This is not a vacation. I repeat, not a vacation.
Am I getting to travel around the world, envelop myself in new cultures and have life altering experiences; yes! But that by no means takes away from the discomforts. This is no walk in the park, people.
We have been constantly and consistently pushed out of our comfort zone. And each month’s new “mountain” to climb over appears different than the previous ones. Every country offers new challenges for us to face. These predicaments come in many forms: physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Most months have had many physical comforts taken away. It might look like sleeping on the ground for months at a time (I’ve slept in a “bed” only 3 months so far this year! And most beds are thin pads on top of a piece of wood). Or using a squatty potty (basically a porcelain hole in the ground) while being sick with the local illness and simply desiring to go home. Or living in building having one or more of the following: black mold, bugs, spiders, small animals, and dirt covered everything. Or not having transportation, so you have to walk everywhere no matter the weather conditions. This has not been every month on the race, but it has been many and they have been extremely growing month!
Some months have emotional discomforts. It could look like the ministry your team is working with is extremely draining because you are working with children who have HIV, or women who don’t believe they desire better than the lives they are living. It is draining because of the darkness carried with them and the spirit of hopelessness. Or possibly it is the slow growing pain of missing home and loved ones on the difficult days. Or maybe it is The Lord pulling out deep roots from your past and the pain that comes with that healing process. Maybe it is letting going of your past, both people and events, because it is what would be best, not what would be easiest. Each month brings a new challenge to push you to lean more on God.
Or maybe it is spiritually uncomfortable. He is pushing you to speak in front of others in areas that are very new to you. Or you have a person on your team that you simply do not mesh well with, but you chose to love them in spite of your fleshly feelings. Or it could be some of the very spiritually dark place you go. The places where you walk into a room and you can feel the enemy’s presence there. Or it could be intense spiritual attacks in all hours of the day. Or living in the midst of a Muslim community, being unable to actually share anything about Jesus or what you are doing this year. These are common, daily realities for us.
Each day is different than the last. Each day brings new highs and lows. Each day bring new chances to be vulnerable, love others’, and lean on God. This is a year of the unknown, being flexible, and adapting. It is a pressure cooker; going through ten years of growth opportunities in one year. There is no way we could make it through this year on our own strength. We would fail miserably.
So, it is not a vacation where I am only doing fun things and “travelling the world”. It is a year of sacrifice, dying to myself, and leaning on God’s strength. And I love every moment of it. I wouldn’t trade all the hardships for one Chipotle burrito bowl, or a movie night in an air-conditioned room. I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I am doing exactly what I have been called to do. And I am excited to bring this enduring joy and fire home! We can bring the Kingdom and love in ALL circumstances.
“How do we change the world? With one act of random kindness at a time.” (Evan Almighty)
Many of my teammates’ have had similar experiences this month. My hilarious, and quick witted teammate Drew wrote a wonderful blog on it! Check it out: http://drewferguson.theworldrace.org/?filename=call-the-chiropractor
