Featured Racer: Eleven Questions with Kyle Dennard

Kyle Dennard of the July 2011 W squad is one of
our Featured Racers this month.

1.  What would you tell someone who’s considering the
Race? What about someone who hasn’t begun his or
her Race yet?

For those considering going on the Race, I would
seriously encourage you to:

1. Pray about it, ask God if the Race is where he
   wants you.
2. Read more blogs. These will give you a glimpse of
   what the Race is like and what you can expect to experience thought it.

For those that have not left yet, do not wait.
Don’t wait to start praying huge prayers. Don’t wait to start asking God to do
incredible things in and through you. Don’t wait to dive in all the way. Go for
it.

2.   Packing/gear
suggestions?

Bring clothes that you like to wear at home. You
life continues on the Race and I am fairly sure that you do not want to wear
REI zip-off pants every day, unless that is what you wear at home.

3.  How
would you encourage men to go on the Race, or even pursue God in more radical
ways (in missions, in life in general)?

For
me, the World Race has been about myself becoming the man of God I was created
to be. I would love for more men to experience this journey.

If
you are a guy reading this and you want to mature spiritually, I literally
cannot think of a better journey for you. I have heard many say that you come
on the Race a boy and you leave a man. I think that is about the best summary
that there is.

Men
of God, step up. The world needs you.

[Well,
there you have it.]

4.  Which airlines have y’all flown so far? Which is
the best? Which is the worst?

I have flown American, Delta, Turkish, Qatar.
Close tie.

• We flew Turkish to Albania from New York. They
  give you awesome socks to prevent cankles (swollen ankles that become one with
  your calf). The plane was crazy nice.
• Qatar was about as nice, but they ended up
  providing five-star hotel rooms for us during our layover. You have never seen fifty
  people so strangely excited for pillows and a bathtub before.

The worst was American Airlines to Ecuador,
nothing bad to say and nothing nice to say either.

5.  Favorite mode of transport?

If horseback counts I would say that’s my
favorite. If not, it would totally be an airplane; I would not want to globetrot
in any other way.

6.  Favorite food?

Peruvian fried rice (Arroz Chaufa). Peru had the
best Chinese food I’ve ever had.

7.  Worst thing you ate?

In Ecuador, my team and I were invited to lunch
in a native village. They brought out plates of fried pork ribs and other
indescribable parts. I was always the one of the team that finished food people
didn’t like. That day I ate pounds of the fattest, greasiest food I have ever
eaten.

8.  Do you miss home? What do you miss most?

Yes, I do miss home. I miss my family and friends
most. It’s tough being away from family during the holidays but it’s totally
worth it to be on the Race.

9.  Any questions you’re dying to ask alumni?

How much money did you spend on food when you
returned home from the Race? I have dreams of Chick-fil-A biweekly. [You can
take a boy outta Georgia, but you can’t take the Georgia out of a boy.]

10.  What are you looking forward to for the remainder
of your Race?

I am looking forward to seeing God do even more.
I became discontent with “normal” fairly quickly on the Race. And I become more
excited about seeing God get more glory every day.

11.  What are your hopes & dreams for life
post-Race?

I have no idea exactly what I will be doing yet.
I feel like God has freed me up a lot through the Race.

One thing I have seen is how much impact one
person can have on the world. I have also seen how much need is in the world. I
will to continue to be a part of meeting that need.

I will keep you posted on details. [The world
waits in suspense.]

Read more about Kyle’s story here.