So today is the official 100 day mark on the race for S-squad, which means we have roughly about 233 more days left. 100 days seems to be such a long amount of time, yet so short . In honor of today I wanted to share with you 100 things. They will range from lessons learned, words of caution or advice to future world racers, highlights, or just fun facts.
1. Let go of everything you have learned and everything back at home. It will be easier this way.
2. Brush up on your Spanish if you are going to spend 3 months in a Spanish speaking area.
3. Celebrate even the smallest accomplishment.
4. Take the time to make the holidays something new and special.
5. Never had I ever gone scuba diving.
6. Nicaragua is a beautiful place with so much beauty shining in Gods creation.
7.If you have to decide whether or not to take your Mac or a netbook go with your Mac. I wish I had mine to edit photos and videos. And I wish that I had all my photos from before the race.
8. You really don’t need that many pairs of clothes. You’ll pick up stuff on the way and they only make your bag heavier.
9. I wish I would have gone with the packing cubes instead of the Ziploc compression thingy-ma-bob.
10. In most of the countries we have been to we have been able to get “American” food so don’t get into the mentality of well I won’t have access to it next month.
11. Bring a jump rope if you don’t like to run. It’s a good replacement for cardio and it will help burn off the 4 people portion sizes of rice and beans you get served.
12. There is a phrase I think you will learn to love….”Buck up and Deal”
13. Allow your team to fight for and alongside you.
14. Make the most of every time you spend with your team.
15. Never had I ever swam in a waterfall.
16. You just may discover the gifts God has given you.
17. Be prepared to hear God speak.
18. When homesick…let it all out the instant it hits you. Don’t try to hold it in for 3 months.
19. “This whole thing [change] is a process, not an event. All I want from you is to trust me with what little you can, and grow in loving people around you with the same love I share with you. It’s not your job to change them, or to convince them. You are free to love without an agenda.” -Jesus speaking to Mack in the book “The Shack”
20. Jesus will travel any road to find you.
21. Your blogs affect more people than you think.
22. Long travel days lead to some crazy videos.
23. I have never been as sick as I was back in October due to a parasite.
24. Bring sleeping pills or Tylenol PM or noise cancelling headphones if you are a light sleeper.
25. In the Philippines there are no traffic signs or lights.
26. Don’t like cold showers?…Boil your water and mix it with some of the cold water.
27. Bugs are bigger.
28. Bring the comfy pants.
29. I got excited just to get chocolate, gum, and colored pencils for Christmas.
30. Write your teammates notes.
31. Amalia and Cristian stole my heart in Nicaragua.
32. Never had I ever had to walk 2 miles and then take a bus 15 minutes to get to a ministry site.
33. Eman, a 4 year old that plays in the street has captured my heart.
34. The people in the Philippines thrive on relationships.
35. Though everything WILL change, God’s love for you and the people never changes.
36. Cry, laugh, yell, shout….let your emotions show.
37. Anything can be ministry….tattoos, massage, teaching art, listening to your teammate vent. So don’t let the devil tell you otherwise.
38. Jeepney drivers love big loud speakers and their brakes.
39. Never had I ever “fell out” until our first debrief.
40. Never had I ever been homesick until the race.
41. Never had I ever worshipped in a witch’s cave.
42. Or on a roof.
43. Never had I ever had God write me a crayon letter.
44. Never have I ever felt the presence of God more than I do now.
45. I didn’t bring any malaria meds with me.
46. Take photos, but remember their stories.
47. Longest I’ve gone without showering so far….4 days.
48. Smiles go farther than you think.
49. Brush up on your Hannah Montana, Justin Beiber, and High School Musical songs and movies. They cross many borders.
50. Try to journal so you don’t forget the moments that have captured your heart or affected you in some way.
51. Try to learn their language.
52. This past Thanksgiving was one of the best I’ve ever had because we got to share it and cook for about 80 people in Nicaragua. They loved it.
53. Take time to process or you will wear yourself out.
54. I love my sleeping bag. Big Agnes Crystal 30 degree.
55. The only time I used my tent so far has been when we slept on a ferry because we couldn’t afford hotel rooms. I needed something to keep the bugs off me.
56. Living out of your backpack gets old fast.
57. In Guatemala, which has been our most difficult month, my team really bonded over movie nights on Mega Bed.
58. Bring the travel size shampoo and conditioner. When you run out ask your team to go in for team shampoo and conditioner. Then you can divide it up and you can shed some weight off your backpack.
59. Getting to help pass out Operation Christmas Child boxes was one of my favorite things we did in Costa Rica.
60.Sometimes squad mates and team mates will go out of their way to make a “white” Christmas happen.
61. The Lord gave us rest in Nicaragua. It was well needed and so beautiful.
62. Visiting a school for the deaf in Nicaragua made my spirit soar.
63. They call them chicken buses for a reason. And they will pack you in like sardines, which makes for a stinky, sweaty, sticky ride.
64. Bring your apple to apple cards. Card games and Uno get old after awhile.
65. We threw a party for a boy who had never had a birthday party.
66. I learned how to make tortillas by hand from Miriam.
67. In Guatemala our pastor lead bible studies with us. The longest one was like 12 hours.
68. Knock yourself out for the 14 hour plane ride to Hong Kong.
69. I about cried when a little Filipino girl told me that I was beautiful because I was white. I just can’t wait to go back and help her see that she is beautiful.
70. Doing the feeding ministries today brought me so much joy. The smile didn’t leave my face when I slide through a pile of poop in my flip flops.
71. The Philippines is the perfect temperature all the time.
72. Only 7 months left on the race and I have mixed emotions about it.
73. Names have so much power.
74. Words have so much power and they can definitely speak life or take it away. This is something I am coming to understand more fully on the race.
75. I’m hoping that God will teach me Swahili by the time I hit Kenya.
76. Our route changed. We are going to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania or Rwanda.
77. I love that gmail allows you to call anywhere in the US for free.
78. Buy the air porter with the strap. It will make it so much easier.
79. If you could find a duffel bag with backpack straps and wheels life on the race would be a dream.
80. Buy the chacos without the toe straps. Your feet will swell. I had my chacos a year already before I left the race and I didn't buy new ones, but now I only wear them sometimes because my feet have swelled.
81. I’ve hiked up a volcano or a mountain in every country so far….probably won’t happen this month.
82. I think God is healing me of my sun allergy. I’ve stopped taking my meds for it. 😀
83. Keep a quote book of your teammates.
84. Take the blanket from the air plane.
85. Invest in an eye mask.
86. In Guatemala we had rice in a chocolate syrup for breakfast. It was my favorite.
87. Milk is not the same as it is in the states and I miss it a lot.
88. Don’t eat the cheese in Nicaragua.
89. FACT: In Nicaragua they have curdled milk and gallo pinto for breakfast sometimes.
90. Find Joy.
91. You are stronger than you think.
92. Romans 8:37 is my theme verse.
93. You don’t have control over your portion size. It’s either too little or TOO big, but be thankful for every bite of it.
94. Even if it means eating the fired fish eye and fins.
95.I will probably celebrate my half birthday in March because we will either be traveling home or a few days back in the states for my actual birthday.
96. I LOVE YOU ALL.
97. Church services are not limited to under 2 hours like back in the states. They sometimes go on for four hours.
98. I love watching people worship in other countries.
99. McDonalds is a fancy restaurant that serves spaghetti and delivers! You might want to “dress up” when you go there.
100. 100 days of bringing the Kingdom!!!
