The World Race changed my life, that's no big secret. However, there are lots of other small things along the way that were part of changing my life. I want to pass them on to you.
I guarantee even 1 of these will change your life, your view of God, and your view of yourself...in other words...will change your life.
I didn't ask for a Corvette, a BMW, or even a Lexus, but I was specific. My daydreams were full of shiny Honda CR-Vs rolling thru the snow, packed for camping trips, or driving across country with good company. I was a "hopelessly optimistic realist," as a good friend puts it. That is my current dream car - not overly big yet perfect for the snow and the outdoors. I'm a simple girl...I like to think.
Problem #1 - no car. I start dreaming. Problem #2 - I'm a poor missionary daydreaming of a car. My solution? I began throwing up some prayers. My Heavenly Father says he owns the cows on 1,000 hills, what's a car to him? I've heard some pretty great stories of provision this past year. I absolutely needed a car, and I absolutely did not have the money for one. Part of my solution is also a lovely place called craigslist. And I find this car, which meets all the items on my checklist. And it's green. The icing on the cake.
Problem #3 - It's out of my price range, yet I test drive it and fall in love. So I make an offer. It's the best offer that I can afford and that (hopefully) doesn't offend the guy. It's the exact sum of money I have set aside for the car plus the check I have coming in the mail. He accepts! I'm a new car owner.
Hold on, it gets better.
We show up to buy the car. My dad comes along this time. Turns out, car guy and my dad have worked together for 18 years. Car guy continues to tell my dad that someone offered him the same amount the day before I saw the car, yet car guy didn't accept it. For whatever reason he took the same offer the next morning. Car guy insists this car was, for whatever reason, meant to be mine.
Did I mention that this car is in pristine condition? Low mileage, one careful owner, I mean even the engine is absolutely spotless! (No, seriously, it is.)
Turns out, God is pretty sovereign. Even when it comes to cars.
In a few posts, I'll be moving my blog to: http://AprilDuncan.blogspot.com
Same idea, new location.
Right now, you can go there and
read about my trip to Glacier Nat'l Park.
We did every ministry you can think of, and God transformed us thru it all. When we chose him, we felt his love like never before. We were then moved by that love to serve others. We were overcome with the desire for them to know God's love and freedom as well. That's when the miracles started...
If it's too long, you can search for keywords...happy readings!
What was the best food you ate, and what was the worst? What did you eat that you thought you would never even consider eating?
Best food - pad thai in Thailand! NOTHING like what I've had in the US. Fresh mangos in Cambodia, and all traditional Cambodian food, actually. And Mici in Romania. It's ground pork and beef along with spices made into a sausage. Quite delectable.
Worst food - It's called fufu, and it's all over Africa. Take the starchiest vegetable imaginable to man and pound it into something like half dried play dough and then dip it in pure red oil. Now eat a ball the size of a softball...what repeated painful experiences.
I may have eaten a few bugs like fried tarantula in Cambodia and every fishy fish dish you can imagine.
How much more do you appreciate a hot shower?
Actually, when it's 100+ degrees outside and you're drenched in sweat 24/7 really don't desire a hot shower. There's a lot to be said for a hot shower, but even more to be said for CLEAN water and water PRESSURE.
Who is your favorite person on the squad??? - Mike Sanders
Mike and Patti! They're our incredible coaches who visited us about 5x on the race to love on us, bring us M+Ms, pray for us and read ALL of our blogs. Possibly the wisest and most self-less people I've met.
What has affected you the most on the race (i.e., poverty? children? relationships?)
All those things break our hearts in different ways. 2 things have been particularly hard for me to see...
1 Women selling their bodies - sometimes for basic things like
food and clothing. To see women who truly believe that they cannot
rise above their circumstances and rely on selling themselves in order
to live...that's heartbreaking.
