable and worth sharing. Let’s ask specific questions and tell stories of God’s faithfulness and glory together. 

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If you want to hear more about the journeys behind the lessons I learned and the people I met whose stories impacted me, please attend one of my supporter thank-you events. I prefer not to share the details publicly, so please e-mail me if you are interested.