I’m coming home soon!
On November 20th, I’ll be on American soil. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been to a lot of countries. I have stories to tell. Long story short, please don’t ask “how was the World Race?” or “how was your experience?” when you see me. It’s the equivalent of me asking you how the year of 2017 was for you. It’s impossible to summarize a year’s worth of experiences into a couple of short, polite, conversational sentences. And I understand if time doesn’t allow for more than a 3 minute conversation in passing at church or some other gathering. I know that you care and want to know more. And I want to share! I would love to sit down with you and chat for an extended period of time. Give me grace as I’m going to be learning how to share my experience in all kinds of environments.
I’ve developed a list of questions that will help both you and I talk about this past year on the Race. Some serious, some fun, but all relevant to a year on the field. Remember, these are just suggestions and examples!
Which ministries most fit your passions?
Which ministries were the most challenging for you?
What were some of your best living conditions? Your worst?
What was your favorite city/town you lived in?
What country would you like to return to and explore more of?
Who were you favorite hosts?
What did you learn from your host in Vietnam? In South Africa?
What did you learn from local Christians serving the Lord in a predominantly Buddhist/Muslim/Hindu country?
What were the top three biggest lessons you learned on the Race?
Share a story about when you got really sick.
What was your first month of the Race like?
Which ministries/hosts would you like to visit one day?
Which countries made the biggest impact on you?
What surprised you about ______(country)?
What did you find overseas that you wish you could bring back to the States?
How do you want to live differently post-Race?
What did you learn about missions?
What did you learn about community?
What did you learn about God?
What did you learn about intimacy with God?
What did you learn about the Bible?
What did you learn about _____ (country)?
What did you learn about yourself?
What books or sermons made an impact on you this year?
What kind of ministry are you now more passionate about? / In what new ways do you want to serve the Lord?
What were the hardest struggles you had on the Race?
What is one of your favorite memories from ____ (country)?
What is your favorite food from _____ (country)?
How did you celebrate your birthday in Nepal?
How did the devil attack you on the Race?
How did the Lord show himself to you on the Race?
What were the most bizarre things you saw in ____ (country)?
What kinds of adventure things did you do?
How did you see God move in _____ (country)?
Ask me to tell you a bit about the history of Kosovo and Serbia.
What’s a typical day on the Race like?
What’s a typical travel day like?
Who are your closest friends you made on the Race and why?
What did you learn about evangelizing?
What were you scared to do in the beginning of the Race that you have now done or even enjoy now?
What did you wish you did more of?
What would you tell pre-Race Sara before starting the World Race?
How is AIM and the World Race making a difference in the world and impacting the world for God’s kingdom?
Which month do you wish you could repeat?
Share a funny experience in _____ (country).
Where could you see yourself living long term?
What did you do during your layover in Rome?
What surprised you about the Balkans region?
Who was the hardest to say goodbye to?
How did Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and South Africa differ from each other?
How was it being with your mom for 5 days in Africa? What did you do?
What places and moments broke your heart?
What were some of your favorite moments with Themelios, Bamboo and Fearless (my three teams)?
What did you learn having the role of Storyteller?
What was it like living 24/7 with at least 4-5 other people?
Ask me about what our ministry was in _____(country).
What did it look like being in a committed relationship while being on the Race?
What is traditional (Thai, Zimbabwean, Indian, etc.) food like?
What kinds of things did you get excited about when you came across them that you took for granted in the States?
What new foods did you try?
And please, let me ask you! You’ve earned a lot and you have stories to tell too! Everything you have done is just as important as everything I have done. Life in America might seem routine and mundane, but I sincerely miss the routine, and I want to hear all about it. I want to know what music you’ve been listening to lately, what your job has been like, and the best sermon you’ve heard recently. I want to hear all about you too, friends! Thanks for taking the time to read this. I cannot wait to catch up with you soon!
[Thanks to McKenzie Tritt for inspiring this blog!]
