Just when you thought you couldn’t wait any longer for Part II of my Asia review then fear not for it is here! Rejoice and be merry.
Malaysia:
Ministry: This was by far the toughest month of the Race. We were supposed to teach English to all the cute little Malay children but it’s kind of hard to teach English when everyone is on winter break. We lived in a warehouse type building on cement floors that we also had to share with the cockroaches. Our kitchen was a smelly fridge and an even smellier microwave. I also felt like there was a strong dislike for us Americans as most of the men in our small town of Kuala Lipis would mean mug us as we walked by. It was tough but it was also the month where I got to spend the most time with God and read books that really challenged me. I chalk that up as a win.
Best moment: Traipsing around the bright lights and schmaltz of downtown Kuala Lumpur was fun but the best moment came in a tiny town called Gua Musang when my brothers and I went climbing in a dank and musty cave. It was sweaty, it was dangerous, it was terrifying. I gained three man cards that day. Spiritually the best moment came when my team and I did a 24 hour prayer and worship time; God revealed more to me in those 24 hours then on the entire Race combined.
Weirdest food I ate: I didn’t have a lot of strange food this month as my diet consisted mostly of cans of pasty tuna and half hard ramen (hey, kind of like college). There is one thing though that I truly believe America needs to pick up on and that is wrapping your burger in an omelet and smothering it in BBQ sauce. Oddly enough, in Japan they call that same sandwich the All-American.
Hours traveled: 20.
Japan:
Ministry: I can’t describe the impact Japan has had on my heart. Japan is amazing. I know I throw that word around a lot but it’s true. There is so much to say about Japan that I just won’t say much at all; ask me about it when I get home and my eyes will light up and I’ll talk for 34 hours. We spent the month praying for the sick and broken hearted, making friends with students and members of the church, and praying some more. God brought so much life to this dry land. I too, went through periods of extreme dryness in the spiritual and physical but God kept showing up and kept doing freaking awesome things.
Coolest moment: We got to pound rice into a mush called mochi that tastes like glue and spackle for a New Years tradition, got naked in public bath houses, went to a Ninja buffet, and visited castles. But by far the best moment came when I witnessed Jesus heal a lady before my eyes. I had doubted the current workings of the Holy Spirit for so long and he decided to blow my faith out of the water. That will be a defining moment not only for my Race, but for the rest of my life as I have seen firsthand that the Holy Spirit is still doing the same miracles that He did during the days of the disciples.
Weirdest food I ate: This was the month for weird food and the most delicious I’ve ever had the privilege to pass over my weary taste buds. I had fugu which is poisonous puffer fish that can kill you if it isn’t prepared correctly. The chefs have to go to a special school before they can serve it. Yes, I risked my life for the rubbery taste of raw puffer fish. Also, American sushi has NOTHING on Japanese sushi. Stop trying America, I’m serious. Our McDonalds should give up too; Japan beats it a million times over.
Hours traveled: 6. Yeah, that’s it. Crazy right?
The first half of the Race has been so hard, so rewarding, so fun, and so unbelievably beautiful. As you probably can tell or experienced yourself, living in community 24/7 makes you want to scream; but I wouldn’t trade a single second of it. Traveling out of a backpack for 6 months is back breaking; but I wouldn’t change a thing. Doing ministry is exhausting; but then Jesus gives you more strength than you thought possible. The World Race is the hardest thing I have ever done and yet I’ve never grown so much in my entire 23 years of existence than I have in the last few months.
It’s a beautiful thing to be able to start fresh and that’s what leaving Asia feels like. We are half way through and heading to a whole new continent, environment, and culture. God is showing me all new ways that he’s about to work in me and through me. On top of that, my previous role of team leader has been given to Cabe and for the first time I’ll get to feel what it’s like to just be a Racer. The book of Asia is closing and yet a whole new book is about to be opened; The World Race: Part 2. It’s the same journey, but with all new gorgeous stories that God is going to weave together like a web of love and sprinkles.
Total hours traveled so far: 152.5 hours.
