A Summarization
The journey has come to an end. No more 48hr travel days by bus, no more miscommunication because of language barriers, no more cold bucket showers, hand washing my clothes or sleeping in my sleeping bag, no more being the only white people, no more internet disconnections, the list could go on. There’s a lot of ‘no mores’.
In a sense it’s wonderful to not have anymore of those listed above, but the funny thing is, all of it has become normal and I’ve grown to enjoy them as part of life. There are however also other ‘no mores’ that I will greatly miss: getting to experience new culture and new food, learning new languages from the locals, trying out different modes of transportation – not having to wear seat belts, fresh tropical fruit, Insanity workouts with Melody, heart to heart talks with my teammates, and simply living life with my new best friends.
This is a blog to summarize the year. A few highlights/memories from each month. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for praying for my squad, my team and myself, for encouraging and supporting me on this adventure, and for reading and following up on my blogs. It means the world to me to know you read them and are interested in what I’ve been up to each month. I toast to you.
Month 1 Panama. Icjesus ministries. We were partnered with an incredible couple who made it their role to mentor us. First day of ministry was hiking up a mountain and being caught in a torrential downpour. There was an empanada eating contest.
Month 2 Costa Rica. Christian Light Foundation. It was all squad month and we were locked in the gym at 5:00pm everyday. My team was the prayer team. We learned the Central American tradition of getting egged on for your birthday. Our host led incredible devotions. Halloween night was an ultimate blast and it was hilarious dressing up and having the red carpet runway.
Month 3 Nicaragua. El Ayudante ministry. Kickball with the kids after school everyday. Special friendships were made with the children. Jenna was in the hospital with a spider bite. The buildings were fumigated while preparing for our American Thanksgiving. Volcano boarding. God was teaching me about opening my hands to let more people in.
Month 4 Honduras. Legacy of Hope Foundation. Babies for Christmas! 24hr sickness. Lice. Walking the babies outside in the three seat stroller. Eating apple dumplings for Christmas. Making a Christmas video. Team changes. Created an Impossible Prayer list.
Month 5 Malaysia. Unsung Heroes – finding new contacts for AIM to partner with. We got to hang out with the Watoto Children’s Choir! Discovered KingdomCity Church! Ate delicious Indian food – cheesy naan and lassi. God was answering our impossible prayers! “No pressure on you, only pressure on the Holy Spirit.” quote from our friend Abel.
Month 6 Thailand. Teaching English at Bankai School. We were in two parades. God was speaking to me about physical beauty vs inward beauty. My baby brother was born! Smiled and laughed the most because Thailand is simply great. Experienced my first massage ever, the Thai massage, which others have renamed A Wrestling Match. Grilled bananas in coconut sauce – deeelicious!
Month 7 Loas. Closed country. Sunshine Pre-School. Teaching the the English classes with Jake. Lindsey and Ashley painted a mural and the school logo. A four day trek to a village for prayer walking. Hiking up to Big Buddha and praying over the city.
Month 8 Cambodia. Apostolic Christian Fellowship. Doing VBS with the kids – they loved the songs “Get Funky” and “I’ve Got Peace Like A River”. Living in a house on stilts! Celebrating the Khmer New Year, having karaoke music blasting all month long, baby powder on faces and going down a waterfall with our host. Lindsey burnt her leg on a motorcycle.
Month 9 Swaziland. AIM. I was on the agriculture team. Shared a house with DTM. Morning runs with Ronny up and down the hills. Parent Vision Trip and meeting others’ parents. Singing “read your Bible pray everyday…” at church. Team leader changes. Hospital ministry.
Month 10 Botswana/Namibia. Ask The Lord month. KingdomCity church – we became immediate family. Thankful journal (1000 thankfuls in a month). Sleepovers, bonfire, singing, dancing and all the goofiness. Healings and answered prayers left and right. Dump ministry/tin roofs. VBS. Braais. Trying liver and bone marrow. Incredible Namibian families + our host family.
Month 11 South Africa. LIV Village. “Akekho Ofana No Jesu….There’s no one like Jesus.” Champions Challenge. Promised Land. Cluster activities. “Brilliant!” “Stunning!” Meeting up with a month one race team. Praying for rain with the children. Working on I squad’s prophecies cards. Chutney. Mandela Day. Final debrief in Cape Town. Releasing.
Just a quick glimpse of the year. Only God could have put us all together and worked everything out. He planned it all, even since training camp when we found out our route changed. There’s so much to be thankful for. I will continually say God is Good!
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
All for His glory,
Britteny
