I am currently wrapping up month 9 of this crazy, amazing journey the Lord has brought me on. I have been to 10 countries, many airplanes, so many busses, walked across borders, and lived in constant community with some people I now consider family. So much has happened in these 9 months, and I know you are curious to what life is like on the World Race, or what life is like outside the land of the free. I gave y’all the opportunity to ask whatever was on your heart, and you did. Here are the questions that y’all wanted to know!
Is there anything in your minalist of packing that could have left at home? Dena Atkins-Foran
To be honest, there are many things I wish I would have left at home. I wish I took less clothes. Living with other women all the time is great because that means you have at least 4 other wardrobe to pick from, so if I need something one of my teammates probably has it and is willing to share. I also would have brought just 1 pair of shoes with my. I have wore my tennis shoes maybe 5 times. I can do everything in my Chacos. Also I would wait until I get to a country to buy toiletries. Cheaper and I don’t have to carry them. You can find almost everything around the world.
If I could re-pack this is what my pack would look like.
-3 v-necks and 1 work t-shirt
-1 tank top
-1 pair of shoes (chacos)
-1 pair of jeans/jeggins
-2 pair of leggings
-1 to 2 skirts
-1 flannel/zip up jacket
-2 pair of socks (1 ankel socks and 1 wool socks)
-A bunch of underwear and a few bras
-Tent
-Computer/iPod
-Bible
-Journal
-Smaller sleeping bag/blanket
-Sleeping pad
What are your feelings as you leave and go on the next journey? Jerry and Nina Gerbe
I believe you mean as I leave one country and go to the next by this question.
Yeah, feelings are real and each month they differ. One of our squad leaders in month 1 said the World Race is like a revolving door. It’s full of hellos and full of goodbyes. Goodbyes are never fun or easy, but in those times is when I need to lean on the Lord. Sometimes there is grieving after leaving a place, and that’s okay. So in a nutshell I don’t like I can put into words at this moment what my exact feelings are when I travel from country to country.
What did you feel when you saw me for the first time in 8 months? Kristine Reece
So my mom had the opportunity to participate in something called the parent vision trip. It’s a 5 day trip usually held between months 8 or 9 on the race. It’s a chance for parents of racers to come to that country, see their child, and work alongside of them during ministry.
I was excited, I was nervous, I was all the things. I cried when you walked off the bus for a few reasons. First was because my mother traveled all the way to Africa to see me. Second I missed you more than you know. Third I was excited to see all that the Lord was going to do in the both of us during that week.
Are you ever going to come back to Namibia? Nelao Ya France
To be honest I would love to go back. I want to see more of the country and explore the coast. Also thank you again for opening up your home to us while we were there. It meant more than you know.
What has been your favorite part and what has been the hardest part? Nicole Saxton
For both of them I would say constant community. Living and doing life with at least 5 others at all times is hard, but also one of the coolest parts about the race. You learn so much from each other, push each other closer to the Lord, and laugh harder than I have ever laughed.
Have you experienced separation anxiety? If so will you give specifics as to how the Lord walked you through it? Portia Hobbs
Honestly I haven’t. I have experienced extreme culture shock and missing my dogs all at the same time if that counts. Other than that the Lord has protected me from feeling any separation anxiety.
Do you miss me? Brent Walters
Duh! But I will see you soon buddy!
Are they preparing you on getting back to “your old life”? If so, how? Jane Hynes
They definitely are preparing us for re entry, but not to go back to our old life. We have all changed a lot, so leadership has been doing a good job of prepping us how to go back home the way we are.
How do those you’ve met in other cultures have different perceptions of the Father? Abigail Misuraca
Each place I have been has a certain religion that nation usually follows and because of that some cultures see the Father. However all who believe in Him in the cultures I have been trust him without borders. They don’t put him in a box. They go to Him first and trust Him in a way that has changed the way I trust Him.
Did you feel they trust Him differently?Abigail Misuraca
Yes. They trust him deeper than I have seen. It was really eye opening and convicting to me.
Does love look different in those cultures? Abigail Misuraca
Yes. Love is a lot different. I have been to a few countries where arranged marriages are normal and “love” marriages are tabo.
Even love for our heavenly Father is different. Just like they trust him, they love him without borders. Some cultures are willing to be in a lower cast or face persecution because they aren’t willing to wavier their love and relationship with the Lord.
How did this journey change the way you SEE and love others? Abigail Misuraca
My prayer this whole journey is that I love others the way the Father does. That He gives me His heart and eyes for those around me. In that he has shown me that everyone is going through something and no matter what deserves to be loved even when my flesh wants nothing to do with them. Through loving others the Lord has been showing me how to love myself as well. It’s been a really cool process.
Do you find that American culture is glamorized by the people that you were ministering to? Leah Barterian
At first I thought it was SO glamorized, but I soon realized a few things. 1 they only knew America by the media. 2 in most cases the people I am ministering to live in conditions that I can barely comprehend even after seeing it for 9 months in a row, so naturally when they see Americans they think we live this rich and fabulous life.
If your trips taught you one thing about the way that we live in America, what was it? Leah Barterian
I have learned so many things, but the biggest one is Americans live in constant comfort, and hate feeling uncomfortable.
Do you remember me? Laurel Sherman
Of course I do! I think about Lesotho all the time and miss all of you at Africa 4 Jesus.
Which was the place that really pulled on your heart-strings, and why?? Daniel Ratz
I wish I had an exact answer, but I don’t. Each minisrty and country pulled on my heart in different ways.
At what point in this journey did you realize what a strong, beautiful woman you are? what helped you come to that realization? Jennifer Leonard
I think it is something I am still working on with the Lord. I know the Lord made me in his image so I know I am beautiful and strong because those are characteristics of the Father, but I am still trying to figure out how to continue how to be strong and beautiful through the Lord and not my own doing.
So there it is friends! A little look into my brain and what this amazing journey has been like. When I come back home I would love to tell stories and share what the Lord has taught me, but when asking questions I ask one thing. Please be intentional with your questions. To be honest I don’t have this experience processed as much as I would like to have it and questions like so what was it like are going to put me in mental overload and I will probably space out. There is so much going on in my brain that questions will help.
It has been a crazy one, but through this adventure the Lord has given me so many memories, friendships, and experiences that I will never forget!
