The WorldRace is full of situations that you would never imagine yourself being in. These situations are sometimes unimaginable in a beautiful way such as sand boarding down sand dunes, bungee jumping off Victoria Falls Bridge, loving on children of all nations, living in beautiful community with 6 other women of God, and falling in love with Jesus on so many different levels. There are also situations that are not so beautiful in the moment. This story is one of those not so dreamy situations.
I got permission from my fellow squad mate to share her personal poop story. It is currently my favorite memory of the World Race so far so I have to share it with you all. I hope it brings an authentic perspective of life on the race and also a laugh or two.
So we were traveling as a squad of 41 people from the country of Zambia to Botswana in Southern Africa. The morning started early and we loaded the bus around 10 am. We were scheduled to be on the bus for the next 11 hours or so. You probably guessed it already but there are no toilets on the bus so you purposely dehydrate yourself some that day.
Fast forward about 10 hours to about 8:30 pm, we are traveling in the dark on a long dirt road. I wake up to Beth (name altered to protect squad mate’s dignity) desperately trying to open up our window around me. I have the window seat so I immediately ask her if she is okay while cracking the window.
She desperately informs me that she has been holding in her poop for the past hour and she currently has the “poop sweats” and needs fresh air. After several seconds of cold air blowing on her face and knowing we have 45 minutes left, she has no other choice but to go ask the bus driver to pull over so she can go on the side of the road. She politely walks up to ask him. When she comes back to sit down, I am hopeful for her but can tell immediately that her hope is lost in her face.
Beth, very matter of factly states that the conversation went as followed:
“Excuse me, sir can you please stop the bus so I can use the toilet”
“No-too dangerous”
“Dangerous?”
“Yes, high risk of lion attack, too much of a risk.”
Outwardly-“uh okay, thank you, sir”
In my head-“ah crap…” (literally)
Beth is obviously very upset and doesn’t know what else to do.
We are apparently driving through a park reserve for African animals (elephants, crocodiles, buffalos, ostrich, lions, giraffes, monkeys..etc.).
Beth looked frantically around for ANYONE who might be of help and awake when she locks eyes with my teammate Morgan. Morgan, was sitting across the aisle from her and to pray the poop away since she has been in this situation before also. She prays sincerely and specifically that the Lord will “close her butt cheeks and suck everything back up inside her until we can get to the bus station.”
The moment she said amen, Beth’s stomach made another loud gurgle to make known that something is going to happen regardless.
Morgan volunteers to go to battle for Beth by explaining to the bus driver how severe of an emergency this situation was about to become if he didn’t pull over.
Crouching beside him- “I’m sorry sir but um, my friend who was here really needs to use the bathroom immediately… it’s an emergency.”
Looking at the road while shaking his head no thinking “She can NOT go in the bush. The risk of lion is too high.”
“I promise I will not let her go out into the bush. I will stand right next to her by the bus.”
Again- “she can not go out to the bush.”
“I promise we won’t. Thank you so much.”
Morgan is always prepared with a bag of toilet paper that she keeps in her purse at all times, which became the answered prayer to Beth as he pulls over.
They walk out the door and keep their promise by staying right by the bus. Beth picks the lightest part of the bus lights so she could see but didn’t think about it being the best lighting to the fellow passengers on the bus. Many of the people on the bus is currently waking up because they assume we pulled over for an animal sighting. (Poor Beth) While I am dying of laughter at this point due to knowing what exactly is going on, I keep my head to the window to listen for Beth and Morgan to make sure they are okay outside.
I see flashes of them in the red hazard lights perfectly. Knowing her personality from living together 24/7 for the previous 4 months, it is okay to laugh with them.
Pressing my ear to the window I hear:
Beth- “Uh. Oh no. Well, here is comes.
Yup. There it is. Oh. Well, it’s definitely violent.”
At that moment I see Morgan holding Beth’s shorts as she squats in the open for all to see.
Morgan- “Wanna hold my hand to help your balance?”
Beth making straight eye contact with her- “I don’t know if our friendship is quite at that level yet.. just keep holding my shorts, I don’t want to risk them getting dirty.”
After 8 minutes of emptying Beth’s insides, they walk back onto the bus. Beth is breathing better. I have my hand sanitizer out ready for her to use before she even sits down. Morgan pulls out her travel size Febreeze and gives her a couple spritz.
She is good to go.
Fast forward another 30 minutes, iSquad made it! When we unloaded, people were asking Beth if everything was okay. I couldn’t control my laughter so she just announced.
“Okay secret’s out, I have violent diarrhea!”
There are no secrets on the WorldRace.