2 Lack of Education - Not having basic education, even thru
grade 5 or 6 is devastating. It's mind blowing to see it's effects -
poor hygiene, poor management of money or resources, even basic
reasoning like "cause and effect" is practically non-existent with out
a basic education. It's absolutely absurd and heart-breaking to see
the arguments and reasoning of people who haven't had a good education.
What will you miss most after the race is over?
My team! They're quite possibly one of the funniest, most joyful, and
gifted groups of people I've ever been with. They're my brothers and
sisters who surround me with genuine encouragement and tough love.
We're absolutely real and transparent with each other. THAT is
something I will truly miss.
Did you ever run into tensions between people on the your teams? How did you handle those struggles while living in such close quarters and trying to do such important work?
Conflicts were actually encouraged by our leadership and spiritual parents - seriously. Tough love and correction (OUT OF LOVE) is how the raised us. It's iron sharpening iron. Our secret to doing it well? Feedback. It was a regular (almost daily) occurrence where we all sat down together and shared how we were doing/what God was teaching us and we gave encouragement/constructive feedback to each person. THAT is the only way we could live in the awesome community we experienced - being with the same 5 people day and night.
Did you get any cultural education before entering each country and ministry setting? Did you run into any cultural tensions on the race, and how did you find a balance of respect and acceptance of other cultures while not giving up your own?
The 2 or 3 briefings we had were invaluable.
Jesus offends. Let's make that clear. He offends because he's opposite of the world. That doesn't give us the right to minister in a self-righteous manner. It's all the more reason we should do everything out of LOVE. Cultural tensions arose almost every country. Sometimes it was over money people thought we had, sometimes it was over our way of ministering. Often we were asked to do awkward things like stand in beauty salons in the marker and give testimonies/sermons. The only answer we had was to look to see where/how God was working and join in that.
How did you survive the heartbreak that you saw around you?
It hurt, there's no way around that. However, we realized that heartbreak was God's way of asking us to pray for that person or situation. So we asked his will in the situation and prayed for it. In that way we found joy and purpose in being heartbroken.
Do you miss me? - Allison
Every day. =) Call me!
What were your 3 greatest moments of weakness?
1 Being dog tired the past month and having a difficult contact to work with
2 Learning to love and interact with people who have the spirit of rejection all over them
3 Being a leader and having to rely on God for EVERYTHING
What were your 3 greatest moments of strength?
1 Ghana - speaking in schools and churches multiple times a day, my speaking gift just went crazy that month!
2 Being able to walk in peace in stressful situations of ministry or in our team
3 Being a leader and having to rely on God for absolutely everything! His joy is our strength!
What are you most thankful for from the world race?
I now know who I am in Christ and have found freedom in areas where I've had struggles or guilt/shame most of my life. When we pressed into serving Christ and knowing his heart, he transformed us into the people he's always desired us to be. When we choose him he transforms us.
Do the foreigners really appreciate US visitors?
Cambodians are in awe to find that you traveled ½ around the world to love them. Most of West Africa welcomed our wallets and nothing more. Serbians weren't so keen on us because of a little issue they had with Clinton. Ukrainians wanted to talk to us just because we're American.
Do they want to hear about Christianity?
Some want to hear about a god who will bless them if they do the right deeds. Others want to know white missionaries who have money. Everyone wants to hear about an endless and vast love that gives hope in all circumstances and pain. Everyone wants to know an unconditional acceptance. Sadly most don't know that that is what Christ meant for knowing him to be. Many think it's following rules and going to church. No one is interested in that.
How did you deal with being away from your boyfriend for 11 months?
Skype is a wonderful wonderful thing...if you have internet. Otherwise a lot of prayer and clinging by a string to God's faithfulness - which never fails!
What things (food and amenities) did you miss most while being out of the country?
In no particular order...
Couches, fluffy towels, genuine Italian pasta, a shower that doesn't come out of a bucket or a garden hose, the ease of getting anywhere in a respectable amount of time...(3rd world buses and traffic are HORRIFICLY slow. Walking might have been a better option, no joke.)
Would you do it again?
