These are YOUR questions sent to me out here on the mission field! I’ve answered them to the best of my ability and hope this gives you a little glimpse into my journey on the World Race!
Did you feel judged at all at the beginning? Like you weren’t “Christian enough” or was everyone welcoming? Sometimes in Christian groups there’s weird stigmas.
- Yes. YUP. Absolutely. Still maybe right now. But here is the beautiful thing: I sit back now baffled at how I am living on the other side of the world and God chose ME to be here, doing His work, even as a messed up human who fails again and again.
- A little bit of my World Race application story: I applied, interviewed, got accepted, and fundraised for the World Race all during the darkest time of my life. I was in a serious depression, choosing to live in sin every day, and was not talking to God. And I was supposed to be this “super missionary” to go serve God in 11 countries the next year.
- I’m sure there were close friends who knew what I was going through and inside questioned what I was doing, but God held onto me so tight that even though I thought about giving up and not going again and again, something told me not too, somehow I still went.
- I have been pursuing missions since I was a kid, something my parents instilled in me, but I have been “all in” with missions since I was 16 when God captivated my heart in Ecuador. I’ve been on a missions trip every year since and my friends and family have watched my heart for missions become bigger and bigger over the years, so when I announced my biggest one yet, a lot of people said “this makes sense.” I think people fought for me to do this more than I did. Well, that’s not fair, God fought the most for me.
- As far as feeling “judged,” I’d say that I didn’t pay attention to that. Even though I fought it a lot, I knew this is what God’s plan for me was- no one else’s opinion mattered except His. If you are thinking about going on the World Race and struggling with what people will think, here’s some advice: You live and work and do… for an audience of One.
- We are all humans and messed up and maybe labeled “unfit” by the world for ministry in 11 countries in 11 months, but that’s not what God calls us. He calls us chosen, anointed, a daughter or son, and He equips us. Even if you’ve never been a “missions trip” person, WHO CARES! If God is calling you to go, GO! Don’t look back! Run to Him! If He calls you, He will provide and equip you.
What has surprised you most that has come unexpected in the journey?
- EVERYTHING. One of the biggest lessons that I have learned on the race is to drop my expectations. I came with a lot of them- everywhere I go I expect something and it doesn’t turn out how I want or how I expect and I am disappointed. I’ve learned A LOT about surrender, about facing each next adventure with open hands.
- What has surprised me is that I didn’t think that I would love some of the countries we were set to go to, but each one I have left part of my heart in and I love in a new way.
- I didn’t expect that I would NEVER use a tent. I have World Race alumni friends who used their tent 9 out of the 11 months- my squad has technically never had to use it. CRAZY right?! I just sent mine home with my parents in Thailand! I was tired of lugging that thing around when it was never being used.
- I didn’t expect for me to be friends with the people on my squad that I am. I had ideas of who would be my best friends on the race, but God flipped that upside down and the ladies that I now call my best friends are my biggest treasures.
- I didn’t expect God to speak to me so intimately and give me vision and purpose and a clear calling for my future. I am SO excited for where He is taking me.
What camera, software, editing, computer did you bring for your videos?
- I went SUPER simple for the World Race. At Training Camp they gave lots of options and recommendations for travel friendly, best equipment, and most used by World Racers and honestly I didn’t listen to any of it. I didn’t even get that insurance protection policy everyone said I MUST get because your camera WILL break on the race (not a scratch yet).
- I have my Canon camera, not even in a camera bag, just thrown in my backpack (sometimes I’ll throw a t-shirt around it or something), I have my iPhone 8+ for vlogs, and I have an iPad Pro. I have just one 50mm lens and a card reader to get footage on the iPad. I just use iMovie and copyrighted songs I have bought or uncopyrighted songs downloaded from YouTube using a YouTube to mp3 conververter. There are a lot of YouTube users who makes awesome beats specifically for people to use for vlogs so GO HAM.
