Things I’m Glad I Brought:
An iPhone/iPod Touch
- I literally went everywhere with this. Skyping, texting, reading, podcasts, watching movies, or simply wanting to get an Internet connection quickly and easily without having to lug around a computer, this was a lifesaver.
Sleeping Pills
- I had no idea how long and gruesome bus rides abroad would be, but once I popped a few sleeping pills I was able to cut a 15-hour bus ride down to two hours while getting a decent night’s sleep.
Nail Polish
- Being stripped from everything familiar and comfortable, it was always a treat to feel pretty and somewhat normal. This was also a great way to bond and minister to the women we were with.
Swiss Army Knife
- From using it as a utensil to an occasional defense mechanism this was second in line for my most-closely-possessed-item.
All-Purpose Soap
- For the most part, I found soap everywhere. However, there were a few locations where the nearest store was a half hour drive away. Even though my hair suffered from using this soap as shampoo, I was very thankful to have back-up laundry, dish, and shower soap.
Small Speakers
- Light and easy to pack, we used these speakers to watch a movie or listen to a podcast as a team. Or sometimes we would take the speakers up to the roof of our house and blast worship music for the entire city to hear.
An Extra Watch
- Unlike clothes, finding a good watch abroad is difficult, and I would almost go to say it’s impossible.
Things I Should Have Brought:
A Ball Pump
- In every country I’ve been to, everyone loves to play soccer. And in every country I’ve been to, their soccer balls are always flat. Since bringing a soccer ball would take up too much space—and would only be good to give away to one person—a ball pump can be used everywhere and is perfectly sized.
Cipro
- After unknown food, incredible amounts of travel, and sketchy water this is basically a gift from God!
Chacos
- I was not a fan of these “Jesus sandals”, but they are very practical in just about every country. Except the cold ones.
Packing Cubes
- Not only are these great organizational devices for your pack, but they double as your own version of a dresser when you unpack for the month.
Less Clothes
- Packing to come on the World Race, I thought I would quickly get tired of the same four shirts and pants. So, instead, I brought 20 shirts, 10 pairs of shorts, four pairs of pants, and three sweaters making my bag extremely heavy with zero room to grow. By the time I got to month four, my whites were no longer white and everything was stained and stretched in some way. In every country there is always a mall or market that has cheap (and cute) clothes to buy. I bought clothes anyways, which made it necessary to drop most of the clothes I brought with me from home. I’m now coming home with only five shirts, four pairs of shorts, two pants, and my North Face jacket—a much lighter pack! And my back thanks me for it.
Favorite Countries:
Albania
- I love Europe! Even though this country differed from Western Europe, I was still overjoyed to be immersed in their culture. This was our first country where the majority of the people spoke decent English, which was such a relief coming from our prior three months in South America. The food, the weather, the trendiness, and living in the city were all reasons of to fall in love. Also this was our first country with our new team after team changes, and the ministry with Campus Crusades was right up my alley. It was hard to leave this country!
South Africa
- Coming from the sub-zero temperatures in Romania (or at least it felt that way sometimes), it was amazing to be able to look out the window and see green grass, palm trees, and a blue sky. It seemed like a vacation to us. Not only was it nice to be in an English-speaking country, but it also provided us with incredible adventures. From an African safari to hiking one of the tallest waterfalls in the world, we made great memories here. This was also one of my favorite ministry opportunities. I will always hold a sweet spot in my heart for the country and the people of South Africa.
Thailand
- My heart had been aching for this country and for this ministry. Even though it was one of the more emotionally and spiritually taxing months working with prostitution, it was something that I had been looking forward to for years. Again, we had a change-up in teams, which came at a perfect time. I spent my birthday in this country at one of the most beautiful islands in the world with some of the best people. I also got baptized on my birthday and enjoyed amazing Thai food and tea all month!
Favorite Adventures:
- Hiking Drakensburg, the second tallest waterfall in the world, in South Africa.
- Phi Phi Island in Thailand—the most amazing birthday weekend with the most amazing girls!
- African Safari. Enough said.
Favorite Moments:
- Being baptized on my birthday!
- An elderly woman in Peru standing up from her mat and dancing after being crippled for over twenty years.
- Our first team time in Bolivia after a rough couple of months—everyone was finally real with each other. And everyone cried!
- Tucking all the Bolivian orphans in bed and getting “besitos” every night.
- Having one of our contacts ask me to pray over his Grandmother because, “Lindsay, when you prayed over my wife to be healed…she WAS!”
- When Apple came out of the bars and came home with us.
- Enjoying the ability to tell people about a Jesus whom they had never heard. Adrenaline is always racing and love pours out in a way that I’ve never experienced and will never forget.
Least Favorite Moments:
- One of my first days on the Race, a fellow squadmate and I were walking around downtown Quito, Ecuador in search of some heavy-duty bug spray. We turned the corner and got MUGGED! Thankfully, I didn’t get anything taken from me. (I would like to say that my brute strength scared the thugs away—either that or, ya know, God.) Unfortunately, my squadmate got everything stolen. Not a good way to begin our 11-month journey through foreign countries.
- My teammates and I hiked the mountain in our backyard in Albania. Although it was a beautiful view, it was a rough climb to the top and even worse coming down. I toppled head-over-heels majority of the way down the mountain and I had the bruises to show for it.
- Our first day of ministry on the Race, my team and I were dumped from our bus onto the side of the road in the pouring rain. Once we found our way to our contact, he assumed we only needed a place to stay for the night…not for the month. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry because it was so ridiculous. I was completely helpless, but it was a good reminder from the start that God has everything in control.
- While driving in Mozambique with my team and our Mozambican students, we were stopped in bumper-to-bumper traffic. I had decided to close my eyes out of exhaustion right when a man outside our bus reached his hand in and slapped me in the chest. The slap sounded worse than it actually was, but it shot me out my seat faster than anything before. My glasses broke and the hand turkey was epic!
What I Learned on The Race:
- Thanks to 50+ hour bus rides, never being on time, and throwing all ability to know what’s happening out the window I have now added more skills to my resume such as: adaptation, flexibility, and patience.
- I learned that being anxious and worried about anything is worthless.
- I learned that my identity is found only in Christ and in nothing else. Through that, I found my freedom!
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