...was not spent in the Philippino dump,

not at Kawan in Malaysia—heck, not even fundraising inside the hospital,

it was not spent in the rice fields of Thailand,

or the tree house of Cambodia.

No, no...

It wasn't even one of the twelve weeks I spent all over Africa.

Not in the orphanage of India,

or in the squalor* of Nepal.

Ha, no...it was not even spent hopping from village to village in Ukraine.

My most uncomfortable week of the race happened month eleven. My most uncomfortable week on the race was spent laying on the beaches of Romania.

If there is anything I have learned from these past eleven or so months of my life, it's that comfort has very little to do with the physical world.

The main religion here in Romania is Orthodox, and while on the outside it looks as if Orthodox Christians and Lovers of Jesus are the same, on the inside they couldn't be more different. Here in Romania, I have encountered Religion.

I have encountered Religion and it has made me uncomfortable.

This past week my time was spent in the most clean and comfortable conditions I've had in at least eight months, spent laying on the beach and admiring our God's creation, spent wrestling with and standing up for the reality of Grace.

I have always been one to preach Grace. I've always been one to tell you that Jesus loves you right now, just the way you are. I've always been one to tell you that you're good attendance at church, your disciplined fasting and your daily Bible reading are not going to change the way the Lord sees you. He loves you 100% right now and there is nothing you can do that can make Him love you more and there is nothing you can do to make Him love you less. He just loves you.

I've always preached Grace. Now I've been given the chance to live Grace, to believe Grace, to walk Grace out with confidence and assurance. I got to look Religion in the eye and say, “Grace.”

Of course I'm being vague and ambiguous, but that's okay, I'm learning a lot. The Lord has taken me on a wild ride these past eleven months. I haven't really figured out what most of this year has taught me, I don't really know what I've learned or how exactly I've grown. But something that I do know, something that has become more real to me these past months on the World Race is that Papa loves me. That He just loves me. That His words are true and His Grace is real. That Christ's love for us (and there is no greater love than to lay ones life down for a friend) has covered a multitude of sins...past, present and future sins. I know that I am His and I know wherever I'm going next, He's coming with Me. I know that He's got my back and that even if I step out and fall down, that He's right there, cheering me on. I know that He'll never put to shame those who trust in His name. And I know that I really know nothing at all, but that nothing is enough. I know that He loves me.

I know that He loves me. I know that He loves me. I know that He loves me.

And that's enough.

Thank you Lord for your Grace. Thank you Lord for the Cross. Thank you Lord for loving us.

“I do not treat the Grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.” (Galatians 2:21 NLT)

I will live by the light of the glory you shine on me. I will live by the Grace that you offer so freely.

*squalor: filth and misery, foul and repulsive, as from lack of care or cleaniless; neglected and filthy. Wretched; miserable; degraded; sordid...Nepal.

Hello from Romania!!

I've made it to the last month of this 11 month journey. It's hard to believe. I always thought of Romania as this far away destination...this place that I was never going to get to because this 'trip' was never going to end.

But, believe it or not, we're here. We've made it to the end.

The end is hard, filled with mixed emotions and extremely bitter-sweet, but it's here.

This month my team and I are working with a church plant kind of in the middle of nowhere. The church here is full of prayer warriors and take us out on prayer walks through the gypsy community every afternoon and are evenings are full of evangelism.

Our mornings start bright and early and involve a very random variety of work through-out the community. We've done everything from cleaning out a barn (complete with a cow) to cleaning out an office space.

My favorite, however, was helping a family make bricks out of mud in order to add an extra room to their house.

This may come as a surprise to some, but I have this thing with getting gross stuff on my feet and between my toes...so getting me to step in the mud took some coaxing, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do. And that day, I had to dance around in the in order to mix in the water.

It was freezing...but we ended up having a lot of fun and helping the family make 100 bricks.

They're keeping us busy this month. Working us harder than we've been worked in a couple months, but it's good. It's a good way to go out.

On the 10^th, we'll be leaving this town and going to a youth camp on the Black Sea. We'll be spending a week there working along side the leaders of the church and pouring into the youth. After that, who knows... but I'm sure I'll keep you all updated.

See you soon!

Hello future racers! As my race is coming to an end, one of my best friends is preparing to leave on hers.

--say hi to michelle everybody--

(www.michellelasko.theworldrace.org)

I wrote out my version of the World Race packing list for her and thought that it could be beneficial to you all getting ready as well.

I remember stressing out about what to pack for a couple weeks and then I got rid of more than half of what I brought.

So here are my comments, suggestions and ideas...take them or leave them...

:)

1. Don't hold on too tightly to anything...things change instantly, you have little to no control over anything. Also, along those lines, get your alone time right now, because come September...you're not going to have any...for eleven months.

