We came back to Asia for our last four months on The Race (Asia, Africa, Europe, back to Asia)! As much as I was not looking forward to leaving the Western comforts of Europe, we knew we had to.
Our first month back in Southeast Asia we found ourselves in Malaysia, which was a route change, and also one of the hardest months on The Race for me. It became a very independent month for our team to really come and work together. We taught English as a second language for our ministry, but because of the state we were in in Malaysia, we were not allowed to talk to people about our faith. It was a powerfully moving month, but hard nonetheless.
Next was Thailand! We were in Phang Nga, which is a beautiful, green, seacoast part of Thailand. We completed random tasks for local churches and ministry locations. We played with children at a daycare, clean mold off of a church’s’ basketball court, helped lay cement and bricks to build a women’s shelter, and helped tutor geometry! It was a month filled with a ‘work hard, play hard’ mentality. We had just as much fun that month exploring God’s creation as we did cleaning and loving on His people.
Month 10 we found ourselves in Kampong Chhang, Cambodia. It is a rural jungle village about two hours outside of Phnom Penh. We were again teaching English as a second language this month, but instead of teaching to the paying locals, we went into the poorest part of the village and taught to the kids whose families are too poor for them to attend school. It was a month filled with smiles, laughter, and love! This was also the month with the least physical comforts for us Westerners, but it was such a growing experience!
Lastly, we went to Da Nang, Viet Nam. And yes, that is actually how you spell Viet Nam… Surprise! This last month was such a contrast to the previous month. This month we had the most physical comforts that I had on the entire Race! We were also working with Americans’ (from Kentucky and Texas), who could understand and relate to us. We helped them prepare for their annual Christmas concert by completing a lot of creative office work! We listened to a lot of Christmas music to get in the mood for wrapping presents and stapling candy canes to cards.
So this following list comes from these past four month. Enjoy!!
- Squatty potty – Still not the biggest fan… but they do help things move, that’s for sure!
- Bum guns – Many countries don’t use toilet paper in their bathrooms, especially the locals. Instead they use these bum guns, which are basically long, handheld bidet. They become your BFF and I am sure going to miss them.
- Animals – Animals are everywhere! There are lots of them and all different kinds. But some of the cultures we were in didn’t have them as “pets” like we do here. They didn’t have names and their main function was simply protection.
- Flushing toilet paper – Many countries don’t have pipe systems that can handle toilet paper.. so you learn not to flush. After coming home I still catch myself sometimes going to throw it in a trash bin before I remember I can flush here!
- Ramen noodles – I wasn’t the biggest fan growing up of Ramen noodles. The texture didn’t agree with me. But after spending a month basically eating them for lunch and dinner most days, I can say I now find a small enjoyment from them.
- Carbs on Carbs on Carbs – Carbs at every meal is totally normal. Some times you might even get double carbs with some noodles IN your rice. Totally normal, but didn’t quite agree with my figure.
- Church – It is wherever you are. It is whatever you are doing. It is not simply the building you go to once a week. Church and ministry is an every day, 24/7 kinda thing.
- Motorbike transportation – This is the common mode of transportation overseas. You take them everywhere! It was so mind blowing when you would somehow see six people fit on one bike!! It might not be the safest thing but I am here to tell you it is possible.
- Traffic rules and laws – Seatbelt laws, not always a thing. Driving on the designated side of the road, not always important. Red means go, yellow means go, green means go. At first it was a horrifying experience going for a car or motor ride, but after awhile you become amazed how the chaos seems to function together perfectly.
- Veggies are good and fruit can be desert – He changed my taste buds this year; but really. I liked some fruits before leaving, but I was very picky and you would never see me picking those over carbs and chocolate. But now, I love eating them!! I’m not at an all day every day kinda thing yet, but I am hoping to work my way there 🙂
- Community – This is probably the biggest thing I learned throughout the year. Community is the people around you. The ones choosing to love you, flaws and all. The ones calling you higher when they see an area for growth. The ones who laugh with you in your giggly, ridiculous moments. The ones who lead with vulnerability and love always. These special people should not be taken for granted. God gave them to you for YOU! He loves you that much. Accept it.
