Month 1: Serbia
This was the first month on the race, and we were just children. My favorite thing this month was our AMAZING hosts, Karl and Julie. They love the Lord, love each other, and loved us as their children. They still are in contact, and one day I want to go back to Kamp M! They introduced us to the most loving woman, Ziza. Ziza became our Serbian grandma, and we loved it! She unwavering loves the Lord, and it can’t help but be infectious.
Julie, Karl and Ziza were the most special people in Serbia. They ruined the whole race by how amazing they were. No one could compete with these 3 people. No words can express my gratitude.
Month 2: Albania
This month turned into just over a week. It seemed longer when the day started early and ended late. It seemed even longer with the whole squad wondering around the farm constantly. We worked at a self-sustaining farm/camp, with George, our host. Most of the farm consisted of pigs, but we received a large shipment of goats while we were there. We were split up into our jobs, and I was lucky enough to get pig farmer! I worked with the pigs, meaning I scooped their poop, fed them and tried petting them. The first morning, I helped the vet dissect 2 piglets that died suddenly, and helped catch and vaccinate the other piglets. While scooping feces out of the pens, I always tried to see where God was and verbalize it. I asked myself and the others working with me “How are you seeing God today?”.
Another thing that I didn’t appreciate until later was how our host George was. He was a hard worker, and expected the same out of you. He wasn’t afraid to call you out and into something better. But the thing that I liked was how he paid attention to us. He was out working alongside all 45 of us at some point. But then he would do something that I never thought about. He picked one person each day, one for the morning and one after lunch, and gave positive affirmation. For example: first half day of work, we had to move this obscenely large pile of manure into the sheep’s pen where the compost pile was. Somehow we made it into a race, wheelbarrow versus wheelbarrow. We took turns scooping and running (and I mean running) the wheelbarrow down to the pen and into the pile. I somehow did not want to give up my job. I raced Nathan and (I think) Mark several times, with manure. I became competitive with manure. But George saw the perseverance, and called that out. He applauded my work ethic. I didn’t realize how huge that was, how encouraging that was for me. He saw us, worked alongside us, and spoke encouragement and praise.
Month 2.5: Lesvos, Greece
Game changer. That was this was. Ask the squad which month changed their lives, or what month was their favorite, or made the biggest impact, and 99% will say Greece. It was one of the hardest months, most taxing, and draining on the soul. But I wouldn’t change it. I chose these 2 pictures for my favorites because of the differences. The giant Kaleo (and sometimes Emmanuel too) snuggle session was about every time we weren’t working at the camp. Austin learned to let me have his comforter every time I was in the boy’s room. The next picture shows the harsh difference working the gate handing out bus tickets. I had to hold myself differently at the camp due to the fact I was female and most of the refugees were male. They didn’t like listening to females, and also didn’t understand English most of the time. I had to stand firm in what I said, but I also had to deliver some harsh news, like no more blankets or clothes. It was also a place that I got to meet so many different people, working or refugees. This month, my life changed.
Month 3: Thessaloniki, Greece
My FAVORITE month on the race! But one of my favorite moments was being able to meet up with Mahi and her family. She came and stayed with my family for a couple weeks 20 years ago. And because God is so awesome, he put my team in Thessaloniki for the month; less than an hour away from Mahi. Haley and I were able to stay with them for a night and spend time sharing memories of people from Ohio. I met her parents, who still have the gift my mom made them. It was wonderful to spend time with them, and how they invited Haley and I into their lives! This was a God moment without a doubt.
I have to share an extra favorite from this month. And this picture says it all. Working at the camp would not have been the same without these guys. They were refugees stuck at the Macedonia border, and instead of letting the circumstances dictate their mood, they found us. They helped with the food tent, became our bodyguards when walking around the camp, and became our fake husbands. They gave me an inside glimpse into their lives, and what they have to go through. I loved going to the camp, just to see their faces!
Month 4: South Africa
Kaleo was split up during the 2 week manistry in the beginning of the month. I didn’t think I would miss them, but I did. We made some great progress as a team and in loving each other better. I still remember our team-time on the floor of the pavilion, laughing and making everyone jealous of how close we were. This is a group of people, all different, but we all love each other. It is a bond that will last a lifetime…or I will hunt them down and make them be my friends. There was no one else that I would have wanted to spend Christmas with on the race. To waking up super early to make cinnamon rolls for everyone to swimming in the pool while eating lunch to handing out our presents and Aubrey throwing her wrapping paper down with so much excitement. We also rocked out ugly sweaters sent by Haley’s mom. (side note: all of our parents are BOMB! As a team, we have a special bond. But adding in all our parents and its amazing! I love knowing that I have Kaleo parents out there, and that they basically adopted us all into their family.)