I may have wondered how to work out a 2nd trip, but I figured my very patient family boyfriend wouldn't be so patient anymore.
What countries did you like the most/least? Cambodia - the fav - hospitality that blew my mind, a true hunger for and hope in Christ like I've never experienced, don't be surprised if you hear about true revival happening there in the near future
Ghana - least favorite - too much stifling religion, too much of a power struggle between pastors, too much fascination with money
Are there any foods/habits/personal preferences etc. that you have you decided to give up, do without or adopt when you return?
1 Never drinking instant coffee again
2 Praying out loud because our words shift the atmosphere
3 Being transparent and real 24/7
4 Operating in spiritual gifts 24/7 and not just in a ministry setting
5 Bringing more encouragement but also bringing more feedback (constructive feedback) to people around me
6 Looking at a situation thru God's perspective and seeking his plan instead of wanting to fix it my own way
Did Christina get enough funds to stay with your team?
YES! In fact, NO world racer has EVER been sent home because of lack of funds. God has provided $15,000 for every one of the 1,000 racers to date.
Are you anxious to get home? Are you kidding?!
1 Family, friends, church, and the boyfriend
2 Real towels
3 Couches (much of the world doesn't believe in seating or comfortable seating)
4 Clean bathrooms
5 SNOW! (and anything else that is slightly cold)
How did you handle only being there at each place for a short time and having a small influence? Sowing and reaping - We learned a lot about being willing to sow what we won't reap.
Partnering with a long term vision - Everywhere we went we worked with contacts who had a long term vision and ministry for that country or area. We partnered with that in a way that 1) the people we ministered to weren't dependent on us and 2) we would only leave positive, long lasting effects.
If there is one thing that you could change about your trip in the aspect of what you could have done differently to the places you were at, what would it have been? How could you have made a difference in other ways if you had your choice?
Woah, good question!
At times I wish we had spoken up more about when we disagreed with our contact or a situation in a ministry site. There's a very fine line of honoring the contact and bringing truth out of love. We tended to lean toward honoring the contact. There are times when the right thing to do was honor them, even when you disagreed with them. However, sometimes the need to bring truth (out of love) to a situation is also honoring and necessary. I wish at times we hadn't been so timid about it.
What exactly is in your pack?
Generally, at any given time, this is what you'd find in my pack...
Sleeping bag, silk sleeping bag liner, sleeping mat, tent
Rain jacket, Milty moose
An entire pharmacy in a ziplock bag
2 pairs of pants, 3 pairs of capris, 2 dresses, 1 skirt
3 tank tops, 2 long sleeve shirts, 1 jacket, 6 tshirts
very basic toiletries
sneakers, flip flops, sandals
3-4 books
laptop, hard drive, journal, bible, markers/sketch book
And a huge bag of jewelry from all over the world - maybe my favorite item...
Yes, our packs have a tendency to EXPLODE when we open them...
When will you hit the USA?
Friday, Sept 3rd at 2:50pm in JFK - see you in PIT at 6:55pm
How do you expect the transition back home to be?
I anticipate a breakdown in a large supermarket and sheer ecstasy
hiking in the mountains. I expect friction as I attempt to live as a
new version of me in familiar surroundings. I also anticipate a shout
of joy once I realize a balanced diet is once again possible when
you're eating on more than $3 a day. And I plan to cry once I realize
my team is displaced across 1000s of miles.
What are the next plans for you life once you get back home?
I'll be living at home until December. I plan to visit the boyfriend in Wyoming a few times, and make a trip down to Gerogia to visit some friends. Plus I'll be speaking at several churches and groups. Woo hoo!
I want your questions. Questions about the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the lovely, the difficult, the painful, the disgusting, the hopeful, the heart-breaking, and the ridiculous. Ask me about food. Ask me about countries. Ask me about God's miracles. Ask me about my personal change and growth. Ask about my team. Ask about being a leader. Ask about being a follower. Ask what I love about the race. Ask what I hate about it and hope to never see again. ASK IT ALL.
