Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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This month was by far the most exhausting month of the race. As I write this, I can officially say that I am getting better. After arriving here in Manila from spending the rest of the month in Cagayan de Oro (on the island of Mindanao) two of my teammates and I headed to the hospital to find out why it was that we were struggling to keep food down. By this time, I had been sick for 6 days and completely physically exhausted. Not to mention, emotionally, spiritually, and emotionally. Come to find out its only a viral infection. It has now been 9 and I feel like I have some energy! Being sick has been the hardest part about not being home thus far on the race, not missing Christmas, not missing Thanksgiving, not football season, not anything.

 
These are some of the thoughts that went through my head this month:
 
When I’m not standing, I am sitting on the dirty concrete floor. I just want a chair.
 
I sleep on my less than comfy sleeping pad in the Filipino humidity and heat that my tent has collected throughout the day. Is there a hole in this thing?
 
As I attempt to fall asleep, I fight the multitude noises of that fill the space around me. Why are my earplugs not enough!?
 
I wake up anywhere between 2-5 times each night because of barking dogs, crowing roosters, the church bells that sound like they are inside of my tent, my neighbor singing karaoke at the top of her lungs, blaring televisions – how do they have TVs?, buzzing alarms that don’t quit. Will someone turn that thing off, please! I eventually give up trying to sleep between 3 and 5 am.
 
The smells that consume my nose are nothing like the scent of Christmas cookies everyone at home smells. Our neighbor must have peed in the drainage ditch again.
 
I shower with a single bucket of water about 1 – 2 times a week. Yes it is possible to get your body clean with one bottle of water. What is in this water anyways?
 
 I pray that I don’t get lice each day as I play with the kids (all of which have lice) at the displacement camp. Jesus, please don’t let me get lice, please!!!!
 
Time seems to crawl. Yet it continues to amaze me how quickly it flies by as I look back. I really need to get a new watch so I can make sure that time is actually passing.
 
I don’t stop sweating. Oh how I miss the cool breeze, rain, and temperate temperatures of Seattle.
 
I am sick. When will this stop… You really expect me to drink this, I am already vomiting and this is not going to help my cause. I am sure of it. I am so incredibly thankful for my wonderful teammates that took care of me and Ate Apple and Kuyoo Roy! They were such a blessing and amazing people to get to know here in the Philippines, I don't know if I would have made it without them.

The list goes on… its quite extensive and unexplainable. However, I am reminded in a stern yet kind voice that I am not promised the comfort of a bed and definitely not an air conditioned room. Being a disciple of Jesus doesn’t call me/us to comfort or success but to obedience. The obedience to pick up my cross everyday and follow Jesus – a path that is not paved or easy but a path that is difficult, narrow, and less traveled. This month Jesus asked my team and I to take the narrow road, to struggle, and to be uncomfortable. Our obedience was not easy but it is all that he asked – be obedient my daughters. He asked us to stay somewhere we weren’t comfortable but he showed us how to love each other and those around us in new ways that wouldn’t have been possible. 
 
Its been tough and my thoughts may not have always been positive but this month was perfect – perfect because it was His plan and not mine.