As
promised, here’s a dissertation’s worth of Birthday responses. (Longest World
Race blog ever?) Thank you so much. I really did enjoy taking the time to think,
process, and answer your questions.
Best Way To Approach This: If you
don’t want to skim, press Ctrl and the F key at the same
time. In the box that appears, type a
word that is in the question you are looking for, and then search for it.
Thanks
again for giving me the one gift I asked for this year. A complete success in my eyes.
1.
What has the World Race exposed about you thus far that you don’t
like/that you do like, about your character?
It’s showed me that I need freedom
from my own expectations, but also that I have lot more confidence in my
identity than I realized.
2. Why did you not
mention that you never asked ME if I’d be your Valentine’s? (Will Jung)
For
the same reason that I will ignore this question, it’s embarrassing.
3. What has been your favorite ministry
so far?
Man Month in Thailand. It was only
the guys-girls were working in bars in high tourist areas-in the jungles of
Northern Thailand. Freedom, fun, and
lots of sweat.
4.
What has been your least favorite ministry so far?
Probably
last month in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I
actually loved hanging out with the kids at the orphanage and teaching English,
but the month itself was a time of transition and I wasn’t able to fully
appreciate Cambodia or delve into the people as much as I would have liked.
5. What would be a
common theme emerging from the hearts of those you have been privileged to
interact with?
Smiles. Call
it love, hospitality, friendliness, or whatever, their faces reflect their
hearts. A smile has the power to defuse
a bomb, figuratively speaking, so why don’t I do it more?
6.
Since you often don’t speak the language of the people you meet; do you
sense a lack of trust on their part….or on your own? What is it like when you
can’t really “hear” or “speak” with people….especially
when you are in a foreign land?
This
actually has never crossed my mind. A
lot of smiles are exchanged-it’s just the natural reaction when you have no
idea what is being said-but it almost feels like there is more trust. As if the benefit of the doubt is given
because there’s no reason given not to.
It really is amazing how well charades work. Truly.
(The only time it’s been awkward is when Will McRae and I had about two hours
with a man in Guatemala who started the conversation with, “I speak no
English.” We made it work and the time
flew by, actually.) It’s amazing the
grace that they extend to us mono-lingual foreigners.
7. What’s the one
thing you wish you had brought from home that you didn’t?
Before today, nothing,
honestly. It really is true that
whatever you want, you can find all over the world, so I definitely over
packed. (My beard trimmer died today, so
not exactly sure what I’m going to do the rest of the Race. Buy a new one? Probably not.)
8.
If the World Race were a Cosmo Quiz, how would you characterize the
three types of personalities on the World Race (so that you could strategically
make questions that allow you to cheat when answering them so you come across
as “normal”) and which would you be?
(This is a hard question because it
concerns others and not just myself. Hmmm…)
A. Individuals that come on the Race ready to
change every community and person they encounter during ministry, and then are quite
taken back when they realize that THEY change a lot in the process when they
come face to face with covenant and community.
B. Those who understand the necessity to having
layers torn away of pride, expectations, rights, independence, etc. before they
can really choose to love those around them as Christ calls them to.
C. And
me! (Now you have to figure out where I
fall in this spectrum that I’m trying to create.)
9. What is the most beautiful thing that
you have seen?
The view over Lake Atitlan in Panajachel before
running, jumping, and parachuting off a ledge.
10.
Are you sad that you couldn’t shovel around 30 inches of snow over the
last few weeks?
Actually, yes. I get excited when we have to do physical
labor on the Race, because I’ve come to miss it. (There’s extremes. Month One we had a ton, but Asia seems to be
“teach English” overload.)
11. What are the most
items on the smallest vehicle that you have seen so far that was still moving?
Not sure how many, but there were
bags and bags full of aluminum cans-I guess to be recycled-strapped down to a
motor bike. It’s amazing what they can
move with those things.
12. What has been your biggest personal
struggle?
Being poured into. So much of my
focus, especially now as a squad leader, is to pour out into others, so I often
don’t take the time to allow God to jack me up and fill me up. (My prayer from the beginning was to be
“wrecked.” I’m still waiting for that,
but also recognizing my role in that process as well.)