In a blog soon to come I'll answer your questions. Send them in an email or leave them in a comment below. It's no secret that I don't really keep secrets, so ask away. I like hard questions, and I like funny questions. And here's a few questions to get those questions flowing.
The past 3 months have looked something like this:
"Welcome to Nigeria. We'd like you to play with kids for a month."
"Welcome to Romania. We have some kids for you to busy yourselves with."
"This is Serbia! Let's have an overnight kids camp for a week. Don't look so excited..."
"Don't you love Moldova? How about teaching English at kids camp for 2 weeks?"
By the way, we couldn't communicate with any of the kids w/o a translator (except for in Romania.) You know when you stare at a word too long and you wonder if it's really spelled right? That's how I felt. I was staring at kids who spoke gibberish (to my ears,) and I wondered what the heck purpose I was serving after awhile. Be informed, there was a huge purpose for all that - but that's another blog. Moving right along...
Ukraine. What a change!
1. We're in Crimea - a peninsula in the Black Sea. Yes, we're ministering in a popular vacation destination. Don't be jealous ok - I've spent months living w/o running water in crazy heat taking bucket showers. So, no, I don't feel bad about being near the beach at all!
2. Hoblin Cbet (but in weird Russian letters I can't repoduce) is the small church we're living at in the town of Kirovskoe. It means new life. We're camping in the back yard once again. I love tents - no heat, no bugs and lots of stars. (Did I mention personal space?!) I don't know why we don't sleep in tents more at home actually.
3. English classes, youth evangelism, an orphanage, and hospital visits occupy our time. Wow is it a refreshing
change. I'm seeing awesome giftings and strengths rise out of my team. We're challenge in new ways to serve and in new ways to honor our contact. Who said change is bad? Change is what allows us to grow. Change is what pushes us and creates new open doors. Change waters new seeds in us. Fear of change is an awful and crippling place to be.
4. Ok, YES, we did spend our 2 off days at the beach. It was everything you could want out of a day off. Shells, warm water, banana boats, (GOOD) pizza, and sun. However, I was quite embarrassed of the awful farmer's tan I've gotten this past year.
What happens now?
August 22nd - We bus to Kiev to rest a few days. August 26th - We fly to Dublin for our final debrief. August 31st - Sept 2nd - The Awakening happens. It's a huge gathering of all the world racers on the field right now as well as alum and staff. It's a huge Holy Spirit party, basically.
Sept 3rd is a day that will mark church history.
L Squad hits AMERICAN SOIL in JFK at 2:50pm.
Get ready. It's gonna be big...
2-3 hours and 2 buses - the tentative itinerary to travel between 2 towns in Moldova. Oh how naïve we were. Has 10 months taught us nothing?!
8 hours and 4 buses later we arrived in Naslavcea, Moldova, a tiny town on the border of Ukraine. It gets better. I experienced some of the most interesting traveling yet.
9:30am - pack a white panel van with our luggage and ourselves
9:45 - drive to the bus station
9:55 - the bus driver tells us we can put our luggage in the luggage space behind the seats
9:56 - we fill the empty luggage space with 1 of our 6 large backpacks (and 6 day packs, a guitar and a drum to go)
10:00 - the bus is scheduled to leave
10:17 - we fill the aisle of the bus (which is a 20 passenger van essentially) with our bags, guitar and drum
10:25 - after watching other passengers throw temper tantrums about our bags, the bus leaves
10:26-12:00 - drive to Balti and pick up as many Moldovans as the bus could possibly hold, and then a few more. Did I mention it's 90+ degrees and there are only 2 open windows in the front.
12:00 - arrive in Balti
12:05 - Josh and I go in search of a bus to Ocnita
12:15 - after much sign language and translators (who actually made communication worse) we determine which man will take us to Ocnita
1:00pm - we pack the bus once again like the first, only this time we pack bags in the back seat
1:05 - Josh and I are the last to get on. (big mistake) We're directed to the 2 backseats next to all of our bags.
