Finally! Here are the questions to the questions YOU asked. I apologize for this post taking longer than I originally said. Y’all have some GOOD questions and due to needed processing time and poor WiFi, it took me longer than I anticipated to post.
I received some awesome questions! Some of which were repeats or very similar to other questions asked. Therefore, some answers have been combined. Enjoy!
Typically speaking, what type of environments did you sleep in (ie. bed, cot, ground etc.)?
Our typical living conditions were a mattress of sorts (usually a foam pad) on the ground. We slept on top of the pad with our sleeping bags and small pillows, occasionally engulfed in a mosquito net. We had a shower with running water almost every month, but the water was typically cold, which surprisingly has become enjoyable! It’s very refreshing when you find yourself very dirty. And either a kitchen to cook in or meals were cooked for us.
What was your favorite country to visit? Why?
Thailand. Our hosts were SO good to us, took great care of us and put us to work according to our giftings. It was the month I felt the most empowered, while also loving the country and culture I was experiencing! Not to mention the Pad Thai from the night market was absolutely delicious and the beaches in Thailand are stunning.
Was there anything that you were NOT looking forward to that turned out to be fabulous?
I have to to be honest, before the Race I was pretty sure my World Race community was going to be a struggle for me. After having worked at Camp Lone Star and studied at Concordia, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to make any more life-long friends because I had already met them all. I was SO incredibly wrong. My squad is special. And the close friends I’ve made are the greatest treasure I’m taking home with me. They’ve taught me new and challenging things, they took me to personal depths I didn’t know existed and have loved me in such a rich and beautiful way, that glorifies Christ. They are more than fabulous, they are life-changing friends I plan to keep forever.
What are some of the biggest takeaways from this past year?
This is so hard to wrap up in just a few sentences. My perspective has forever been changed. Not just on the world, but also on missions, ministry, politics, relationship, I’m talking everything. I’m actually in the process of writing a more in depth blog about it! Stay tuned for the blog titled “From Now On.”
What surprised you about yourself on this journey?
I have really struggled to be selfless with my teammates and squad mates this year. This becomes quickly apparent when you share a small, uncomfortable living space with 5 to 45 other people. Whether it was my gear or sugary snacks, I was surprised to find that sharing those things was not easy or instinctual for me.
What has truly been the most difficult aspect of the World Race?
Living conditions. I hate to admit it, but it’s truly been a struggle for me this year. From squatty-potties to sleeping in gas station parking lots, it has really worn on me physically. It’s crazy how much our physical discomfort can effect our work efforts and spiritual life. While I have learned a lot in this struggle, I am really looking forward to getting better rest at night and feeling cleaner to ensure a better mental state for work and ministry at home.
What are some of the major changes you see God has made in your heart since being on the Race?
Wow. I am not sure where to even begin! I have learned SO much about patience, compassion, selflessness and sacrifice. But one thing that really stands out to me is the heart posture of humility and being willing to seek understanding. In times where I am offended, confused or in complete disagreement, whether with a teammate’s beliefs or a country’s culture, I have learned there is so much victory in asking good questions. It takes vulnerability and humility to pursue understanding, but I believe this heart change in me has forever changed my perspective and the relationships I will keep and begin for the rest of my life.
What are some things you have a newfound or enriched appreciation for?
Drivers Education and traffic laws, freshly picked fruit and vegetables and alone time.
How do you see what God has shown/taught you while on the Race will carry on into your life back home?
There’s no way I could leave this journey unchanged. I believe with this new perspective from an enriched experience will carry over into life at home by changing the way I pursue my friends and family, the way I evangelize, my career decisions, future education possibilities and so much more.
What is the best and worst food that you ate over the entire trip?
Best: Cambodia’s fried chicken, pineapple and rice, Ethiopia’s enjeria dish, Thailand’s Pad Thai, Serbian cheese, Argentina’s empanadas. Sorry, I can’t pick just one; I’ve had some delicious food this year!
Worst: Yuca in Bolivia or the same meal 3 times a day in Rwanda of rice with beans.
Did you ever find yourself with an encounter with an exotic animal of any kind, and if so what animal(s)?
When we traveled to the bush of Ethiopia, we camped on the banks of the South Omo River, which had many crocodiles and hippos. While we did not see our river friends, we were awoken by almost 50 baboons running the game trail near our tents. Also, the park near our home in Bolivia had sloths that lived in the trees!
Describe a time when you felt Gods presence the most.
Definitely the hard moments. When all comfort was stripped away and pain (emotional or physical) was deep, it was such a moving experience because I had to lean on Him. In response, I was met by a peace that I couldn’t make logical sense of. He walked with me through the valleys and lifted me high on the mountain tops of this year.
What has been your favorite moment shared with a kid?
There’s so many moments! Wow, kids are so hilarious and I have had some of my best moments on the Race with kids. This month we are staying in a compound that we share with 12 children that are being sponsored by the ministry we are serving with. These kids are so much fun! After dinner time, we often spend our evening teaching each other dances and songs of our culture. When spending time with kids in the past year, not one moment has been dull or left me without a smile.
