Thank you for all of the amazing questions that were asked! This not only helps you understand what all happened through my Race, but also helps me to process my Race a little more. I tried to answer all of your questions as best that I could. Hope this answers what you were looking for.
Index:
- Black: General Questions
- Teal: Fun Ones
- Maroon: Specific Country (Oman)
- Purple: Favorites
- Blue: God and how He moves
- Orange: Culture/Culture shock
- Green: Do it again
- What is your key advice for a future racer?
- There things: Don’t quite, Be open, and Love always
- No matter how hard it gets don’t quit! Its not always going to be easy, fun, and exciting. There will be moments that will make you wonder why you even came on this trip, but whatever you do don’t quit. God works through the messy and struggling moments; I would almost say that we start to draw so much closer to Him in those moments. One of my teammates told me, “don’t decide to go home on a bad day.”
- I would also say be open to everything and anything, because you may never know where it might lead. Talk to that stranger, hike that mountain, stay at that rundown place, etc. Just be open to all the opportunities around you!
- Always choose to love those around you. Love the people that are driving you crazy, love the people even when you are tired, love them at your best and at your worst. Read Bob Goff and learn how to Love in incredible ways!
- What’s the most interesting situation you found yourself in that you never expected to be in, or were not necessarily trained to do?
- There are so many!! The first one I can think of was in China. Our Airbnb ended up being a sham. We were picked up by a family and brought to a house with no air conditioning, dust everywhere, and TONS of mosquitoes. Yet we stayed, connected with the family, got to know their culture, and saw Jesus breakthrough to their lives. (Read God’s Number Four for more details!)
- I don’t think we could ever really be fully trained for the things and situations God puts us in, it just has us rely on Him that much more. One thing I was not ready for was how heartbreaking it was to leave each country and the people we met.
- Has the coronavirus effected your ability to travel recently?
- Yes, sadly we were sent home within our 8th month. My team was with a sweet, sweet family and we hardly had time to say our goodbyes. It was honestly a devastating blow to us all. (read The Virus that Sends Us Home)
- How do you afford to go to all these different countries?
- Well, we had to fundraise for it all! It was a lot of work and took a lot of trust in God to do it. However, He is faithful and provides.
- Have you encountered any hardships on the Race that have made you more compassionate to others?
- You’ll hit a lot of hardships throughout the Race. It may be hard for you within your team or with outside forces. One thing I’ve learned and am still learning is to be bold and speak about what concerns you. Be honest with your team and keep pushing through the hard conversations. It’ll be hard, but it makes a difference.
- How receptive were people to the gospel?
- People were often willing to hear and listen to us speak. We usually tried to grow a connection or relationship with people before ever really bring the gospel into play. Jesus works in many different ways.
- I think those who already had an idea of Jesus were the hardest to explain the relationship we carried with Him. For example: the Nepali people just combined Jesus with all their other gods, he wasn’t important for salvation, Muslims see him as prophet, etc.
- Is it true that white people can’t dance?
- Yes, yes it is! We learned many different cultural dances throughout our journey. We learned that Ethiopians uses more of their shoulders, India is all in the hips, Georgia brings the arms out with some folk music, etc.
- I’ve learned that I can’t dance! But no matter, these people will try to get you up on the stage. They may laugh and you may too, but it’s the effort that counts, right? I’m pretty sure every local would laugh at my attempts!
- How many laws did you break?
- Too many to count! But I may just keep this one a secret!
- A few words to describe Oman.
- Absolutely beautiful, stunning, and hospitable!!
- Amongst all which one is more hospitable and a low standard of living?
- Oman was probably the most hospitable. I mean people would offer to give you a ride even if it was hours out of their way. They would invite you into their homes, feed you, and have great conversations. They were crazy kind.
- Which country was your favorite?
- This is a hard but easy question. China was by far my favorite. I loved the people and culture, the family we stayed with, God really moved through me during our time there, and everything was all so new!
- China was my favorite country for ministry. Our Chinese family was amazing and so kind. I didn’t quite like the food as much as I wished, but the people were incredible. We saw God work wonders in this country.
- Oman was probably my favorite scenic wise. It had so much beauty to it that I can hardly explain. We went to a place called Wadi Shab that felt like a dream in itself. It was a canyon that one has to swim through the river/stream below to get to the magnificent sites and cave.
- My top counties: China, Oman, and Azerbaijan
- What did you find most interesting regarding the etiquette of other countries vs America?
