India. Nepal. Cambodia. Thailand. Malaysia.
5 months in Asia and 5 vastly different countries & experiences.
Here is a recap of my experiences in South and Southeast Asia.
India– This country was one of the hardest months on my Race, but it was also a beautiful month of growing with my team Selah Vie for our last month together. Going into Asia, our squad thought we would be all together this month and most likely be in the city for my teams first time but none of that happened so I was quite disappointed and frustrated with the Lord.
Our team was 3 hours outside of the city, living in our hosts’ church, in our tents, which we had to take down and put up quite frequently (because of Christmas season). Our ministry this month was centered a lot around Christmas and going out every night and preaching in different villages. The drives out to the villages were full of reading, singing and lots of laughter within our team.
Since we were out in the village I had very little (or none) internet access so I didn’t get to talk to my family on Christmas or my birthday. It was so hard and my mom talked about how it ruined their holiday, but I didn’t ask the Lord to make me uncomfortable in some areas of my life and not others. Oh also, this month I got chicken pox for the first time in my life.
Nepal– This month was probably one of the coolest months on my Race, literally, I was freezing the entire month. I had to buy jackets on jackets and fuzzy socks and gloves, etc. It was cooooollld. This was also a very different and interesting month. At the beginning we had a debrief where our whole squad came together and we had team changes. Lots of people were moved around and I, along with two other girls, were raised up as the squad leaders. This completely changed the trajectory of our Race, and although I never saw this for myself I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
After our squad left, the three of us plus other leadership had a week of training in Nepal. We learned more about each other, how to deal with the hard things within our squad, laughed with each other and rode scooters.
We then rode a forever long bus ride to teams out in the village of Nepal where we moved bricks and wood to help build a orphanage. After a week there, we met up with another team to trek the Himalayas of Nepal. A group of 11 girls and 1 guy set off climbing 10,000 stairs to share the gospel with people who have never heard the name of Jesus before. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life.
Cambodia– This was possibly one of my favorite months on the Race. Southeast Asia is filled with beautiful people, good food and lots of bugs. Month 6 I finally found myself in the heart of the city and it was a nice change of pace, and I think my family appreciated all the WIFI I had access to.
The team and I lived with the Pastor and his family, along with college students. It was so cool seeing and being in community that the Lord calls us to live in. We slept on the ground with lots of cockroaches and the hottest nights I’ve ever experienced. We worked with their church by going out the university in the mornings and inviting students to our English classes but also setting time aside to become friends with them and if the door was opened, share the gospel. We also taught conversational English classes to college students but also I taught a class to a young boy who knew little English. This month was filled with community, the Lord leading our direction, and so much ASIA.
Thailand– I love Thailand so much! This was one country coming on the Race that I was most excited for. The team I was with and I were out in a village but it was absolutely beautiful. We lived in a cabin behind an orphanage, Sila Home. This home houses boys and girls who were living in desperate situations and some of the children no longer had either parents.
In the mornings we did manual labor by clearing grass and painting the home. I loved my first month of manual labor and actually seeing the fruits of my labor. At night, we put on programs with the children that usually ended in a dance party. I fell in love with these children and how evidently they had child like faith. Also, I learned to cook my favorite food ever, Pad Thai!
Malaysia– Our last month in Asia was a very difficult one for me. The team and I were 1 hour outside the city in a ministry where the Lord strongly tested my patience and willingness to push through the hard. It was really hard and there were times where I just wanted to give up and go into the city. But the Lord really taught me about perseverance and finding Him for all my strength, power, and love.
This was like real(ish) life for me. It’s not always going to be fun or easy, so we must seek the Lord with everything and ask Him for His power. In month 8, I told the Lord if He didn’t show up and give me His love I wouldn’t make it this month. And He did show up- He gave us people that we loved and that needed our love. The Lord helped me see the good in a hard time.
I LOVED my time Asia so much and I definitely foresee myself going back. But for now, Namaste.