Name one moment you will never forget! I am sure there are many but pick one.
Worshiping in Africa. When we traveled to the Bush, the worship of the church there was so pure and passion-filled. I will never forget the sound that filled that village, the love the people had for outsiders and the complete dedication of their lives to the Lord.
How has your relationship with Jesus changed?
Another question that’s hard to put into words. I believe my relationship with Jesus has changed so much over the course of this experience. I have a deeper dependence on Him every single day. I have a greater perspective of who His children are. I speak to him more honestly and intimately now. And in the deep pain of the absence of my family for a year, I’ve pulled him closer than anyone or anything else.
How had God provided for you in surprising ways?
Before coming on the Race, I saw the Lord’s provision through tunnel vision. Things like affording my rent and making good grades were some of the only areas I recognized the Lord’s provision. Now, I see God’s hand in just about everything. From blessing me with friends that are some of the most brilliant minds to ever complete the World Race, strength to complete another day of hard manual labor, to even things I just took for granted at home like eating 3 meals a day and transportation from one place to another. In the lack of stability of this year, the Lord has proved his faithfulness and provision to me over and over and over again.
As we all struggle with pride, what pride issues in your life has God called into question?
The battle in me between the pride of my flesh and the humility of Christ has been a large part of the growth I have experienced. God has called my pride into question in my relationships, my performance while serving, my perspective of scripture, and many other areas. I believe the enemy uses our pride to hold us back from truly experiencing the rich truth of the Gospel and walking in it. Jesus lived humbly and died humbly. Through His life, death and resurrection, the only one glorified was God. This is the cry of my heart. And this year I have come face to face with the consequences of pride and the blessings of humility.
Which foods do you miss the most?
Vegetables and fruit, pizza, Chick-Fila, brownies, Mexican food, my Mom’s soups, and my Dad’s summertime grilling.
What luxuries do you miss the most?
Hot showers, driving my car, church in English, bedframes, a wardrobe beyond 5 shirts and 2 pants, and Mexican food.
Does the toilet water run the opposite direction when you’re below the equator?
Well I typically don’t like to spend more time in the restroom than needed, so I can’t say I’ve noticed a difference in the flushing direction.
Would you do it again? Or recommend it?
So it’s currently month 11. There’s 18 days left until I am on US soil again and this questions has been on my mind a lot. As I consider everywhere I’ve been, all that I’ve seen and experienced and all the people I’ve met, I realize that I’ve only been on ONE World Race route. There’s hundreds of other ministry connections and small villages or big cities I haven’t seen or had the opportunity to serve at. At the same time, I am so tired of showering out of a bucket, missing friends and family and not being able to speak the language. So the unclear answer to this question is: I would never do the World Race again, but I would also say I would do it all again in a heart beat if I got to experience more, serve more and meet more amazing brothers and sisters serving the Lord around the world!
As far as recommending it, it’s hard to give a general answer. And I would like to take this opportunity to say to anyone considering going on the World Race to say: let’s go out for coffee and chat! The World Race is hard. If anyone is considering world missions, on any degree, I would say pray specifically, seek understanding, and pray some more.
What are your impressions of local missions and how we might be able to get more people involved in sharing Christ right here?
I love this question! Local missions are SO important! Doing mission and ministry right where you live is so powerful and needed. Your next door neighbor might need you to reach out and invest in their life. Or your local grocery store clerk might need you to smile at them! It can be so simple. The Lord works through whatever effort we are willing to put forth. That doesn’t mean you need to save up thousands of dollars and travel halfway across the world to minister to the sick in Africa. Your home country, specifically your small neighborhood, has plenty of broken and lost people, waiting for you to step forward and begin a relationship with them. And this, I believe, is the most important ministry we get to be a part of.
What advice would you give someone else who was considering international missions?
Pray often. International missions is hard and very taxing physically, spiritually and emotionally. In prayer, ask the Lord to align your heart with His and if that is a desire for international missions, get ready! I would also advise them to seek more understanding about where, when and for how long. With that being said, I would love to talk to anyone considering missions, long term or short term, please reach out to me!
What are you most excited to do when you come home?
Spend time with my family and friends. I can’t wait to just sit in their presence, hear about their year and tell them about mine. That’s all I want to do.
What are your plans when you return home?
For the rest of 2018, I will be spending time with family and friends. In November I plan to move to a suburb of Atlanta to move closer to a very special someone, Mr. Nathan De Young, to begin building a life with him. This Christmas my brother and sister both have a college-size Christmas break and it is a deep desire of my heart to be home with them. In January I hope to be starting a career in Georgia.
If you had to sum up the whole trip in one word, what would it be and why?
Victory. Every morning I am met by the grace of Jesus and the victory that he gives me to live another day in His love. And every evening I am aware of the victory I feel to of completed another day of ministry, relationship, and mission away from home.
Thank you to those who submitted questions! I hope this has given you a greater picture of the journey I’ve been on. I can’t wait to answer more of your questions when I return home in just a short 18 days!
