Here’s the end of my backpacking through Europe! I can’t believe that I’ve been on the World Race for 4 months already. From Kosova in July to Albania to Transnistria to this past month in Romania, it has been such a powerful experience. It blows my mind. In order to summarize my thoughts and feelings about the World Race, I had my dear friend Sandy ask me some questions. Here are my answers!
Q: What overall has God taught you during your time in Eastern Europe?
A: During my time in Eastern Europe, God has been teaching me over and over again to trust in Him in ALL things. Whether that is trusting God to deliver medical supplies or having faith that I’ll find postcards on my last day in Transnistria, I have learned that nothing is too small or too big for my Heavenly Father.
Q: What was the most unexpected thing you’ve experienced so far?
A: Honestly, the most unexpected thing has been the challenges of living in constant community. As an introvert, I knew it would be a struggle. However, it was unexpectedly challenging and humbling to work, to live, and to love of a group of strangers who eventually became family.
Q: What’s been your favorite foreign food you’ve eaten so far? Least favorite?
A: My favorite foreign food has come from Transnistria. It is called placinte, and is similar to a crêpe. It is a thin pancake-like pastry filled with fruit or cheese or potato or anything really. My favorite filling was the apple.
As to my least favorite, you must first bear in mind that until 6 months ago I was a longtime vegetarian. So meat of any kind is not my favorite. It’s called sarmale, which is a traditional Romanian dish of cabbage stuffed with mince meat. However, everyone else on my team loved this dish.
Q: Where do you see God planning out your adventure?
A: I know God has given me a heart for women’s ministry. So far in every country on the World Race, I have found myself involved in fellowship and ministry with young women. While I don’t know where God is taking me with this, it has been pretty incredible to see this consistent trend in my ministry.
Q: What is your favorite thing about each of your team members?
A: Every single teammate uniquely brings so much to the team. Here’s a poem about my favorite things:
Hannah paints the things she sees,
Taylor is fearless and will jump out of trees.
In need of encouragement? Hunter has a word.
Want to hear the truth? Victoria will let it be heard.
Speaking confidently, and working hard,
Steve (our leader) won’t be marred.
So here’s to team Ru’ah! Like the wind we blow.
Cheers to the memories and the places we’ll go.
Q: Besides your family and friends, what do you miss the most about home?
A: Besides my family and friends (and my cats), I miss good mexican food, libraries and bookstores with English books, (and for that matter) real books, my real clothes, easy conversations, my computer (especially when I type my blogs on my phone), and mostly my bed.
Q: What has been the most encouraging thing to you these last 4 months?
A: There have been 2 stand out encouragements over the past 4 months. The first are the young women that I connected with in Transnistria (Elizabeth, Olesya, & Jane). They were so uplifting and added such joy and caring to my life. I wear the necklace Elizabeth gave me as often and think of all those girls even more often. The second encouragement is all and every comment on my blog or messages from home. It’s like a virtual hug whenever I get those.
Q: What has been the funniest moment on your trip so far?
A: When you have to play charades almost daily to properly communicate, of course there will be many funny moments. However, the funniest moment on my trip thus far has to be from E Squad. During our last debrief, we held an auction with all money going to support all of us still trying to make our deadlines. The entire evening was hilarious and jovial.
Q: What was your biggest culture shock moment?
A: During month 1, in Kosova,we held an “American” party in our yard for the local church and community members we had been working with. We tried to not step on the toes of the Muslim community (about 97% of the population) and waited to serve our food until after sunset due to Ramadan. We had games and music (and eventually food) though. The thing that was shocking and heartbreaking happened to one of the girls from the community center who came to the party. After she had been at the party for quite some time, her Muslim mother came to bring her home. When her mother heard the music and saw the food, she became greatly upset with her daughter. And then there at the party in front of us, she proceeded to slap her daughter and drag her home. Shocking and heartbreaking, for sure.
Q: If you could pick one superhero to be on Team Ru’ah, who would you pick and why?
A: If I could pick one superhero to be on Team Ru’ah, it would have to be Nightcrawler from X-men. For reasons from his calm demeanor, his devotion to his faith, his accent, etc. However one of the biggest pluses would have to be his ability to teleport anywhere. With Nightcrawler on our team, travel days would be a cinch.
Q: What are your hopes, dreams, and fears for your next 4 months?
A: I really hope to continue to build strong relationships with women around the world. I dream believing that I will get to pray healing for someone and watch God work a miracle in their life. I’m afraid of dying of cold while living in the mountains of Nepal during the month of December (#floridaproblems).
I am leaving Europe tomorrow and flying out to India for my 5th month on the race. My new team is an all girls team: Molly, Erika, Colleen, Stephany, (Daniela) Piva, and Kamie. Please keep me and my new team, named Nahala, in your prayers.
