I’m a little behind on writing blogs so this blog is technically about Nicaragua….
Well, first I should let you know that my team had a change of route plans. Instead of going to Costa Rica, we are in Panama. We are doing something called “Unsung Heroes” month, where instead of having assigned to partner with an organization or missionary, we are looking for new ones to partner with so that future team racers can partner with them. So if you know of any, shoot me an email. J
So along with doing “UH” month, we travel from place to place within the whole country. One of the concerns I had was carrying my pack. So I’ll admit, I’m probably physically pretty weak and having a big pack and a daypack that totals over 60% of my weight does not really help. So I’ve been trying to figure out what items I can drop.
In this journey, I have found that I really do not need as much as I think I do. (Though I do miss my curling iron.) Back in America, I have more clothes than I know what to do with but on the race, I’m trying to figure out how to live with less.
It was not a shock for me to see poverty the way it is in a third world country as I have seen it before and have known about how we really are rich in the US of A. What was more interesting to me is how people used what they had.
Who knew that black garbage bags would make walls of the home? Or sticks and dirt are forms of writing apparatus? Or that a finished deodorant could be used a baseball?
As an engineer, sometimes I think, “what the..?!?” But there are times when these MacGyver style ideas are pretty ingenious.
I have to say… I do miss the comforts of America so enjoy the air conditioning, washing machines, and curling irons for me. But where can we MacGyver style the things we view as dispensable? Or are we disregarding someone or something that actually has more value (1 Cor. 12)?
Until next time,
Lolita
P.S. I’m still raising money for the rest of the time to serve and share God’s love to the world. It would be awesome if you prayerfully consider financially supporting me as our next deadline is coming up.
In addition, you can also send me some love via a birthday or Christmas letters or cards to me (emphasis on envelopes – no packages or padded envelopes) if you send it postmarked no later than November 20th to the following address:
Lolita Tam
c/o Phil and Ruth Rouchard
1750 Cochran Road
Geneva, FL 32732
Thanks for reading!
