*This is a continuation of my update on my last 5 months. Read part one to be fully updated! (Hint: It's directly below this blog)
Cambodia:
Let me start by saying that Cambodia has been one of my favorite months on the race! It was life altering! The people, the team, the ministry, the village, and the food were all fantastic. The month was full of restoration and joy. I spent my month with Team Same Same but Different and Team Wildfire. The guys on Same Same were all great friends of mine and as the month progressed the girls from both teams quickly became the same. It was the first time as a squad leader that I felt like I “belonged”. I no longer felt like I was an attachment to teams on P Squad but that I had a crew of people who loved me and were truly friends.
My main ministry in Cambodia was working in a village called Kampong Speu teaching English to all ages groups. In the mornings I taught English classes to younger children and then in the afternoons I did one-on-ones with the teenagers helping with their conversation skills. The children in Kampong Speu were hysterical! They had such captivating personalities and loved the team. Their was one particular girl we nicknamed “Boo” who looked like the character from Monsters Inc. who was both creepy and adorable at the same time. She was perfect.
I also spent a portion of my month with Team Wildfire doing ATL (ask the Lord) ministry in a small beach town. Sadly I was sick most of the week but it was a great week of making memories and getting to know the girls on the team. As they like to say I strangely fit in with the team.
Vietnam:
Vietnam will be a month that I will never forget! It was full of laughs and terribly awkward moments. It was also full of amazing views and revelations from the Lord. My month was spent with Team Dub-Unit doing very unconventional ministry with a hands off contact but we made the best of it! The team and I were able to partner with a local restaurant doing food distribution and spending time at an orphanage. The children at the orphanage were stinkin' cute and loved playing games with us. It was my first time working at an orphanage since India and I didn't know how much I missed working with children till I was actually there. Distributing food opened my eyes to all the hunger in Nha Trang and how the smallest gesture of kindness can impact a person.
Considering our ministry was so lax we took it into our own hands to spend time asking the Lord what He had in store for us and He opened up many encounters throughout the month. One of the encounters was a few of us becoming friends with a group of British people and spending the week with them and then again another week while we were in Malaysia. Building relationships like these have been some of the greatest experiences of my year.
I have to say that out of all my months on the race I had the craziest conversations with this team and spent a majority of the time speechless, laughing, or in deep thought once conversations ended. I absolutely loved it! It was an encouraging month discussing random topics about God and life and truly spending time dissecting the bible.
Malaysia:
Malaysia was both a refreshing and draining month. I was with Team BeRadical, my teammate Julian, and Team It's Always Sunny. The girls ministry was working at a kindergarten and doing some tutoring; however, the guys were only able to house chores and a bit of evangelism in the town. I spent most of my month being poured into by the team and our amazing contact Pastor Thomas. God revealed so much to me about what He has for me in my future. As Pastor Thomas liked to say “God was revealing the blueprints to my life.” I loved the beginning of the month but near the end two of my closest friends Matt and Jon left the race. Their departure was unexpected and really hard to grasp but something God has walked me through. I spent the last week of the month with Team Same Same but Different along with Julian and Emily praying and focusing on what God has for us in our last two months of the race.
Moldova:
The month has just started but has quickly become one of my favorites. The people of Moldova are loving and hospitable. I am currently with Team Summit 121 doing ATL for the month. I spent my last week doing construction on a house that recently burned down from an electrical fire. The house belonged to an elderly couple with three mentally and physically disabled sons. God's love was continuously seen throughout the week in every one of our lives. I am ecstatic to see what the rest of the month has for us and will update you all soon on the rest of my month!
Boom. Bop. I did it. 5 months. 2 blogs. Super long. Thank you for reading…if anyone made it to this point.
