Though we’re out on the Race, we do get to enjoy some downtime once in a while, and trust me—we have SO much fun together. As an example, I feel that it is appropriate to address how my Peruvian Valentine’s Day went! (They do celebrate it, here.) I don’t have especially strong feelings about this holiday—I’ve never despised it nor do I anxiously await its arrival every year, whether in a relationship or not. But I always enjoy an excuse to celebrate something, especially something as significant as love.
This year, the women of N-Squad were collectively wined (well, filtered-watered) and dined by our wonderful N-Men. As I’ve mentioned before, we’re not allowed to be outside of the compound after 7 PM, so the men covertly prepared a three-course meal for us (which they cooked and paid for themselves!): bread with olive oil, vinegar, and garlic; a real salad with balsamic dressing; stuffed chicken breast over a bed of pasta; and a triple-chocolate-marshmallow-cookie-cake-ice-cream-drizzled-with-more-chocolate slice of God’s Kingdom on earth. We were all given long-stemmed roses, were escorted to our tables, and were never in want for anything more (except maybe another slice of dessert). Oh, yes: 46 of us got asked out on a date by 14 of the most respectful, thoughtful men I have ever known in my life.
To continue the night, after dinner, the men put on a Whose Line is it Anyway?-esque improv show! I’m sure a video or two (or more) will appear on facebook or another N-Squad blog in the near future. Needless to say, it was hilarious, and it only added to the joy I have already experienced being among my N-Squad family. To top it all off, the men ended the night by reading to us a list they had created of different ways in which they promise to honor us as their sisters, some examples being: “We promise to be slow to speak, slow to anger, and quick to listen.” “We promise to walk on the outside of the sidewalk for you.” “We promise to use our words to build you up and not to tear you down.”
I feel cherished. I feel important. I feel protected. I feel loved by my brothers. As a woman, I know that I don’t need to receive these things from a man to be happy or fulfilled, but I am genuinely encouraged and touched by this act of love from my family. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).
(Oh, and did I mention that all of this is on top of waking up to a personalized encouragement note complemented with gummy bears and chocolate at breakfast? Yeah—that happened!)
