Thank you, thank you so much for making my world race journey possible. While it was the hardest, most challenging, and craziest year of my life (thus far), it was also the best. It was a year full of learning, laughter, new friendships, growth, deeper trust, and so much more. I walked away from this journey with 46 new family members and memories that will last me a lifetime. All these things were possible because of you. You heard my cry for help and you answered with “yes.”
A year ago I was able to walk into launch and worship with my squad while we were all still questioning “what was ahead,” “why we signed up for this trip,” and “how was our year going to play out?” We united in those days and then all boarded a plan to Africa
In Mozambique I learned just how many expectations I had and how to let go of the past. I was able to start the process of forgiveness for people who have hurt me and asked myself what that looks like for me, in my life. I struggled to love my team and wanted to go home. I formed a group with two others, DJA, and loved my one on one time with friends. I got vulnerable with my squad, and laid in and fell out of a hammock way too much (if that’s even possible.)
In Swaziland I was a totally different me than the month before. I LOVED my team and applied all the hard feedback I got to help be a better me. I declared it to be a month of “spiritual depth, healing, redemption, forgiveness, spiritual growth, stepping into new things, and release of things from the past and lies holding me down.” I fell in love with a disabled girl named Thetiwe and I humbled myself and painted her toenails (anyone that knows me knows how huge this is…i hate feet.) I walked a teammate through the death of her mom and saw firsthand how “when we are weak, He is strong.” I performed a rap, and a cirque do soil act in front of our house, and was constantly laughing for one reason or another.
South Africa was where I learned that I’m a slight perfectionist and where I learned how to cook. I tapped deeper into my creative side and made our team video. I fasted for the first time and saw God show up in big ways and I realized the power that prayer has. I forgave a man who did me wrong and brought up a bunch of lies, and I shared it with my team instantly instead of holding it in. I fell asleep while watching 8 toddlers and met more Germans than I have in my lifetime. I conquered one of my biggest fears and pushed a teammate to do the same. Speaking of teams, I got a new one before heading off to India.
Oh India. What a struggle it was, but I made it out alive. I learned how to see God’s blessings, in the small things, in places I would rather not be. I learned boldness in a new way as we spread the gospel and ripped idols right off of people’s houses. I fell in love with so many Indian babies and made it a point to hold each and every one I could get me hands on. I ate the spiciest food in my life and loved every bite, I even crave it today. I celebrated my birthday by sitting in my sweat all day, and had to cut my birthday cake with my hand, and later in the month I got my nose pierced. I named a baby, and shared my testimony. I scared my team by slipping and falling into a canal, which happened to be my shower for the next few days. I learned my acceptance in Christ by being somewhat rejected by the Indian people. I had the craziest first day of ministry ever and laughed about it with my teammates at 2am. I rode on a tractor and an 11 person crammed tuk-tuk meant for 4. I slept on church rooftops and had to wear Indian punjabi’s in 100 degree weather.
Nepal was one of my hardest months, but I also learned a lot because of it. I fought with my teammates way too many times and said the hard things that no one wanted to hear. I walked to the fruit stand every chance I got and ate the best and cheapest fruit of my life. I hiked 6 hours up a mountain and 4 hours down and showered a total of 4 times that month including in a river and a waterfall. I attempted to jump off a bridge but was too scared and chickened out. I realized a title doesn’t make you a leader and continued leading by being a follower. I hit the halfway mark of my race and said bye to my best friend. I cried out to God to be my strength and got frustrated when I couldn’t see Him moving. I shared with my squad about my deafness and asked them to join me in prayer for complete healing.
In Thailand I was a beast. I cut bamboo like my life depended on it and I experienced the pain of red ant bites. I spent half the month in an air conditioned house and the other half in my hot tent. I got sick and only drank smoothies and ended up loosing 10 pounds. I ran around like crazy chasing little boys and I fell in love with the sweetest girls ever. I tried mangosteen for the first time and started thinking of ways I could get it in the states. I spent the month with 10 other ladies doing manual labor while our guys were off getting pedicures 😉 I rode an elephant and watched other ones paint pictures. I climbed up and down a waterfall made of sandstone and got the dead skin eaten off my feet by fish. I bought way too many souvenirs and ate way too many magnum bars. I got placed on a new team that totally shocked me and knew I’d be with them for awhile. I worshiped God in a way I never have before and shout out my praises to Him.
