11 questions I have been asked quite a bit lately. Part 2- feel free to check out Part 1!
1. How’s it going?
It’s going. The World Race has been a huge part of my life for the last 16 months or so- there isn’t a day where I don’t think about some aspect of what I need to get done, my fundraising status, etc. I began this process in a whirlwind, as, I would say, it’s almost intended to be. You sign up, fundraise and prepare for a few crazy months, and then launch… the emotions of the adventure, the abrupt right-turn down a completely different path in life, the excitement of what God is going to be doing… that momentum carries you through.
That momentum is gone, friends; this has been a long 16 months. Don’t get me wrong, I am still excited for what God is going to do over my Race, but the whole frenzy of emotions have settled down long ago. Which, honestly, might be why God decided to have me wait. Perhaps MY experience (every Racer’s experience is different) with signing up was too focused on the “adventure” of it all and not truly what God had in mind for me.
Also- I am so thankful I waited. I have important relationships in my life now I would have missed out on if I had launched in January. I am more invested in my church family now than I was before; I feel like I have a support base here now, more so than I did before. There has been reconciliation, forgiveness, healing- all of which would’ve been different (or perhaps, not possible) from the other side of the world. I’m not the same person I was 16 months ago.
2. Wait, where are you going again?
Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines), Africa (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi), and Europe (Ukraine, Romania, Albania, Greece). Our route has changed once already (many other WR routes are being diverted to Greece as well, to assist with the refugee crisis) but that’s what it is as it stands right now.
3. When do you leave (launch)? Is it possible you would have to defer again?
October 2, 2016. It’s official; I had to raise $10,000 to leave, I have met that deadline so I am set to launch in October.
4. So, you’re going with your church?
This question confuses me, if only because of how often it’s asked. My church family has been critical in my support raising, but the organization my trip is through is Adventures in Missions. Check ‘em out– they have other trips all over the world of varying lengths for all ages.
5. How much do you have left to raise?
This moment, I have $12,969 raised, which means I only have $3,592 left to raise! God is so good! Again, I am launching in October even if I don’t raise anything else from now until then- however, I would love to launch fully funded so I don’t need to fundraise from the field. Officially, the total $16,561 needs to be raised by January 31, 2017.
6. What are you doing when you get back?
Uff da! Shower. Cry. See my friends and family. Process. Work through the beast they call “reentry”. Miss my 11 different homes I had established around the world. So much photo editing. Starbucks. Chipotle. Miss my squad.
Those are a given- everything else is up in the air- so much so, I hesitate to even discuss it. I believe my call in life is cross-cultural full-time missions, who knows how that will be shaped or changed over my 11 months… As I look forward to coming back to the States, I literally draw a blank as to what that will look like. Part of going on the World Race is trusting that God will catch me as I return and continue to show me the path He has carved out for me, right now, He hasn’t really shown me anything. Which I’m good with- one step at a time.
7. What country/region are you the most/least excited for?
I feel like Asia is going to be the most stretching for me (perhaps it’s because it’s my first region, or the possibility of working with human trafficking victims, or???).
Africa is a wild card- I have no idea what to expect, but I am so excited.
Europe… Romania, especially- I have wanted to go serve in Romania for as long as I can remember.
Basically, every country is both exciting and terrifying to think about.
8. What, in general, are you the most nervous/excited about?
I’m most nervous about the food. I think. And getting sick. I’ve never been on a cross-cultural missions trip before… I guess I don’t really know what to expect so I don’t really know what I should be nervous about.
I am excited for so much. In no particular order: People. Healing. The Holy Spirit to work in ways I have never personally experienced before. Stories. Pictures. “Off”/ “Adventure” days. Travel days. Being stretched beyond recognition. Community. New friends. Bringing Kingdom. Giving God glory wherever we go. Introducing people to Jesus. Worshiping in other languages. Falling in love over and over again. Caring for children wherever I go.
9. How are you staying in touch with people back home?
I’m not! See you in September 2017!
Just kidding.
Well, this blog is a good start. This is my official place to post stories, pictures, and videos while overseas. You can subscribe to receive updates.
Also-Facebook, Facetime, email, etc., when I have Wi-Fi. I will not be bringing a phone so I won’t be able to call/text. I’ve debated on how connected I want to stay- if only because I don’t want anything to distract me from what is happening in the moment wherever I am. That being said, I feel a responsibility to share as much as possible with my supporters. I want you guys to experience what I’m experiencing and how God is changing lives around the world as much as possible. I’m brining a DSLR to capture the beauty and, perhaps, the heartache of the places I’m going, and a simple point-and-shoot camera to record video updates (because I know that is how many feel the most connected to a story). That being said, many times I won’t be able to photograph at my ministry sites and, for the sake of being “present”, I won’t want to- so blog posts will be my most consistent way of sharing the stories of people I interact with.
10. Are you really going to live in your tent for 11 months?
Probably not. A lot of the time we will be staying in hostels/at ministry sites, etc., but I am still bringing my tent, mostly because if I need it, I’ll need it.
11. How can I help?
- I’ve heard it said that if we really knew the power of prayer, we would never stop praying. Today, as I prepare, and while I’m overseas, I need your prayers.
- Subscribe for updates. Shoot me an email ([email protected]) if you would like to receive emails with more specific updates/prayer requests.
- Send me: Donate.
- Share my blog.
Thank you all! If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!
