Q: What has been the hardest part about being away from home?
A: I think the hardest part for me is that communicating with people at home is complicated.
Q: What is something that you have learned about yourself on the race?
A: I’ve learned that I actually do like to have alone time. (Surprising, I know)
Q: What has been the most rewarding experience of your journey so far?
A: All of the growth that I’ve experienced on the race is definitely the most rewarding.
Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception about the race?
A: I think a lot of people assume that the race is just a big vacation, or that it’s all fun all the time. Trust me, it’s not.
Q: How have you personally seen God’s hand of provision or protection on the race?
A: I could give you a million different examples for this. Over the last 6 months I have seen God working through other people to provide for my team too many times to count, it is a true testimony to the fact that God hears our prayers and is constantly moving and working to answer all of them.
Q: What particular Scripture is God using to draw you closer to Him, teach you about Him, strengthen you, or even discipline you?
A: When we got to South Africa I felt the Lord calling me into a season of discipline. I was reading through Hebrews 12 in the message bible which says “My dear child, don’t shrug off God’s discipline, but don’t be crushed by it either. It’s the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces he also corrects.” And further down in the chapter it says “At the time, discipline isn’t much fun. It always feels like it’s going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it’s the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.”
So I have been working on being more disciplined, which has done all of the above in drawing me closer to God, teaching me about him, strengthening me, and of course disciplining me.
Q: What has been the biggest surprise on the race? Greatest pleasure? Biggest disappointment?
A: The biggest surprise is that we actually live like real humans! We aren’t sleeping on the streets, we get fed everyday (multiple times a day!!!), we get to shower, and all the other normal human stuff.
The greatest pleasure has to be all of the amazing people that I am surrounded with that uplift and encourage me every single day.
The biggest disappointment has to be that there is no Chick-Fil-a…..anywhere! (Send help)
Q: Who is your favorite person there?
A: Jesus
Q: Do you really like avocados now?
A: Yes, I actually really enjoy them, and eat them often, on my own free will.
Q: How do you feel about coming home?
A: Whenever we were at training camp for The World Race, someone said “The World Race is not your life, just like you have training camp for the race, the race is like a training camp for your life.” So I am very excited to come home and apply the things I have learned and grown in on the race in my everyday life.
Q: Do you know how much you are loved and prayed for?
A: I do now!!
Q: What country are you going to next?
A: I am going to the Philippines next and it is also my last country that I will be visiting on the race
Q: When are you going to your next country?
A: I will be heading to the Philippines sometime in the first couple days of March
Q: What has been your favorite thing you’ve bought so far on the world race?
A: $11 converse, or this hazelnut latte that I got at this cafe the other day (it was seriously heavenly)
Q: What have you missed the most since you’ve been gone? (Besides friends and family)
A: Chick-Fil-A
Q: Will you go to a Harry Styles concert with me when you get back?
A: UMMM YESSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES YES YES YES YES!!!
Q: What has been the coolest animal you’ve seen so far?
A: I have seen so many cool animals it is hard to choose just one, but some of my favorites are elephants, cheetahs, and the baby lions that I got to play with. Oh and I also got to hatch baby crocodiles.
Q: What food are you enjoying now that you didn’t before?
A: I have actually started to enjoy a lot of different vegetables that I would have never eaten at home.
Q: Do you want to come home?
A: I don’t want to come home now because I don’t feel like my journey is over, but I definitely think that I will be ready to come home in 4 months when the race is over.
Q: What is the biggest revelation that you’ve had about the Lord?
A: I wouldn’t say that this is the biggest revelation, but the most recent revelation I’ve had is that the Lord is slow to anger. Meaning that he loves us enough to get angry with us but his anger is a perfect and righteous anger. He never loses his temper and never holds a grudge.
Q: How is the Lord working in you?
A: That is hard question to answer bluntly. He is working in and through me in so many different ways that it is hard to explain it in writing.
Q: Cape Town is facing a water storage crisis. Is Johannesburg being affected by this? Do the people have access to water?
A: No, Joburg is not being affected by this, we have an abundance of water here. (We are even able to take baths!!)
Q: Do you miss Texas weather?
A: Africa weather is pretty similar to summer Texas weather, so I’m going to have to say no.
Q: What has the Lord placed on your heart to do after the race is over?
A: I really wish I knew. I am trying not to be anxious about that because I know that the Lord will reveal everything in His timing.
Q: What would you tell someone who is going over seas this summer?
A: I could type a 5 page paper on this question, but I think the most important thing to remember is that the trip is going to be what you make it, so really dig deep, let the Lord work in you and through you, and steward your time well, because you will be home before you know it.
Q: Is there anything specific you need prayer for?
A: Just that I continue to grow more in my relationship with the Lord and just overall safety for the rest of my trip!