Cambodia was a month for travel. I visited three major cites and dealt with the logistics of getting us from places to place. I read books, watched movies, and skyped with my friends from home way too much and wasn’t present with my team. I went to Angkor Wat and was disappointed by my visit until I went to the other temples. I made a little girl cry because I didn’t buy her bracelets and was reunited with USD for the month. I ate exotic fruits everyday and cooked my own meals. I swam in a pool and the ocean in the same week. I ate the best seafood and $1 taco’s of my whole race. I fell coming out of the bathroom three times in a row at one of our hostels. I saw how an election can go bad and saw a country stand up and riot at the results. I discovered a new way to give feedback and encouraged people in ways they would appreciate.
I fell in love with Vietnam. I tried avocado in my smoothie and my life’s been changed ever since. I met the best family of 7 and felt like part of the family myself. I painted/decorated a classroom and fell back in love with creativity. I planned a birthday party for kids with special needs and ended up turning it into a big dance party. I bonded with one of my teammates and laughed the hardest I had all year. I realized for the first time on the race that there was truly no place I’d have rather been. A bike was my main mode of transportation and it was the first time I’d ridden one since childhood. I ate an avocado almost everyday and made friends with the smoothie lady. I lived 5 blocks from the beach and saw the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen in my life. I bargained like no other to be able to afford two scarves instead of one, and I experienced a new kind of rafting when I agreed to go down a river in Vietnam in a two man tube.
In Malaysia I was reunited with Kristen as she came out for month 8 debrief and I loved the time I got to spend with her. I swam to an island for Morgans’s birthday and rode three deep on a motorcycle around Pangkor Island. I lost my closest friend on my team and had some harsh truth said to me at debrief. I decided to be all in for the last 3 months and not hold the small things against people. I hurt my ankle severely on the first day of ministry and was “bed-ridden” the rest of the month. I got a shot in my butt and hobbled to town every Wednesday night to get to the night market. I dressed up like a zombie and was featured in a Halloween video. I watched all 8 Harry Potter movies in 2 days and ate more noodles and fried rice than I ever wanted to. I spent a lot of time with Jesus and was able to step into new gifts from Him. I accepted the position as team treasurer and dealt with money and conversions for the rest of the race.
Middle of nowhere Moldova is where I learned how to love. I experienced a severe winter and then 3 days later nice fall weather. I shucked corn and ate borsch almost every day. I served my team by cooking for them and always surprised them with dessert. I dressed up like Santa to attend a Catholic wedding and made it into all their wedding photos. I got treated like a super star because of my dark skin, but also was loved on so well by the babooshka’s. I worked out consistently and ate so many pears and apples that were in season and freely given to us. I spent a morning on my hands and knees searching for mushrooms in a forest followed by an afternoon of sorting them. I watched a teammate almost blow up our house and couldn’t help but laughing once the fire was out. I set out to be a better teammate and love my team by serving them, giving them words, and encouraging them. I slept with a rolling pin by my bed because a drunk guy scared us at night. I got used to mice running over or near me and just ignored them.
Last but not least in Romania. I fell in love with 2 little boys (David and Ruben) and their parents and was able to serve them all month. I tried to start a revolution within my squad 😉 I cooked at least once a week for 38 people. I ate way too many gummi bears and coconut/carmel chocolate. I slept in a room where people constantly walked in and out to the kitchen and I loved it most of the time. I ran(read hobbled) for my life to escape dogs that were chasing us after we got too close to their house. I shared stories with my squad from the year and sang at a woman’s conference. I cooked the turkey for our Thanksgiving squad meal and walked around with 3 camera for our Thanksgiving outreach for the community. I added myself to another team just because I wanted to, but still was with my team for everything. I went to the thrift store 3 doors down way too often. I planned our squad graduation and delivered the speech of my life as their valedictorian. I celebrated this season and how it was coming to an end. I danced like it was the end and had the time of my life out with my squad mates. I trusted that God would reveal to me what was next and knew His plan was going to be good. I stayed present with my squad and realized I was going to miss them fiercely. I reflected on the journey was thankful for everything that it was.
All this was possible because you believed in me, in AIM, and supported my journey. THANK YOU. I will never be able to say that enough. I am forever grateful to you all and the love you showed me while I was away. The World Race wouldn’t of been possible for me without you. Thank you for the memories you allowed me to have and the lessons I was able to learn. God truly used you guys to teach me a lot about His faithfulness and how He uses those we least expect. I was always blown away when I saw the names of people who donated to me, and I knew that a sign to me from God, so thanks for letting Him use you. Overall I’m so thankful I decided to sign up for the race and was able to complete it. It truly was a year for the books and one I’ll be reflecting on and processing for the rest of my life. Thank you again for making that happen for me.
Stayed tuned for what’s next in my life. I’ll let you know as soon as I know 😉