2. Make sure your time with the Lord is your number one priority. I understand that you will be living with 5-6 other people and they will be around all the time and you will want to be part of the fun, but know that they are around aallll the time and that you can hang out with them AFTER you get your time with Papa God. He is your most important relationship. Prioritize your life like this: 1. relationship with Papa. 2. relationship with team. 3. whatever ministry you're doing. You will quickly learn that the World Race is far less about you changing the world and much more about Papa changing YOUR world.

3. Be vulnerable. This whole experience will be a lot easier if you just open up and let people see you. They have no choice but to love you, so there is really no risk.

4. The Diva Cup. Yes, yes...it's gross and scary and big...but it's a life saver. Get one before the race so that you can practice in the cleanliness of your own home. That cleanliness will soon be lost, so you should get used to that thing while you can wash your hands and stuff. But, trust me...it's worth it.

5. Your route is different than mine, and even teams on the same squad have really different experiences...but, just a note...I sent my sleeping bag home at the end of month one. If you get cold easily you might still want to bring this. I sent my tent home at the end of month five. I have, however, used my sleeping pad for two months. I bought a ginormous mat...that sucked to lug around, but when it came to those months where I was sleeping on the floor...everyone was jealous.

6. Clothes. Ok, this is hard. Number one...you will get sick and tired of your clothes really fast. Bring things that you like to wear, that you will feel like yourself in...but also know that you are going to want to get rid of things. You will buy clothes on the race and you are not going to want to lug around mass amounts of clothes. People trade clothes all the time. So, bring things you like and feel comfortable in...but also bring clothes that you don't care if you get rid of. Bring crappy 'construction' or workout clothes as well. But...really...don't bring that much. Think through the outfits you're bringing...bring pieces that are versatile. One pair of jeans, one sweatshirt, a couple knee length skirts and a knee length dress or two. A couple t-shirts that you can wear with anything and a cardigan. Tank tops are usually ok, but we had about three months in a row...no four months in a row where we couldn't show our shoulders or our knees. Keep that in mind. Bring a pair of exercise shorts, but make sure they are 'modest'.

7. Also, bring lightweight, inexpensive jewelry and accessories. They will help you feel like yourself even if the clothes you are wearing are not things you would ever wear. Head bands and scarves are great. And as far as makeup goes...I don't really wear it at home, but I brought it...and guess what, I don't wear it on the race. You will. Once in awhile, but I would recommend not bringing all the makeup you have at home. It's just not worth is. Mascara and concealer will probably be plenty. You just don't need it. You stop caring what you look like really early on.

8. Bring lots of underwear. I brought 14 pairs...some have said goodbye. These panties are going to get worn out very fast because of hand washing and constant wear...sooo...bring plenty.

9. You are going to be dirty. You can say goodbye to hygiene now. Don't bring a years supply of anything. You can buy everything overseas. I brought way too many toiletries and that is where a lot of my weight was. Bring bar soap instead of liquid soap. I bought that stupid crystal deodorant...and hated it. My teammates are recommending bringing extra sticks of deodorant because you can't find good deodorant any where. But, you can find everything else overseas...don't bring full size anything...a months supply or so will be fine. Plus! Team budget will cover your toiletry refills!

10. I brought a french press. That was stupid. I brought the plate and bowl and silverware that they told me to bring...and have yet to use them. Though, we have used our collapsible bowls for bucket showers. Other teams have used their bowls often, but not a plate. The spork thing is useful for eating peanut butter out of the jar. Which you will do. Also, if you don't drink out of a water bottle at home, you're probably not going to start on the World Race. I brought two water bottles and have now given them both away.

11. Bring a raincoat.

12. Um, as far as shoes...I don't know what to tell you. Bring tennis shoes, a pair of sandals that can handle Africa (chacos, tevas, keens...) and then a pair of flip flops. I would recommend bringing a pair of 'cute shoes' but that's up to you. I didn't and I regret it...but at the same time, I would have hated lugging them around. You are going to realize quickly that you care less about variety and more about having a light weight pack. Plus, you will share everything with the girls on your team.

13. Meds. Bring what you need. Whatever you take regularly at home. I brought so much more than I needed. Aside from anything that you take at home, I would bring Ibprofen (or the like) and ...nothing else. People on your team will have everything you need...mostly because they won't have someone telling them not to bring this stuff. So don't worry about diarrhea meds, or allergy meds...unless that's something you have issues with all the time at home. Also, in regards to malaria medicine. I almost never took mine and we were in malaria zones the whole race. Other people on my squad have taken their pills everyday...and they still got malaria. If you get malaria, you go to the doctor, they give you medicine and you have a week in hell and then are better. Also, I feel like a First Aid Kit is unnecessary...bring bandaids and neosporin and that should suffice. Remember someone on your team will have brought everything.