1:07 - the driver sets Tim's guitar in my lap. He laughs and says something about welcome to Moldova. I laugh and wait for him to move it.
1:08 - The drive sets cushions in the aisles and 5 more people get on. I'm now pinned between a guitar, window, seat back, and Josh. Any escape routes are blocked by seats in the aisle. God help us.
1:09 - claustrophobia sets in. Josh and I laugh so hard we cry. I don't know if they're tears of joy or despair or fear.
1:15 - I'm really thirsty but I can't move my arms. Josh tries to pour water in my mouth. Epic fail.
1:16 - bags begin to fall on Josh. For the next hour he'll continually push 50lb backpacks off of his head.
1:30 - my legs begin to go numb. I try to go to my happy place.
2:15 - We arrive at a small bus station called Edinet. The bus driver insists we need to get off even though we're not in Ocnita.
2:20 - the drive throws our baggage into a pile on the sidewalk and directs us to a large man in a yellow shirt. He points to the large man while saying something about Ocnita,and he leaves.
2:45 - After asking around and using more charades, we learn that a bus will leave for Ocnita at 3:30pm.
3:30 - the bus to Ocnita arrives. We're sure this time. We load the back seats and opt to stand in the aisle. My legs needed some circulation anyway.
4:30 - we arrive in Ocnita and meet our contact Andrei. He says something about another bus.
4:31 - I go to my happy place once again.
4:40 - we take our OWN bus to Naslavcea. Everyone has their OWN seat with their OWN leg room. Woah, dream big!
4:50 - we pass acres and acres of endless sunflowers. I relax.
4:55 - we see a river valley and begin to drive into it. I relax a little more.
5:15 - we arrive at a tiny cottage in the valley along a stream. We're in heaven.
5:20 - we unpack and settle in.
Life is good.
So why should people go on the world race?
He will expand your comfort zone - literally.
He'll let your walls be invaded - literally.
He'll take you places you never dream of - literally.
He'll show you new ways of doing things - literally.
Life will never be boring again.
The World Race - Getting up close and personal with a
personal God and the people he loves.
(And don't ever assume anyone outside the US wears deodorant.
That would make the up close and personal thing too easy.)
Our ministry doesn't have a name. There's no office. There's no website. It's a man with a vision and a deep intimacy with God. It's a man who is seen as a light by everyone in the community. It's a light so trusted and so strong that the community daily and willingly sends their kids to him even though his beliefs and "type" of Christianity (our type as well) is nationally recognized as a cult.
Any religion in Moldova that is not Orthodox is placed on the Cult Register of the government. In a country full of orthodoxy and a very traditional (and large) elderly population, the spirit of religion (practices replacing intimacy with Jesus) is pretty strong. Yet, this town sees Andrei, our contact, as an honorable and compassionate guy. The school board has backed him when others made accusations that he was teaching propaganda to his students. The town asked him to serve as chief of police. He's known by most people, especially the kids, in town and highly esteemed by them.
Andrei's testimony is a life of faith.
Late one night God told Andrei to leave his good job in the capital and to move 4 hours north to a small town on border of Ukraine. He resigned the next day and moved his family to a town where he found himself jobless and homeless. He got a job that pays ¼ his previous salary. He, his wife, and his toddler son lived with the pastor until God worked another miracle for their house. Their present landlord was looking for a Christian family to rent this house to for free. THAT is unheard of here. Thanks to them I'm sitting on a porch looking into a beautiful yard as I write.
BC (Before Christ) Andrei was an alcoholic. At a party, while being drunk, another guy talked him into going to church with him. He did. The pastor preached on the prodigal son, and something stirred in Andrei telling him that he was this prodigal son. He immediately gave his life to Christ. He now runs a drug and alcohol rehab center in a small village nearby since alcoholism is a very common problem in Moldova.
