When I first signed up for the race, Seth Barnes, the coach of my squad commented on my blog and mentioned Lynette Lee to me.
Lynette is a past World Racer from 2007's B Squad, who's also from San Francisco. I didn't get to connect with Lynette until last week when I went to Promise Land Fellowship for their Saturday night worship service and said hi to Joel, a guy I met a few times before, and met his wife, a kind woman named Anita with a bright smile who opened the doors for me as I crutched around the halls. It turned out Anita is Lynette's sister, talk about a God-sent moment to decrease the degrees of separation between Lynette and I.
So, I did some "racer stalking" (read her blog, looked at her photos) and added Lynette on facebook. Over facebook, I got to ask Lynette a few questions about her race experience.
Jackie: Give me three words to describe your race.
Lynette: Challenging, Adventurous, Amazing
Jackie: Did you have a "comfort" or favorite go to item on the race?
Lynette: My mosquito net that shielded me from all bugs. I hate bugs! It looks like this.
Jackie: Can you share a vivid image that moved you?
Lynette: Nicaraguense are the poorest people in the western hemisphere but richest souls ever! They don't have much but they'll share and give you what they do have to show their love. A couple of the ladies gave me pieces of their jewelry off their bodies before I left.
Jackie: Knowing what you know now, what is something you would have done differently on the race?
Lynette: Enjoy EVERY moment. 11 months may seem like a long time, especially without the comforts of your home but the time goes by SO fast. Be in the moment.
Jackie: How did the race change you?
Lynette: It made me realize that "survivor's guilt" (living a "good" life at home compared to most of the world and feeling guilty about it) is not something that we need to feel. God has called us to both worlds and more. Be love wherever you are, wherever you go because everyone, rich or poor, needs you to be.
Jackie: What are you doing now after the race?
Lynette: Got married, started a family to raise little Racers for the future. But immediately after the Race, I started CorridorOfHope (www.corridorofhope.org) but it has taken a hiatus.
Yes, Lynette's hiatus from running CorridorOfHope is a necessary one these days. She and her husband Arvin recently welcomed the birth of Hope, their beautiful firstborn. It's a season of joy and celebration in the Bautista family.
You can read more about Lynette's world race journey here.