13. Do you have a new
favorite food, and can I have some sent to me?
Mangostines are amazing! It’s a fruit, so I probably can’t mail
it. Most Karen food, especially the
eggs-they use fish oil-and this curry potato over rice-everything is over rice-concoction. Oh oh oh. I doubt it’s Thai, but in Thailand this woman
made us these deep fried potato sandwiches.
Check it: Slice of potato (it was
soft, so may parboiled?), spicy minced chicken mixture, layer of potato, and
the whole thing batter fried.
14. What is one or a
few things you miss from America?
(I’m assuming this is excluding
human beings.) Literally, all that comes
to mind is that I miss driving and having a couch to sit on.
15.
Why do you think God chose you?
Amazing question. I will provide an anecdote to answer. Back in Guatemala we were in yet another
church service spoken in another language.
These times I typically use to journal, although I make it look like I’m
taking notes. One particular evening I
grew more and more pissed. How was it
that I was chosen, but so many others weren’t.
How is that just? How is that a
demonstration of love? How isn’t that
just a product of my cultural and familial upbringing? We all stood up for some worship at the end
and as these thoughts were racing through my mind I felt as if I was bopped
over the side of the head. It wasn’t
physical, but something changed. In that
instant the answer came to me.
Grace. The point is that I can’t
explain it and I do not deserve it. It
sounds simple here in writing, but it was one of those moments that true
“understanding” seems to reside in your soul for a passing, yet overpowering,
moment.
16. Who in the world convinced you that
it would be a good idea to pose for a picture with a pink teddy bear?
Their
names are Jessica Johnson and Nicole Ricketts.
17.
If you could choose one, what would you say has been the most
life-changing experience for you thus far on the Race?
It
occurred while visiting two women that were unable to leave their homes, let alone
go to church. One woman had polio and
her sister had some stomach ailment causing her to swell up, and the man-who looks like Mr. Bean-on staff
with In His Steps ministry in Cambodia said to me the words, “You are the
church.” No walls. No praise music. No offering.
I am the church.
18.
Thing you miss most about the States?
(See #14.)
19.
Thing you miss the least?
The prices. Cambodia was really expensive and it was like
$2.50 or $3.00 for a meal.
Unfortunately, I now eat way more sugar than ever before considering ice
cream costs like $0.30 for a scoop.
20.
Has the World Race made you consider long-term overseas missions?
Yes, it has made me consider. Do I think I will? No, probably not. More than anything it has exposed me to what
“long-term overseas missions” really even means. It’s not preaching the gospel all the
time. Heck, you can’t even do that in
some of the places we go to. It’s so
much more about using the gifts you have-whether that is business, sports,
organizing, music, etc.-to empower the locals wherever you’re at. It’s all about raising up indigenous leaders
so that the foreigner can eventually not be in the spotlight at all.
21.
Most fun/hardest moment you’ve had on the World Race?
Most
fun: Probably riding my $15 (net price
after selling it back) bike all over the capital of Cambodia on the craziest
streets I’ve ever seen.
Hardest: Getting
Facebook updates of friends getting engaged and/or married while I’m away. The count is at four.
22. How has the World
Race affected your view on short-term missions (positive and/or negative)?
Wow,
a zinger of a question. Undoubtedly,
it’s given me a more negative (less positive) point of view on short term
missions in the traditional sense. I’ve
heard and seen how the “wham-blam, here’s Jesus, door-on-the-way-out-Slam”
plays out. Life is about relationships,
and that’s hard to do in a month. Now,
short term missions are incredibly important for encouraging and spurring along
the mission if they PARTNER with the vision of the mission and not just “bless”
the community with gifts and prizes. Cool
dramas are great, but eating, sleeping, praying, serving, and working where
they do goes a lot farther than choreography.
If the participants are aware that the “change” that will likely occur
is in their own life, then I’m a fan. The
question becomes, what about the World Race?
Honestly, I believe we have a long-term mission’s mentality that happens
to be repeatedly put into effect each month in a new location. We don’t have space to carry goodies to give
away, so all we really have is love and truth.
