So here we are, down to the literal last leg of this journey. In about a week I head to Cambodia for month 11 of the World Race. In a little over a month, I will be returning to the United States. This year has, for the most part, flown by and I find it hard to believe that the journey is nearing its end. I am incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to experience a year where each month has been uniquely and remarkably memorable and am incredibly excited to share with everyone when I return! These things being said, I am still very much on the Race and am excited to be growing and serving this month in Kanchanaburi, Thailand!
This month looks a bit different from previous months. This month is Manistry. Manistry is when all thirteen men on the squad assemble for a month of ministry together. The setting for the month couldn’t be more fitting for a group of dudes. We are living in a stilted, open air house, in a valley surrounded by mountains of western Thailand. There is a soccer field nearby and the food has been incredible. The work has been plentiful and physical, we have been mixing a lot of concrete and moving a lot of rocks. It has been the most physically demanding I have experienced on the race, but also one of the most rewarding.
I often feel like it is easy to forget the importance and magnitude of what you are doing when you are doing it. The view from within is sometimes clouded by humility, complacency, and routine. This month we have been going to local construction projects and helping the people with their work. It is safe to say that all of the people we have been helping are Buddhist. With such a tight schedule and such demanding work, it is tough to just get in the grind, arrive, work, leave, rest. It is easy to forget just how much God is using us this month to bless our neighbors and show them his love. Somewhat tired and drained by the monotony of manual labor, I stepped back and looked at it from a fresh perspective.
Imagine you are building a house for your family. You have some workers and family helping, the total crew is about 7 people. Your focus the first half of this week is leveling the ground so you can pour concrete the second half of this week. Suddenly, thirteen foreigners show up and offer to help you level the floor. The floor is leveled in a day. The next day they come to pour concrete for you, the concrete is mixed by hand and poured in a day. You provide them with soda and cookies, they provide you with labor and smiles. When written this way, it sounds like a dream for the one building the house. A wild dream at that! It has been amazing to so tangibly share God’s love with others this month by helping them with their projects.
Thanks for Reading!
-Jeff