14. Bring a dirty clothes bag. It helps. I wouldn't bring a clothes line. I didn't...it didn't matter. Two girls on my team have and have never needed it.

15. Don't bring a mosquito net. Or a pocket knife or whatever it's dumb.

16. Target has an all country electrical convertor...it's been incredible.

17. Bring an REI extra large pack towel and bring a small pack pillow.

MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I BROUGHT ON the RACE

1. My study Bible. The Lord took me on a journey through this Bible. You won't really be able to get 'fed' spiritually from church on the Race. Most of the time your team will be preaching. So your Bible will be a source of a lot of strength. My study Bible is big and heavy, but sooo worth it. Also, I would recommend getting a Bible Reading plan, I totally recommend mine – http://www.Bible-Reading.com it has been wonderful. Also, bring highlighters and pens and a journal. All very important.

2. My computer. My roommates bought me this tiny little one and it's perfect. You will have internet access more often than you think, but even when you don't (like I don't right now) you can write your blogs or emails on your computer and then go to the internet and send everything...saving time. Also, make sure that you have Itunes on your computer and I would get Podcasts now. It'll help you get fed. Also, this is something I didn't really do...but get an external hard drive and put your music and movies on that. Bring movies. (Not discs...get them on your hard drive.) Also, even if you don't have movies, bring the hard drive anyway, other people will have movies and you can get them from them.

3. My Ipod. You don't really get alone time on the Race, so it becomes a rule that if your headphones are in...it's your alone time. (I'm laughing, because that is the said rule, but no one follows it.) So, put your worship music on that and keep it charged. I lost my charger and lots of my teammates have lost headphones...you loose things a lot on the race, so if you have extras, bring them.

4. I love my sleeping bag liner. I have used it almost every month. You don't need a sleeping bag, but you will use that liner.

5. My head lap. I lost it once...and thought my world was coming to an end.

6. Card games and the like. You will be amazed at how much 'down time' you will have on the Race...and a lot of the time you won't be able to go explore the country. So, bring things that you can do with your team. Skipbo, Phase Ten, UNO and Banana Grams all seem to be crowd favorites.

7. Books, books, books. Bring your favorites...take up space to bring two or three. They will get passed around your squad a lot, but will be soo worth it. I would recommend bringing one that is purely leisure...they are nice to just escape into.

I would check the weather for the countries that you are going to visit...closer to when you launch (because your route will change) and that way you can see what you'll need.

I think that's all I've got. All I know is that I brought WAY too much. Anything that you don't have, your teammates will have. And if they don't, you'll be able to get something like it somewhere. The World Race is much different than a short term trip. You live and get settled in each country.

Also, the weight gain you may have heard of is not a lie. Girls gain weight on the World Race, boys loose weight. Your diet will be carbs and rice all year. Very little protein and very little vegetables. Usually plenty of fruit. Some people take multivitamins...I have them but don't take them. Try to get into the habit of exercising, but it's hard. I suck at it.

anyway!! have fun!

The Messengers have had quite an interesting month here in Ukraine. Of course, our Papa, in His Sovereignty and Splendor knew what He was doing when He sent us to Odessa, Ukraine. This city has been a big help with getting ready to deal with the upcoming culture shock and re-entry into civilization.

While Ukraine is still a third world nation, they are working their way up. The people here care about things that we have forgotten about-like stylish clothing, hair styles, showering regularly, etc. The prices are high and we can't really get away with being the scavenger selves we've become over the past ten months.

I realize it's still going to be quite the adjustment coming home, however, Ukraine has served as a nice step back into civilization as I once knew it.

We have also been around lots and lots of English speakers, a lot of them American, making relationships easy to build. Probably easier than in any month prior.

The interesting part about all of this, is that we were only in one place for 6 days tops this month. Our ministry consisted of us hanging out with people....hanging out with people all over Ukraine. We have packed up our packs 9 times this month, each time moving to some other part of the country and spending a couple days or so with people I could work along side of the rest of my life.

This has been a month of 'goodbyes'. Perhaps preparing us for the big goodbye that is on it's way.

This last week we stayed in a village about 20 hours away from Odessa. (Trains have quickly become my favorite mode of transportation.) We hopped off the train, 5am, and were greeted by our final ministry contacts, Marina and Vika.

Marina Vika

Marina and Vika

These two best friends of ten years have given their lives to be a light in their very atheist country. They raise support so they can live their lives and minister to those around them. We meshed quickly, we laughed, drank tea, watched movies and shared stories. Then, at the end of a couple days, we said goodbye.

If I had to choose a word for this month it would be 'moving'...or 'goodbye'.

...or 'kitties'. As they have been everywhere. At least three different people have offered me free kittens and there are grown up cats up and down every street.

As you can imagine, I love Ukraine. Unfortunately, it's time to say, 'goodbye'.