We understand the importance of blessing the missionary contact/pastor,
and not just their flock.
23. If you could list them, what books
have impacted your life/heart/worldview the most (so far)?
Surprise of the night…I don’t read
all that much, especially typical Christian literature. I’m much more into the, “Here’s a story. You do the analysis and application yourself.” Therefore, books that come to mind include To Kill a Mockingbird, The Shack, Life of Pi,
and Animal Farm.
24. Has going on the world race, thus
far, given you any clarity on what you’re supposed to do when you return home?
I apologize for slightly avoiding
this question and I recognize the intention behind the question, but this has
really been on my thoughts and heart so I’m taking advantage of the
opening. The wording of this question
said, “What you’re supposed to do.” I’m
being swayed more and more that there isn’t a “Weston is supposed to do
________.” We are free. There is so much freedom in Christ that I do
not understand, and as long as I am delighting in the Lord, I can do whatever I
want. But no such clarity. I’m purposely avoiding this question not out
of fear of the unknown, but in order to stay focused on the present and really,
actually trust God to provide.
25. Is there one
scripture that has stood out as your source of strength and encouragement
throughout your journey on the World Race? If so, what is it and why?
Isaiah 61. I found it because part of my personal goal
this year is to learn to be “captivated” by God. Read it.
I’m not just saying that. It’s
like the World Race put into a chapter of the Bible.
26. How much do you miss me? (Holly
Belkot)
Remember when we cried in the
parking lot at your school before I quickly drove off to avoid, I don’t know,
just to avoid? That much sissy. (And you saw the video I put up online for
the family, right?)
27. Are the people in
Cambodia shorter, as tall, or taller than you?
I was surprised by the height of the
Cambodian men, but here in Thailand I’m closer to normal than ever before.
28. We here in the
United States have so many “things”. The people you are meeting have
very few things but have so much “faith”. How do we become more like
these people when it comes to faith?
Hard but true answer: Get rid of the things. (That’s biblical.) Their faith is large partly because they’ve
been in situations where God had to provide or they die. They truly believe in prayer as powerful and
not just as a ritual. I’m 25, I don’t
know, but it does seem that American culture is blinding. Find a way to remove the blinders whatever
that looks like personally. Donating
until it hurts? My mind has reduced it
to this: What’s of greater
priority: comfort or faith?
29. Did you or Adam shoot the Van with
the arrow when you were about 10 years old and put the hole in it?
I DO NOT KNOW. I mean, I know it
wasn’t me. I promise. Adam is the one who lied to you about scraping
the hood on the silver car until you offered him a bribe for the truth. Maybe you should retake this up with him.
30. When are you going to get a real
job?
How about this. You go teach in St.
Louis for two years and then we’ll revisit this question.
31. Do you have plans
for after the race?
Yes.
Have kids, not retire, get married, see the Canadian Rockies, buy a car,
and shave, but not necessarily in that order.
(Sorry for the sarcasm. Please
believe me when I say I haven’t spent longer than 123 consecutive seconds
thinking about this. I’m trusting.)
32. How much support do you have left to
raise?
I think about $135 dollars, or something close to
that.
33.
What have you learned about God’s love while you’ve been on the race?
How have you seen God’s love revealed to you in new ways? How about to your
team, squads, contacts?
How do we love with the love of
Jesus to the nations?
God is love. No no no, please don’t roll your eyes or shut
off your brain to revert back into “I’ve already heard this” mode. I had one of those “I UNDERSTAND” moments for
about 3.1 seconds about this topic about three weeks ago, and it rocked
me. God is love. Every characteristic that we use to describe
love, that is God. I know it’s broad,
but it’s so clear how we are supposed to love.
We are to be patient, kind, not self-seeking, and I Corinthians 13
explains further. But that’s it. That’s the love I am to have toward my
wife-whoever she is-my team, my contacts, my enemies, my parents, my
friends. God really is simple and
straightforward. Is this difficult and complex
in practice? Yes, but my most recent
blog argues that God is an idealist.
