I only have twelve days left of this crazy journey called the World Race Gap Year before I am HOME! What does home even mean? What has home meant the past nine months?? Find out all my answers below!
Now that you are at the end , what was most difficult physically and then emotionally
(What has been your highest and lowest points during these 9 months?)
Physically— in Swaziland I got sick and threw up. If you don’t know, throwing top is a huge fear of mine and is very rare. That was a day full of literal sickness and homesickness. Also in the physical aspect, living conditions the first two months of Swazi were pretty difficult in terms of no power, no chairs, no hot water, no curtains in the bathroom. Nepal was also hard because everyone around was getting sick so it was a scary month of just waiting to be next. Plus we came from Africa and Nepal is colddd.
Emotionally— either the last few weeks with staying present and not wishing time away to be home or during Christmas when I was missing my family oh so much.
A time you were most blessed and a time you were most scared!
Most blessed—so so so many. But my friend Fima’s family blessed me beyond measure by their hospitality (in India). Their love and friendship moved my heart so deeply.
Most scared— two things come to mind, both in Nepal. The first is the fear of getting sick I faced in Nepal surrounded by a ton of people puking all the time. This actually caused me to be nauseous a lot, just because off how anxious I was to actually be sick. The second thing that came to mind was New Years Eve. This was right before we left for India and at the time we were staying in a hotel in the capital of Kathmandu. Because it was New Years Eve we were given a later curfew and freedom to go out in groups. I am positive the craziest new years in the whole world happens in Nepal. I am so thankful for Layton and Sam who were with us that night. I won’t go into detail but thousands of people were in the streets, dancing, drinking, and touching women. There were so many people we could barely walk anywhere and were pushed and shoved. A group of us danced behind the stage, still having too constantly tell men no or actually push them away from us until Layton felt like we needed to leave right at that moment after two men had been staring at all of us from a distance for some time and would not stop even after Layton talked to them. (maybe planning to steal something we didn’t know). Wow I was so thankful for Layton and Sam being such protectors and Godly, discerning men that night. Also what scared me that night was how aware I was of the reality of how many girls were being sex trafficked so close to us.
5 moments/ encounters you never want to forget
1. Meeting Happiness in Swaziland. She worked at the local store (the only store) where we would buy snacks every week. One week it was put on my heart to approach her and start talking to her. She became my dearest friend in Swaziland!
2. The moment in Nepal when I was simply sitting at a table with Anna in a coffee shop, two Nepali men sit next to us and what begins is an hour long conversation about our faiths. It was amazing because it is illegal for us to evangelize in any way so they men had to lead the conversation and they did. They asked us every kind of question and because we were asked we were allowed to answer! They did not come to know the Lord but I pray a seed was planted.
3. I was at a home visit in Nepal with only one other teammate and my ministry host, Ujek for the week. I found out while walking in the door I was going to give a twenty minute message to the family. I didn’t even have a Bible with me. It was such a beautiful night of the Lord speaking through me.
4. So many moments in India.. honestly the moment I stepped off the plane and thought “home”. And then later on meeting people like Fima who actually made their home my home every single night. For dinner, dancing, laughter, fellowship.
5. In Guatemala when I saw my parents for the first time in nearly seven months.
(adding three moments.. hiking through the Himalayas in Nepal, mud sliding down a mountain in India in the rain, hiking up a volcano in Guatemala and being completely amazed at Gods beauty.)
How did you earn all the money?
I fundraised! SUPPORT LETTERS! I sent a whole bunch out and prayed. I also sold handmade calligraphy signs and tee shirts. The people within my church supported me the most. The best thing was my monthly supporters, but only with God could I have done that.
What is going to be the hardest thing about being home? (readjustment wise)
I think, the fact that no one will understand. The only people in the world that understand will be spread out all over the country away from me. Also being apart from constant (literally 24/7) community that is always uplifting and pointing me to Jesus. And the last thing that will probably be hard about adjusting is mourning the poverty I just experienced for nine months and now living in so much privilege. I don’t think trips to Kroger will just feel like trips to Kroger anymore.
How has this strengthened your faith?
Oh boy! This is the first time in my walk with the Lord where I truly understood what denying thyself and picking up your cross meant. I was called to leave every comfort in my life for nine months and rely fully on the Lord and make Him my true peace and comfort. He has taught so much more than I can say right now, but the biggest things that strengthened my faith weren’t the big miracles I witnessed but the weak moments, where I was laying sit on my bed or crying siting on the toilet because that was the only place to be alone, and He was still there, still faithful. I now see more than ever that when God calls me somewhere I must obey. His path is far better than I can plan in my head. Oh! I could go on and on about this question. Talk more about with me in person!!
How did you bond with your team? How were rooms set up?
For those not aware, I .launched in September but met my team at training camp in July. Right 0off the bat, I knew God heard so clearly and answered my prayers about needing a good team, one I meshed with and fit into; a team of true community. Thank you, Jesus for blessing me with the best team. I think almost all of bonded right away but even if it wasn’t at training camp, from the beginning we have all been close and gotten along very well.
ROOMS!
Swaziland— it was squad living on an adventures in missions base that was being built while we were there. The base consisted of three large rooms to fit all of us. The boys had one room (after it was finished, until then they tented). There are six girls teams, so my team plus team To The Wind plus team JR Floss were in one of the big rooms that was open with a bathroom connected to it (that never got curtains for the stalls or showers. We all got pretty close).
Nepal— my team plus JR Floss lived in our ministry hosts house on the bottom level. We slept on our air pads which filled up all the floor space we had, pretty much. We had one bathroom to share, one toilet, one bucket shower.
India—my squad lived in a college dorm! For the girls it was four to a room and we were randomly split up. I was with my teammate Anna plus two other squamates Jordan and Meghan. In our hall was a community bathroom with three bucket showers and four squatty potty stalls.
Guatemala— on another Adventures in Missions base! By farrrrrr the nicest place we have stayed! Each team has their own room with a bathroom connected. Real toilet, real shower!
How did you pack for nine months???
You watch a bunch of youtube videos of how to do it and pray.
I had one big pack, a tent, sleeping bag and pad, about a weeks worth of clothings, three shoes, toiletries, and other smaller items to fit in (not considering my daypack). You soon realize how much you don’t need. I just stuffed and stuffed until it zipped!
Favorite country and why?
This is so easy for me. India. At first I really did not think it would be. Although, India was the reason I chose route 5 (there were 6 choices), when we arrived it was very different than imagined. We were in northeast India and at first I was worried for it all. How quickly I realized I was wrong. We lived in a village that was safe where we had a lot of freedom to go to peoples houses after ministry, play volleyball or soccer, go to youth group at night, hang out with the college students whenever. I built such strong relationships in the community even outside of ministry. It was probably the hardest goodbye of my life. Joseph, Fima, and Bryan made India what is was for me.
TMI BONUS QUESTION!!!
How often do you poop? Do you even poop?
Maybe too gross for you, but this is a legit question for a girl who hasn’t had a completely steady diet for nine months
Thank you, Taylor for this question. A completely reasonable question and a main topic on the race. In India for some reason I was pretty backed up by our diet and waiting in a squatty can be pretty rough. Coming to Guatemala I got a bacterial intestinal infection (thinking I had a parasite until I went to get it checked) which started clearing my stomach out.
I LOVED these questions! It helped me process the last nine months quite well and I can not wait to expand on all of this when I get home in TWELVE days! Feel free to continue too ask me things, I will be as open as I can be!
I am so thankful for each one of you that has followed me journey this far!
Thank you, Jesus for the testimonies from there last night months!