- You CAN go full out with a laptop, camera equipment, and even purchase FinalCutPro, or you could use your phone or point and shoot camera. It’s all doable. It’s up to you what you want to do. If you have more questions, find me on Facebook and let’s chat!
What has been your biggest struggle and how are you overcoming it?
- There have been a river of struggles throughout the race that come and go. There’s the classic sickness that causes you to be down and out or ministry, and finding a health clinic in a foreign country (or a hospital when you get in a moped accident) that’s always fun. There’s the disagreements with teammates or squadmates that require feedback and reconciliation. I have gone through continued deep emotional healing from my past that has been difficult to walk through. All of us battle homesickness to some degree. I have been on 3 month missions before, so around the 3 month mark my brain was telling me it was time to go home, and yet I still had 8 more months of travel. Missing home, my family, or just good WiFi to hear how they are doing on the other side of the world has brought me many tears on the race- especially when I can’t do anything but pray and encourage when people are going through their own struggles.
- There’s the lack of hygiene or lack of communication or the back problems from sleeping on the ground for months. We’ve had difficulties with our hosts and frustrations because we don’t agree with how they do ministry. I’ve dealt a lot with insecurity on the race as my hair grows back or as I watch my squadmates buy cute outfits and make me feel like a homeless blob of a human.
- Okay but all jokes aside I think my biggest struggles are 3 fold:
- Empathy- I am an extremely empathetic person and when my teammates or squadmates or friends and family from home are going through a hardship, or even just having a bad day, I pick up their burdens and carry them myself. I make it my responsibility to fix whatever problem there is and it leaves me emotionally, spiritually, and mentally exhausted. One of the biggest lessons I learn every single day is to lay it all at the feet of Jesus. Just the other night a friend walked by with red eyes like she had been crying and I immediately start crying as well, wondering what’s wrong and what I can do to help. I had to sit there and physically pretend to take a weight off my shoulders that I had just picked up and set it down and say “there you go, Jesus.” It’s a daily battle.
- Surrender- This word is I think the ultimate goal for every believer. To live a life of complete surrender to the Lord. Every day on the race shows me how much I pick up and want to control and it illuminates areas where I am not trusting God. I learn more and more about this word every day. Surrendering my family, friends, future, my team, my squad, my money, my expectations, my burdens, other people’s burdens, my sin, my shame, my regret, my control, etc.
- Staying present- Part of signing up for the race is signing up to be gone for a whole year. You choose to miss out of your loved one’s lives. I have never been away from my brothers this long- it feels like I am missing a whole year of their lives. I missed weddings and engagements and baby showers- the whole works! Signing up to be racer is looking at all the things you are going to miss and asking “is it worth it?” It’s worth it, but it’s not easy. Staying off social media is a good tool to have cause I catch myself going “ohhhhh {this or that} happened. I wish I was there!” And I have to slap myself and say “You’re in freaking India/Nepal/Thailand for goodness sake!” Staying present is my biggest battle as we venture towards the end of the race where home, a warm bed and shower and family and friends are all so close! God still has work in us and through us to do.
What is the craziest thing you’ve done on the world race?
- Gosh I feel like there is a lot but here are some just to name a few:
- Got thrown off an elephant.
- Went bungee jumping.
- Preached in a small backyard village house in India and a dozen people came to Christ.
- Shaved my head!
- Made a video about shaving my head that went viral!
- Got in a moped accident on the Malaysian highway. Which lead to a CRAZY God thing of becoming friends with a beautiful family from Alabama!
- Had a dance party with a local Nepali woman during a rainstorm.
- Randomly became friends with a woman from Switzerland who let me feed elephants.
- Choreographed and filmed a handful of really fun videos (more to come)!
- Climbed 365 stairs to a temple and fed monkeys.
- Crammed 4 people on a motorcycle.
- Learned guitar and 2 days later lead a worship night!
- 40-60 hour travel days.
- Lead a conversation with 3 unbelieving guys about God’s intention and desire for sex.