It’s so funny how I’m realizing that everything goes back to
Scripture. It’s all in there. Everything you really need. How can we possibly love others? Only because He loved us first. It’s earth shattering, yet so ordinary. (Ordinary Christian living is actually pretty
darn earth shattering once all the religion is removed out of the way.)
34. What is one thing you would have
told the Pre-race Wes just before departure?
Start
going by “Wes” now instead of “Weston” because it’s a lot easier for people
around the world to say. (or) Pursue love.
Everything else will fall into place.
35. What is the most dangerous thing
that you’ve done?
Riding those streets in Cambodia by bicycle. Traffic was slow enough that I was confident
the entire time, but before I would take others with me I asked, “You are
pretty confident on a bike, right?”
36. What was the scariest thing that
you’ve done?
I wrote a blog about this, but when I tumbled out of control while trying
to unplug an electrical wire it really shook me. Even since then I’ve had chances to climb
through the woods, which I used to love to do, but now I become minorly freaked
out and have backed off twice. The
honest truth is I hope I can get over the feeling of not having control over my
body. It’s a borderline “fear” now.
37. If you could ask Jesus one question,
what would it be?
How old is the earth? (or) Why did you allow Paris Hilton to become
famous?
38. What are 5 songs that go on the
playlist of this amazing journey so far?
New Soul– Yael Naim
Life in Technicolor–
Coldplay
Captivated–
Shawn McDonald
Happy Ending–
Mika
I Walked On the Moon–
Brian Regan
39. Of all the incredible people you
have met so far, who has impacted you the most and why?
Either Sopath (blog called “The Boy Who Would Not Smile”) or Pastor
Benjamin in Panajachel. The latter is a
man of faith like I’ve never met. He had
a radical transformation seven years ago from the deepest, darkest crevices of
sin to leading a spirit filled church.
He takes in teams and equips them to do “even greater things.” Knowing
that a man of that caliber is spending almost every moment working for the
Kingdom is inspiring.
40. Have you wiped your butt with your
hand yet?
Yes.
(I appreciate the bluntness of the question.) Refer to #54 for more information.
41. Scale of 1 to 10,
how much do you miss me? (Bree Burgess)
8.3
It would be higher if you weren’t from Texas.
42.
How can you be 25 and not know what conversation hearts are?
Let me paint a picture of what you
are doing. You are taking about a pound
of salt and rubbing it into every Valentine’s Day wound that I have. I’m kidding, I just didn’t recognize the
title “conversation hearts,” but that didn’t stop me from guessing the correct
answer.
43. Were you ever
able to recover the painting you bought in Guatemala and then left it behind at
the hostel? What was the subject of the painting?
Wow, great memory. That must come in handy for bridge. I did recover it. In an ironically sad twist of fate, a friend
of ours got food poisoning the night before, so three racers in total did not
travel on to Nicaragua with us. Instead
they returned to the hostel for a couple days until our friend could
recover. Therefore, they picked up my
painting for me, which is a dominantly purple painting of Lake Atitlan in
Guatemala.
44. What songs do you listen to the most
to get you through everything?
Wow, I failed as a writer somewhere painting a picture that there was stuff
to get through. I mean, I love this
life. There’s conveniences and people
that I miss, but nothing that I would trade.
To answer the question: Matt
Kearney, OAR, and Need to Breathe. (Also
refer to #38.)
45. What
characteristic (good or bad) do most of the people you interact with around the
world have in common?
People like to have fun. Subconsciously I had this idea that poor
villagers are poor villagers all the time.
Nope, I mean, yes, but people are people no matter where you go. (If you’ve seen Apocalypto, remember the
opening scene where they tease the big guy?
Same principle. Even people
thousands of years ago, no matter the living situations, I’m sure enjoyed a
good laugh.)
46. When can we
finally have a full TFA reunion and hear about your tales!
I’m a much better story teller when
it’s in writing, so get your fix now.
TFA reunion? I have no date, but
I really really want to visit St. Louis before 2010 is out. Maybe late September, early October?
47. What’s the one thing that you
thought you understood but that God has re-defined for you as you’ve been on
the WR?
