A few weeks ago I
asked what questions people may have, here are the responses!
What one thing wasn’t at ALL like you envisioned
before you launched about the Race in general and about Squad life?
Being able to create
so many opportunities out of regular daily circumstances. I knew ministry was
in everything I did before the Race, but the Race allows you to have fun with
trial and error. I think there’s a drive to be more willing to make yourself look
like a fool knowing you have a month to make this month count. I’ve enjoyed
being able to learn so many vast things and just have the opportunity to TRY. I
envisioned getting to try multiple things, but never thought it would be to
this extent.
With Squad Life, I
really had no idea we would grow as close as a unit. It was a beautiful
community last month as we had five teams together. It was amazing to witness
how vulnerable people were willing to be and how powerful worship was a group.
I love getting to interact as a squad, what seemed like a huge group to travel
with on our first travel day to Cambodia; now feels like a tight group of fun
friends.
What’s been your favorite country so far? Why?
Ethiopia! I have a
strong emotional tie to the country which has a vast part of it, but the
contacts we met there were incredible. The work HopEthiopia is doing is
amazing! Getting to be out in the middle of no where was 1, beautiful! And 2,
it was such a blessing to see being done by the locals to uplift the community.
The children would run up to us every time we stepped outside and seeing the
sites of their rich cultural history was a true gift.
What’s been your least favorite country so far? Why?
Least favorite…this
is hard to be honest… Uganda was the most culturally shocking. It was a great
month of getting to know our host family but my understanding of sharing the
Gospel is vastly different to their practices which made door to door difficult.
I enjoyed getting to learn, but it was tiring and difficult at times.
What’s the hardest part (or one of) about being on the
World Race?
Good question, the
obvious answer is missing friends and family and communicating throughout the
race to catch up on the moments I’m missing. But as a little less obvious
hardest thing… would be: seeing squdmates be sick. It hasn’t been fun to see
teammates in agony over malaria, typhoid or a broken toe. You know they just
want to be at home in their bed, but instead are using a squatty potty. Truly,
everyone has been a champ when sickness hits and have been strong through it
all.
What’s an area that has come naturally for you while
being on the race?
Being flexible! I’m
grateful for the opportunities that we had as a family to move a lot. It has
made adapting to each month quite easy. I’m now using the packing and unpacking
method every month as we create new roots every four weeks. It’s helped to adjust
each month by diving in and living in the moment month by month.
Have you gotten sick at all?
Yep! …it turned into
a great bonding moment with the new squad leader team. You never want to get
sick when you’re not home, I felt gross for that day, but luckily we had great
caretakers (thanks ASQLs!) and Might Ducks was a great remedy. God showed up in
cool ways as we were feeling awful but reached out in prayer only to receive
great relief!
Is there a country you wish you were going to?
South Africa was on
our original route! I would have loved the opportunity to get to go there as so
many loved ones have already been. One day I’ll get there!
What do you miss most about life here in America?
I miss easy
accessible bathrooms.. And reliable good ice cream….. But on the realz… I miss
accessibility to friends and family. Even though I didn’t live to close to
everyone, it was nice being able to pick up the phone and ring over a few
states and not have to think ‘oh wait, everyone I know is sleeping.’ Also, I
can’t very easily get in the car to drive up for a nice weekend of catch-up.
I’m so grateful for friends and family who are patient and understanding about
the lack of communication and visiting for 11 months!
Any food/drink you miss?
Yes and no. Good
food hasn’t been a struggle to find as we’ve had sweets where ever we’ve been
and I’ve eaten real well the past 7 months as people continue to show us
‘their’ food.… But I do miss reliable ice cream, Honey Bunches of Oats, hot
fresh chocolate chip cookies and fresh apples (up to this month). Really I just
miss the opportunity to cook and bake. Although we’ve had a few kitchens along
the race, there’s been little room for experimenting as there are limited
groceries or appliances to cook on. But in the meantime, I’ll take the
opportunity to cook over a coal stove, making no-bake cookies by melting the
chocolate in the sun.
Who is Jesus to
you today? What is your perception of the person and/or deity of Jesus? b. Has
that image of Jesus changed since you started?