Name 1 thing or event that caused you to have the biggest “hand of God moment.”
- Malaysia, just in general. It was our “ATL” month (Ask the Lord) where we don’t have a planned ministry and just pray and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading and based on budget, ended up in a party hostel that frightened and triggered us more than anything. We looked for a way out, feeling uncomfortable, but came to realize this was exactly where God wanted us. The conversations, the friendships, the God-ordained moments again and again made it clear this was where we were supposed to spread light: a very dark place. I saw our hellos, questions, encouraging notes, and prayers start to stir things up in our new friends at this party hostel.
- THEN the moped accident. Something that could have been so much worse, ended up being my highlight! JUST as we crashed, the Boyd family zipped around the corner and saw the wreck and pulled over and they were MISSIONARIES, from HOME, and then we went to church with them, and then had dinners with them, and then did a mini conference with them. WHAT a God moment!
Who have you met along the way that inspired you the most (could be anyone in country, online, team mate, family member, host, random stranger, etc.)
- My teammates and squadmates inspire me the most.
- The Boyd family from Malaysia inspired me how they lived their life.
- In Thailand I volunteered with Agape Home and the founder, Avis, inspired me tremendously. The story of her heart for children battling serious illnesses captivated my heart. Her boldness and tenacity and trust in God floored me. I want to have a story like hers one day where I have absolutely nothing but I trust God anyways and He builds a giant ministry right in front of my eyes.
How has your experience on this journey impacted your relationship with Christ with yourself and with others?
- My relationship with God has grown tremendously! I have more intimacy with Him, more trust, and more boldness to do what He asks. My prayer life changed dramatically (go read The Circle Maker) and I have watched God develop me as a believer through each country. I lead worship now! I didn’t even know how to play the guitar before the race and now I regularly lead the squad into an atmosphere of worship. He has anointed me in spiritual gifts and has grown the fruits of the Spirit in my life. To sum up, my friendship with God has deepened and it’s a beautiful thing.
- I’ve learned more about myself than I actually wanted. I’m a doer, a people pleaser, and a perfectionist and God has spoken into each of those areas and the race has been about UNlearning some things that I’ve been doing for 24 years. I learned about how God made me and where He wants me to go in the future and it’s exciting to dream with Him! I’ve learn more and more every day how I’m wired and how I need to trust Him more in areas and where I need to grow.
- I feel like the race has better equipped me to love others better. I have my eyes open to more uncomfortable or interruptible moments that I can partner with the Holy Spirit in. I’ve grown in forgiveness and reconciliation and learned what it means to love someone by being bold and showing them areas they can grow or areas I can call them higher in.
Has God been teaching you something different in each country that you are in? Or is it one long continues lesson?
- I’ll answer both those questions:
- Continual lesson: Surrender. Every country is about letting go of new things and laying everything at His feet.
- Haiti: Working through shame and loving myself and how God made me. Letting go of expectations and learning to live in community.
- Dominican Republic: Intimacy with God. My prayer life was radically transformed.
- Jamaica: Humility and surrender (this is when I shaved my head).
- India: Wonder and awe and being willing to look like a fool for the sake of the gospel.
- Nepal: Being interruptible! Following the Holy Spirit and giving Him my day with how HE wants.
- Malaysia: Trusting God with my family and being bold to share the darkest parts of my life in an uncomfortable place.
- Thailand: God’s beautiful future for me. And how much He loves me! And how wonderful it is that my parents are just simply my brother and sister in Christ.
- Cambodia: Not carrying other’s burdens but trusting the Lord with my people.
- Ethiopia:
- Stay tuuuuuuned.
What has been your favorite country?
- Nepal, no wait India, no wait Malaysia, wait Ethiopia has been pretty dope. Shoot. Well each country comes with it’s own unique taste and I’ve left my heart in each of them so far. Ministry-wise? I loved Nepal and Malaysia which were our ATL (Ask The Lord) months where we followed the Spirit’s leading and it was AWESOME. Favorite culture? Thailand! Or Nepal! I definitely want to go back to both.