The
terminology we use on the World Race is “feedback,” which basically includes
speaking words of life to someone and resolving any offenses or frustrations in
a way that builds the other person up.
Every day on the Race we have an opportunity as a team to share what is
REALLY on our thoughts and mind, whether that is what we’re learning or
something constructive for one our teammates.
I don’t know many families that sit down and work out their crap at all,
let alone provide an opportunity to do so every day. I thought I understood how to address
conflict and speak works of encouragement to someone, but I was way off. There is something honorable and
character-exposing when people are willing to put others before themselves and
talk about things that might come between them.
At home we’ve learned ways to avoid confrontation or not truly address
it, but there’s no avoiding on the Race.
Finally, every time somebody brings something to someone else I get this
huge smile on my face because that shows so much about that person’s character
and willingness to fight for community and covenant.
48.
What is the greatest revelation that resulted from your journey?
This line has resonated with me for
a while now, “God’s power is demonstrated through love and grace in
relationship.” Also refer to #33. Ok, here we go. The Holy Spirit that is a part of every
believer is the same Holy Spirit inside of countless Christians across time
that have prophesied, spoke in tongues, healed the sick, discerned, etc. It’s the same! (Go back and read I Corinthians 12 and 14
again. Seriously, there is so much more
that God has planned for us. So much,
and it’s like we go up to God and ask him for a nose bleed ticket to watch the
show when he desires for us to be a participant, not just a storyteller.) Two more things taken from praise song lyrics: The line “Freedom reigns in this place.” What does true freedom from guilt, shame,
fear, self-condemnation, peer pressure, etc. really look like? It’s rare-I haven’t seen it-but it’s
definitely worth pursuing. Also,
“Refiner’s fire, my heart’s one desire.”
The fire does purify, but it also hurts like hell.
49. There are two shepherds walking down
a road and they meet in the middle. Both of the shepherds have the same amount
of sheep. If shepherd one gives shepherd two (1) of his sheep then shepherd two
would then have double the amount of sheep that shepherd one has. How many
sheep did each shepherd start off with?
Three.
50. Your mother recently told Adam (the
eldest) that he was her favorite son (while I was in the room) how does that
make you feel?
I feel bad for you that you were so gullible to fall for such an act. It’s ok Tracker, I mean Spencer.
51. How has the soccer been in all the
countries you’ve seen so far? Increasing your skills?
I’ve
gotten to play once in Guatemala, twice in Nicaragua, a lot in Thailand, zilch
in Cambodia, and this month isn’t looking promising. The Thai impressed me, but fancy footwork
only goes so far.
52. If you could have
any God given power to cure anything what would it be?
I would want to cure the effects of low
self-esteem.
53. As of this point in time, in fifty years when
you are asked about the world race, whose face will define the people you
served?
Mary
Lacy. You never forget the first,
right? That cute little bugger.
54. What is
the most interesting place you had to use as a bathroom?
I’ve done the whole dig a hole in the
ground in Thailand, but I’ve done some hiking and running in the past so odd
stop off points don’t bother me. Here’s
the story. It was the only time at
debrief I made it to the beach in Hua Hin, Thailand. After a 5+ mile run along the beach,
everything inside of me was all garbled up.
It’s a touristy area so there was a public restroom. After giving them my 2 baht-few free
restrooms in Asia-I used the facilities.
It probably was a squatty potty, I don’t even notice anymore, but of
course it didn’t have toilet paper.
(Note: I would say only about 50%
of public bathrooms have had toilet paper available.) In short, I was already wet from the water,
so you make do with what God’s given you.
Questions
from Emily’s Students: These are a few
questions from one of my friend’s students in her middle school class.
Can anyone do what you do? – Luis (Mexico)
Have you seen any wild animals -Irving (Mexico)
Did we live in forest in Taland – Ali (Iraq)
How is it travling around the world? – Ms. W’s
student Mason (US)
Weston, How do you feel when you help kids and people?
– Alexus (US)
What is it like to be away from your family for a year!
– Lakeisha (US)
do you like liveing and a tent
What your favorit food aroud the wold? ali (Somalia)
Do you love what you do?
Yes, I do. I really do.
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