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  Jackie Zuiderhof

Aliases: J, JZ, JZZ, J Money

Hometown: A variety of very small towns, South Dakota

After the Race: Moving in with her sister’s family and investing in her two adorable nieces (she gets to meet baby Grace as soon as she’s home!)

Support: Jackie is fully support raised… except for her reimbursement.

You can bless Jackie by clicking here: Support Jackie!

Overview of Racer:

     When I describe Jackie… two words come to mind. The first is change and the second is obedience. Jackie has been transformed this year. At the beginning of the race change really stressed Jackie out.  When we got to Thailand Jackie wasn’t sure she was going to make it… now she just hops on the bus/plane/train… figures out where the ATM is (she’s also our finance person…) and she’s off. Also, Jackie was not much of a snuggler before the year… now I can always count on Jackie to come up with arms outstretched when I look sad. Just the other day I heard someone tell Jackie in the car that they need a little personal space because she was sitting too close.

    There have also been huge spiritual changes in Jackie this year. She has come alive in a really powerful way! In Africa there was this 180 turn from a conservative Christian background to a bold and powerful woman. When Jackie prays now she gets so fired up.  She speaks truth over our group… even when our group is big. I was so excited when Jackie even decided to get baptized in Africa. She began to walk in her giftings and she hasn’t wavered.

 
     All this brings me to the second word… obedience. Jackie does what she thinks God is telling her with very few exceptions in her life. She explains how she got on the World Race like so many things. It goes something like this: “I looked at the World Race and didn’t think it looked anything like me… traveling, change, raising all that money… but I thought it’s what God was telling me so I did it.” That’s obedience! She wants to be where God is… even when it’s not where she would choose to put herself. So simple, yet so so so hard. But Jackie just gets it.

One of my favorite moments from Jackie this year just happened in Guatemala. The first day we went to the hospital Jackie met a woman named Rufina and they became fast friends. The joy on both of their faces as they would visit was contagious. I loved seeing Jackie and Krystle come around the corner from a day out at the park with Rufina. Three huge smiles came around the corner ready to take pictures and share about the ice cream they just ate.

Jackie’s year has been so amazing to watch… I’m so jealous of the people who will get to see her rock South Dakota after this year!

A few tidbits:

 

* Jackie has a quality we have lovingly coined “The Afterthought.” Jackie is one of those people who has several thought processes going in her head at the same time.  Lots of time the conversation moves along while Jackie is processing away… leading to an out of place comment several minutes (hours?:)) later which relates to a topic that the rest of us have long since left… an Afterthought.

* Jackie has done a great job being our finance person this year… and she’s almost done! If you ever need to know where an ATM is located or what the exchange rate is anywhere in the world… just ask JMoney… she’ll pull out her trusty orange calculator and you’ll be all set.

* Also, I read in a magazine this year that I need a good friend to help me get “motivated financially.” She’s my finance friend… I call her… you can’t have her.

 
* Jackie is a very talented World Race sleeper… pretty much without exception Jackie finds a way to stick to her rather early bed time… and is up literally with the sun to do her quiet time and get on with the day.

A Few Recommendations:

 
“I was ten times more blessed today than the day before.  I left knowing that this is what life is truly about. ”
 
“The day we left Hong Kong for China, I changed forever. I learned that if you just pray in situations. God will provide and show You where to go. The learning did not stop there. God gave me joy and let me get over things that I struggled with. I left China knowing I was changing and it would continue.”
 
Jackie, I don’t even know where to start.  It has been a joy to be be here with you on this wild ride God has you on.   Your desire to follow him at all costs inspires me.   Your sister is lucky to have you next year…  and I can’t wait to hear about all the powerful ways God is going to use you!   I love you, JZ!