Were you able to be involved in fighting human trafficking?
- Yes! In Thailand we got to partner with a brand new human trafficking ministry and become friends with some amazing women who have come out of difficult situations. We got to do some yard work and cleaning for their new safe house. And the best part was when our parents came, we got to walk the red light district and cover the streets in prayer for God’s kingdom. I can’t wait to see the revival and change that happens in Chiang Mai regarding human trafficking.
Have you been liking the food you have been eating? What kind of food have you experienced?
- Oh me oh my! It’s the best and worst thing on the race. There are months like India when I ate rice and curry every morning, noon, and night and could barely stomach it by the end of the race (mostly because I threw it up one of the first nights so I didn’t ever want to eat it again, but I had no choice); and then there were months like Malaysia where I was living in Penang which is awarded the best place to eat in the world- the falafels I had that month were my GOLD. I absolutely LOVE Thai food- only had it in Thailand the 2 times I’ve gone so you best believe I’ll be looking for local Thai restaurants when I get back to the States!
What’s the weirdest thing you have eaten (by American standards)?
– My DAD ate a fried scorpion when he came to Thailand! I have tried some pretty weird looking fruits over here that I can’t pronounce the name of. But the weirdest food was weird looking things that LOOK like treats in Malaysia, but are actually testicals of some kind.
What has been your favorite country so far and what makes it your favorite?
Here’s my plan: At the end of the race I’m going to rate each country based on culture, food, ministry, living arrangements, things I learned, etc. and come up with a for REAL answer for y’all. Right now Thailand is my favorite culture, India is my favorite ministry, and Malaysia is my favorite food. We will see who comes out on top.
Name three things that you would take from this experience and 10 years from now. Is still relevant ?
- Listening Prayer- WHO KNEW YOU CAN ACTUALLY SIT AND LISTEN TO GOD INSTEAD OF JUST TALKING HIS EAR OFF?! He says such wonderful things! We have a sweet Father/daughter relationship.
- Spiritual gifts- Y’ALL, visions, discernment, prophecy, speaking in tongues; it’s all changed my life.
- A new calling on my life! (see last question)
How many times have you flossed since the race started?
- I’m going to say MAYBE four times. WAIT give me a second… okay now five. I don’t think y’all really want to know about my hygiene on the race.
Out of all the travels and places and ministries, you have to be thinking about next steps post world race. Is there a place in the world you are feeling called to, a kind of ministry God is inviting you into, or are these questions you are putting off until it is all done?
- THIS, is a question I have delayed in blogging about and sharing with the world but the question I am SO sure of. It has taken me a WHILE to come to terms with it for a number of reasons: I have been known as the missionary girl. I felt shame for a while in sharing that God was calling me to a specific place and people because it didn’t seem “missionary” enough. Eventually I will type up a WHOLE blog about how it has all come about, but here it is in one sentence: God is calling me to Hollywood. Yup. You read that right. I struggled with it for months, had friends pray over me, shaved my head because of it, and eventually God gave me verses and promises and even someone on my squad with the same call, and I finally accepted it. My battle was “I’m known as the missionary back at home. How can I go on this giant missions trip and then come home, people expecting me to move to a remote village in Africa, and then I say I’m called to Hollywood of all places?” When it came down to it… God showed me it is how He created me, it is a place in desperate need of someone like me, He is going to take me there, He has given me community and a partner to do so, and it doesn’t matter what people think or expect of me, THIS is what God has for me. BIG THINGS. He has shown me what it means to Dream BIG with Him. That’s the short story- I’ll eventually fill you all in in a future blog, but that’s God’s call on my life and I’m really excited about it.
Thanks for asking your questions! I had so much fun answering them!
I will do another Question and Answer at the very end of the race to fully give a bigger picture!
All my love,
JJ