Also I became Safari Barbie with my binoculars on our Christmas present safari around the Kruger. It was amazing, and I want to do it over and over and over and over again. This time I will see the leopard to complete the Big Five of Africa!
Month 5: Zimbabwe
Favorite memory this month was, by far, taking our adventure days in Victoria Falls. Granted it took a couple tries to get there, and an excessively slow train, but we made it. Victoria Falls is gorgeous and a true testament on God’s creative side. I went on a sunset cruise, and became a little excited at all the hippos I saw. But the craziest thing I did was white water raft down the Zambezi River. The river that has the most grade 5 rapids. For those who don’t know or understand rapids, the scale is 1-7. One is small, and 7 is a waterfall. So Victoria Falls is a 7, and I went down many 5 rapids. I thought this was how I went out to meet my Maker, especially after Aubrey kicked me in the face. But I made it out alive. I even went swimming in the river. The day after wasn’t as fun, but so worth it!
Month 6: Lesotho
Lesotho is the most beautiful country that I have ever been too. The travel to get to Mokhotlong was the longest, but showed me the beauty of the country. Mountains surrounding us while we moved sand, but also had to walk up and down. The people were so nice and welcoming. The church service was unlike any I had ever been to! (especially when Mark had to preach and got sick…) I chose this picture as my favorite because we worked many days at the church (up the hill) building an orphanage. I could spend hours just staring at God’s creation. This was also the first month that I spoke in front of people. I shared at the local high school during their Scripture Union, not once, but twice.
Month 7: Philippines
This month I was able to fly down to Boracay with Rosie and see my Uncle Kevin and Aunt Karen. Rosie and I went 3 days without sleeping, but it was worth it. I was able to go back to the place where I fell in love with the Lord, and fell in love with what He was doing in the world. This was another of God’s timings, because my aunt and uncle were on Boracay for a couple days, overlapping when I was flying in. I was able to spend a day with them, and catch up on life. There is just something about seeing a familiar face in the middle of a rough season. I was also able to introduce Rosie to the island that holds a special place in my heart, and see the progress of both schools. Another cool thing was we were able to share a little about our race life with a group of high school students that came to volunteer at the schools. God knew I needed this, and I am so thankful for all that helped make it possible.
Month 8: Malaysia
This month I got placed on my first all female team, Raising the Bar (shortened to RTB, then changed to RTB Wolfpack). We traveled around more times then I care to remember (packing!!!) but was really able to meet a lot of great people. This team was able to make some great contacts for Adventures in Mission, and in reward for ourselves, we traveled to Singapore. Singapore is a country, found that out when I went, just south of Malaysia. It has the most structurally beautiful city, and cleanest city as a whole. I illegally chewed gum, but thankfully I didn’t get arrested. But I attended my first red carpet (or in this case, blue carpet). I was able to see Chris Evans and some of the cast of Captain America: Civil War. Caitlin and I were just a little excited about seeing him!
Month 9: Thailand
I think the pictures can tell you what happened this month! My parents got to visit!!!!!!!! I was able to spend time with my parents, work alongside my parents, and show them a glimpse into what my life is like on the race. I don’t think words can describe how excited I was to see my mom and dad! God provides so excessively well for His children!
Month 10: Cambodia
So this was the month that I had been praying for. This was the typical ‘World Race” month that I had been wanting for so long. I was tired of living in the city, having AC, and living this life that wasn’t… hard. I wanted God to put me in a place where I was uncomfortable. And God gave me Cambodia. He gave me the hard living conditions. But He also gave me some incredible people and an incredible mission. He gave me a preschool to teach at, little kids to love on, and a preschool teacher to encourage. I might not have fit into the preschool, chairs and all, but it was where I was supposed to be. If you watch my Blog Challenge Day 2 video, you can see my hand put a handprint on a little boy. I start wiping it off and he says “teacher’. THAT was why I was there. I was there to be their teacher.
Month 11: Vietnam
My last month. My last memories with this Wolfpack. My favorite memories from this month were just being a team together. Walking down the street trying not to get hit by all the moving vehicles was a daily occurrence. My room often wondered if our ceiling was going to fall on us in the middle of the night due to water leaks. Chasing children away from balloons, and impressing everyone with out Macarena dance moves was something that happened more than it should. But each of these ladies taught me something, something that I wouldn’t have learned without them. We will forever be the Wolfpack!
