Hi Readers!
I hope this blog finds you well and has you somewhat curious about my year long journey that I have been on. I wrote this blog to give you a sneak peak of some of the things that I encountered over the year and set it up in a Q&A format. Let me know if you want to hear more or want more details.
Q: What was your favorite ministry?
A: Ministry in Chile where we served at two different schools. I got to assist in a mathematics class for grades 5-8 and at a special education school in a low functioning classroom. I felt like I was useful, even though I wasn’t “preaching the Gospel,” we built relationships and just showed them love through our actions.
Q: What was the grossest thing you ate?
A: I have three: Cow’s hoof, cow’s stomach, and goat intestines. I only took a bite of each and couldn’t do it.
Q: What changed you the most?
A: Examining my life and figuring out who I am in Christ. I was able to spend a lot of time away from the distractions that usually bombard me in the U.S. I was able to peel off layers of labels that I let people place on me and replace them with the truths in the Bible.
Q: Where did you come alive?
A: It started the very first month. I went in with the mindset that I didn’t want to be the same person I was when I returned. Whenever I was able to serve, build relationships, doing physical labor, and working in the schools.
Q: How was your year?
A: It felt like I lived so much and that I have been gone for like 5 years. It is amazing what happens when you go on a Kingdom Journey and live out a a giant back pack for a year. You go through the process of Abandonment, Brokenness, and Dependence… and even though it is painful, it is also very beautiful. I wish I had chosen to do it sooner.
Q: What did the Lord teach you?
A: SOOO Much! How to let go and let God! That I can trust Him. That He loves me as His daughter. That sometimes He just wants me to choose Him, spend uninterrupted time alone with Him, sit in His presence. There are numerous things that the Lord taught me and I could probably write a whole blog just about that (see any/all of the following blogs: “What I Am Leaving About Myself,” “Be the Light,” “Seeds Grow In The Dark,” “Intimacy On The Race,” “Living In Community,” “Worship and Stars,” “Finding Love As A Daughter,” “Stuck In The Desert” for more insights).
Q: Could you see yourself living or doing ministry long term?
A: Yes I could. Which is why I have chosen to take the long-term missions track at CGA next year through AIM (see blog: “CGA”).
Q: Am I going to go back anywhere?
A: I would love to return to Chile someday. It was my favorite month for several reasons (See blog “I Wasn’t Ready”).
Q: What was the best food you had?
A: Some street food in Colombia where our contact took up: a ball of potatoes and cheese and eggs battered and deep fried, and empanadas. Bolivia also had really good aji (hot) sauce that I put on everything.
Q: What was the hardest part about being away for a year?
A: Not having a consistent schedule and also not feeling like a had a space to call my own. I very much thrive when I have a schedule and a routine. I know what needs to be done and what is expected of me.
Q: What did you do when you got sick?
A: Prayed. Rested. Prayed some more.
Q: What was it like living in community?
A: Challenging, but amazing! If you choose, you get to know the people you live with really well. You get to know their quirks and habits. I’m excited I get to live in community again while attending CGA next year also.
Q: If you could re-do one month, which one and why?
A: Colombia. I think I could have said some things to some team mates better and chose to invest more both in ministry to the kids and to my teammates.
Q: Are you fluent in Spanish now?
A: Hahahaha, NO! My vocabulary has definitely grown and I can understand a lot when people speak it if they speak slowly, but I definitely can not speak it very well.
Q: Did you love it?
A: Yes!!!! It was absolutely the best decision I have ever made.
Q: Did you meet someone?
A: I jokingly had 4 boyfriends month 1 in El Salvador, but no… at least I don’t think so. There was a guy in Guatemala that caught my eye, but we haven’t really kept in contact. I hear a lot of people have met their spouses at PSL which happens in January, so maybe then?
Q: Would you do it all over again?
A: Yes. In fact, I am hoping to lead some missions trips at some point via AIM or maybe through my home church. By no means do I have it all figured out, but I would love to help facilitate a trip.
Q: Would you return to any of the countries?
A: Yes, a handful of them: El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Chile for sure. Most of the countries in and of themselves are beautiful, and I know other teams had very different expereiences, but from what I experienced, those are the countries I would joyfully return to for a short amount of time.
Q; DId you use your tent or sleeping pad?
A: I only used my tent for a few nights, sadly. There were teams on my squad that had to use their tents several months though. However, there were several months (6 out of the 11) that I used my sleeping pad.
Well friends, I think that is a pretty good start to questions that y’all might have about my year long journey. If you can think of any others, then feel free to leave a comment or send me a message, or better yet, lets make a date! 🙂
Keep Lookin’ Up,
Misha
p.s. Only 2 weeks until I return back to the states!