My understanding of
Jesus hasn’t changed, but rather just grown in better understanding of what His
relationship with others can look like. His life is the perfect example of
hands on ministry, and people around the world are living to be like Him. It’s a
miracle, all orchestrated by God, that one man can have a vast impact on the
world, in many nations, through many languages, through lots of love to
demonstrate who God our Heavenly Father is. He is a point of being able to
relate to everyone. As He is everyone’s Savior,
I have a point in common with everyone I meet, no matter the place. Something
that left a mark on my race, was when I was told ‘wear Jesus on your skin.’
This saying is a reminder to me to make sure all the love, grace, joy and peace
I receive from my relationship with Jesus is what I carry when meeting with
others.
2. a. Who is Katie to you today? What is your
perception of the person/image of Christ that is you? b. Has that image of you
changed since you started?
Uftah!!! Big question! I would probably need to
send you my journal to fully answer this question. But I’ll attempt to
summarize some of the main bullet points… Today I am more confident and willing
to express my desire to lead. As the Race has provided greater understanding of
my leadership abilities and I enjoy challenging myself to continue to grow from
prayer rather than what steps I’ve learned about leading. I am more willing to
bring up the Gospel in a two minute conversation than ever before. I am a
crier; something I was not before leaving the States. I am compassionate and my
heartbreaks for seeing communities with little resources. My joy stems from God
and His constant gift of it; I wouldn’t say this is different, but just going
after it more and more. I enjoy playing the guitar in front of others but need
to work on this one. I seek to make what could be not so fun circumstances to
be fun and memorable; for instance going snowboarding without power in the lift
and having a blast. I desire to ask the hard questions and to hear what
individuals are learning. Also, as one who before the race depended on what
othes had to say in order to make a decision; I’m learning how to make God’s
influence be of greater priority. Christ in me is the reason I have any point
of relation with others. His compassion and grace for me has set me free and
I’m able to live more confidently in who I am; owning my past, my
characteristics and desires. I’d say the image has evolved. As He knew who I
would be since the beginning of time, it’s just taken me the understanding of
depths of His purpose for me to want to understand and own more of that image.
As I’m recognizing the power He takes over my life, I’m giving notice for the
sphere of influence I have with it. Ultimately, I’m learning a lot as I’m
learning more and more how to have my eyes opened to how God sees me.
3. a. Now that you have more of the race behind you
than you have in front of you, what is your vision for when you re-enter
“normal” (whatever that is) living? Once you no longer have the
activities of the race and the supporting scaffolding around you, how will you
continue to grow into the woman you are meant to be?
b. Has your vision for your future changed since
you started?
Vision for the life
after the race is that nothing would stop me from being real and being me; that
I wouldn’t let ‘normalcy’ or habits I had before the race get in the way of
this path of learning and growing. I desire to go after moments that seem crazy
that are made awesome by God’s handiwork. I desire to see appointments as
divine appointments. I hope to continue living in community that is desiring
more and more of God. It’ll be hard to ‘re-enter,’ it will probably be the
biggest cultural shock yet, but I’m hopeful that a continual pursuit of God
will direct what the day-to-day looks like and how I can continue to grow. I
hope I don’t settle for things that could be easy, but rather to take the
risky, somewhat crazy path.
“The Circle Maker ” (a great book!)
has encouraged me to pray through the things we see as future possibilities in
order for God to continue to shape and mold them into plans. So with that, it’s
always been a desire to open a space for at-risk teens to come to be teenagers,
be loved on and cared for and encouraged to live within their greatest
potential. I always thought I had to be
older with grave experience and knowledge, but on the race I’ve met Kingdom
builders who have started with faith and courage and let God do the rest. I
desire to live in the moment and to strive for bigger and bigger dreams as I’m
stretched and molded. I’m not sure how this will develop, but I’m excited to
keep this as a goal and make sure my actions between now and then are lessons
learned and building steps!
Thanks for asking!
All these required some great reflecting, which I quite enjoyed! If there is
ever another question that comes to mind, ask away. I’ve realized in skype
calls and emails, that there’s no way to illustrate all that is happening as we
get a chance to see God’s Kingdom at large. It’s a privilege to share what I’m
experiencing. Have a great day!