- People are a whole lot kinder and more willing to talk than Americans. They want to have a conversation with you, invite you to tea or dinner, and show you their world.
- Favorite part of Trip? Worst? Funniest? Dangerous?
- My favorite part was watching God move through me and my teammates as we traveled.
- Worst part was leaving friends and family from each country
- Funniest was all the crazy situations that I somehow got myself in!
- Dangerous: well in Turkey we were told to lay low, but our host said that we should check out the country concert one night. Little did we know that this was a concert about wars that their country has been through. Not the best place to be when one is trying to “lay low.”
- Favorite/surprising new thing you tried?
- Running a 10K was something very new to me (I’ve only ever ran a 5K!) and this time we had no idea how were even going to get in. It was a fun story! (Read Run the Race)
- What was your favorite meal? Anything you wouldn’t eat?
- I loved eating camel in Oman. I didn’t expect that to be so tender and good! Also eating it with rice and your hands just adds to the growing flavors.
- I probably won’t have tofu anytime soon! I had a lot of different variations in China with our host family, and I think I had my fill for life!
- What nickname was your favorite?
- This is hard because I acquired a lot of nicknames throughout this. I loved Larry and Little League quite a bit. When a little girl called me Lealou was so sweet. (Planning on writing a blog about this actually!)
- Favorite mode of transportation?
- I honesty have a lot of fun on trains! We met quite a few people on them and had many crazy stories from them. Although I really did want to experience the cargo ship across the Caspian Sea, maybe next time!
- Will you ever sleep?
- Probably not!
- Do you like coffee now?
- Nope, its still too bitter for me and it keeps me up WAY too late! (Thinking about a blog about this)
- Will you keep wearing skirts?
- Well, I am a teacher and they are a whole lot of fun. You can do so much in a skirt! (Another blog post?)
- What was the most moving/significant moment in your race?
- Probably when God healed me of my stomach pain then told me to go and help heal others through Him. This showed me so much that just carried into the rest of my race.
- Do you hear God’s voice deeper/clearer since going on the field?
- Oh yes, indeed! I came on this race wanting more of Him and that is what He continued to show me. I can’t even begin to describe how much closer and stronger my relationship with God is after this Race.
- Do you Sabbath well and will you implement Sabbath in your life more now?
- I’m still working on what Sabbath looks for me. It was a bit hard on the Race, but when we would set those days, I really sought out God and rest. Some days were better than others. I do wish to continue in my pursuit for creating a Sabbath in my life.
- Which trinity did you encounter most on the field?
- I would have to say Holy Spirit on this one. Just in how He moves through us and helps us through situations, speeches, and encounters.
- What did you learn about God for the first time?
- Listening prayer. This concept was always there in my mind, but I didn’t truly understand the depth of how God communicates through/with us until the Race. We practiced this a lot on our journey which built us stronger in hearing from the Lord.
- Do you feel cheated/robbed of your Race and what has God done to you in the midst of it?
- Yes, in many ways I feel like I lost something special or more opportunities to see God move in other countries. I think it was also really hard to realize that this was it. We were done with no idea of it ending so early. Still processing this, really.
- God is in the midst of everything and I know His plans are good for me. I’m still figuring it all out myself and seeking God through all of it.
- What was the biggest culture shock coming back to America?
- I could read all the signs and plug my charger into the wall without needing someone’s converter (I lost mine)! Also, with the big epidemic, everything is completely different than when I left.
- After your travels to many different countries, how do you feel the etiquette of Americans compares to other countries?
- Americans are very individualistic people who have their own agenda and livelihoods. Other countries focus on each other and honoring them before themselves.
- Will you keep in contact with anyone from the Race?
- I surely will! I wish to keep in contact with my squadmates or at least quite a few of them I also hope to stay in contact with the people we met along the way. The believers and nonbelievers from all over the world. Just time zones and distance now keep us separated.
- Will you go back overseas?
- I do not think I could go long term exactly, unless the Lord calls me. I want to teach, and I believe God wants me in America for that. However, I would love to continue traveling overseas to help other missionaries or just to meet people in their culture.
- Would you do it again?
- This is a hard question for me, especially since mine was cut short. The Race takes a lot of mental capacity. It’s not something I would take lightly, but would definitely pray into if asked to go.
- If you ever have a chance to go back, where would you go again?
- All the places really!! However if I was only to pick a few, I would go back to China with our wonderful family we met. I would take people back to Oman with me to show them the hospitable culture and people. I would LOVE to go back to Azerbaijan and stay with our host family there again. I miss them so so much!!
