Ministry in Nepal: Helped build an orphanage about 12 hours south of Kathmandu and helped build a school in a "mountain" village. In the mountain village, kids have to walk 2 hours one-way to school. Many children die going to school each year once the water in the river rises. Our pastor, Reuben, grew up in that village and deeply wants to build that school for the people in his village. We moved cinderblocks about a mile and a half up and down steep hills, across a stream and a field. It was the most physically exhausting work I have done since I played basketball at York College.
When people ask me where I've grown the most on the Race I typically tell them, relationships. On this trip I have learned more about being a friend and having friends than I have at any other time in my life. I came onto the Race pretty hurt from friendships and had learned how to keep people at arm's length. I had learned how to thrive by myself without close friends. Arm's length is something that's hard to maintain when you can't escape people; when you spend literally 24/7 together. I was also reminded of how much we expect from our friends. We expect them to be for us who Jesus is supposed to be in our lives. When I understand that friends will fail me, I am able to have more grace with them. It's not because they don't love me, but because we are human and we aren't going to get it right all of the time.
We were with two other teams in Nepal, so in all there were 20 of us in close quarters. I am more fond of one-on-one to small groups than big group situations. In Nepal I worked a lot on how to feel more comfortable in big groups and gave specific attention to close friendships. I tried to look for similarities in others and join group conversations instead of just listening to them. At the end of Nepal, my team acknowledged that specific growth in me and how they can see me putting myself out there in regards to new relationships. It definitely wasn't easy and there were times when I wasn't interested anymore in being around people, but I have become a better friend because of my month in Nepal.
I want to give a little shout out: Julia and I have been on the same team since the beginning of the Race. She is a big reason why I am becoming a better friend. She puts up with my mess and understands that I have been hurt in friendships and that hurt won't be overcome in a couple of days. She is a great listener! There have been numerous times when I came to her with something that has hurt my feelings; she acknowledges my hurt, apologizes, and we talk it out – even if she wasn't the one to cause the hurt! Our friendship never changes because we have to confront something. Last month we talked about our friendship, how I haven't been able to keep her at arm's length, 😛 and how much her friendship really means to me. She tells me everytime how we are going to be friends for a very long time. I really do thank God for the blessing she's been in my life and how she's helped change me for the better!
Check out my friend KJ's blog to see a video from our month in Nepal. It's a great video and my team makes a bunch of appearances! http://kevinblair.theworldrace.org/?filename=adventures-in-nepal-video