Ugh...was our first response when we were asked to kids camp again. (And we STILL couldn't communicate with the kids.) However, I watched Andrei interact with the kids one day. Instead of having an agenda full of songs, stories, lessons, prayer, and "meaningful" activities, he gave the kids an experience. He gave them an experience of genuine love and acceptance, which clearly goes farther than neat organized lesson plans. It kept the kids coming back for sure. I was reminded of the power of love. (Huey Lewis and the News is now playing in my mind...) The simple power of pure love that opens doors and creates opportunities that weren't there before. Yet his love was without agenda. His love was for the sake of loving, for the sake of sharing the incredible love that we are all offered by God. He loved because Jesus loved him. That simple.
Often we enter a ministry with an agenda. We enter with a game plan. We think we have the answers to lead them to Christ, to lead them to freedom, etc. We try to walk them thru a plan or steps to get an outcome. We forget the simple, overwhelming power of God's love and how that simple power has changed us. We all need love. We were created to need love and acceptance, and the only love and acceptance that will satisfy that need comes from God. What a simple reminder of our simple calling - to love God and to love others the way he loves us.
Train tracks, a bridge, a view of town, and shouting at the top of our lungs. That's what I'll remember most of my birthday in Moldova. And the best gift? Freedom.
Too often in my life I've been silenced. Too often in my life I've believed way too many lies. I wasn't funny enough. I wasn't pretty or skinny enough. I didn't have anything interesting or of value to say. I couldn't make a difference with what I had to say anyway. I just wasn't cool enough. I couldn't be friends with people that awesome. And the list goes on and on. I'm probably not the only person who has heard these lies daily. I now realize that the enemy is just FULL of crap like this. He's incredible predictable, and he's incredibly wrong.
This year my teammates and I put an end to these lies. Thanks to Jesus we no longer live under them. We no longer react to them. We'll let you in on a secret. You know that person inside of us that we so desperately want to be but can't seem to get out because of all those lies? We found a way to let that person out. We found a way to be that person every single day.
It's called freedom. It's called living in the victory already given to us by our Savior. It's not just a happy idea we sing about in church. It can be real. It happens by taking our thoughts captive and by rebuking every single lie that comes our way - no matter how many times. Rebuke it. Then speak let's speak the truth over ourselves. We're accepted. We have infinite value to God. We're given all authority under Heaven. Don't let the enemy steal our God-given identity. This was never real to me until 1 year ago. Thanks to the grace of God it's now daily life.
Back to the train tracks. Josh, Amy, and I had a moment. We were caught up in the pure joy and glory of the lives we were meant to have. We recounted all the ugly lies and spirits we had been freed of in just 1 year.
What am I free of?
-Spirit of Rejection - All those lies I listed above...I don't live under them anymore. I don't believe them!
-Performance Mentality - What a lie that my achievements determine my value.
-Control - I don't have to be in control to have it all together or to prove my worth.
-Religion - God is bigger than tradition, and he's not defined by what we can reason out with logic and rational arguments. We CANNOT reason him out with logic. It'd be a sad day if we could.
Then we celebrated. I'm pretty sure the entire town heard us yell FREEDOM at the top of our lungs. What an exhilarating feeling! What love my Savior has for me that he would wait 20 years for me to claim what he's been offering me my entire life.
What an incredible way to spend my birthday. What an incredible feeling it is to be free!
Kids camp, farm adventures, windy days, grey hair, and the man cave...it's all here. This is our ministry in Serbia in a nutshell. (My apologies, the ice cream eating contest didn't make it in the video. However, the rest is here!)
Often we enter a ministry with an agenda. We enter with a game plan. We think we have the answers to lead them to Christ, to lead them to freedom, etc. We try to walk them thru a plan or steps to get an outcome. We forget the simple, overwhelming power of God's love and how that simple power has changed us. We all need love. We were created to need love and acceptance, and the only love and acceptance that will satisfy that need comes from God. What a simple reminder of our simple calling - to love God and to love others the way he loves us. 
