Every race is different. Every route is different. But for me, my world race hit the top climax and then came crashing down on me. And right now I am working through the bottom lows of life, and the whole crashing down part.
Let me explain – we went from India to Nepal to China and then the Philippines.
India – the worst country of the entire route – physically exhausting, literally dirty and smelly, horrible
food, spiritual warfare, and unique ministry
Nepal – a really nice simple country – enjoyable, simple lifestyle, traditional foods, squatty potties, hot
showers, and beds
China – the America of the Asian side of the world – pollution and smug, clean streets, toilets, shopping,
Starbucks, the Great Wall, and absolutely amazing ministry – working with beautiful children every
day – I felt like I was at home sometimes and we had wifi.
So that was the build up…. Each country got a little bit better and a little bit better. I gradually got use to the ‘American’ lifestyle again. Beijing was beautiful with ancient places, silk/pearl markets, and coffee houses. By the end of China I was ready to come home and be with my family. Haven’t I done enough of this short term ministries. I am ready to get into long-term stuff.
Needless to say, I didn’t really want to continue to the next country – I would have been content to stay in China. I didn’t want to leave my children. I didn’t want to leave my one angel who lives at Eagle’s Wings. But the time came to move on… I wasn’t looking forward to it. Plus everyone says the Philippines is the best. I didn’t see what was so great about it.
Now the first 5 days in Manila were amazing and incredible. Basically Manila continued the climax of my story because it was wonderful. The whole squad was there but we all had beds, hot showers and toilets. We basically lived at a resort – pool, spa, gym. There was a coffee maker, an ice maker, washer and dryer. Who know this could all belong in one place. And lots of different lounge areas. It was amazing.
And then everything came crashing down… I would love to spend the next twenty lines complaining about how everything is so different and challenging here. But that is not the purpose of the blog. It is hard for me… we live in the mountains with nothing special at all. Bugs attack me every night, and everyday we do physical labor (like moving rocks or shovelling dirt). It is a third world country. People live in ‘tree houses’ and live off less then a dollar a day, and I see that. Girls sell their bodies to pay for college tuition. And it is simply not what I expected of my last country. It wasn’t suppose to be this hard.
Right now I need prayers to finish strong and to not give up. There is a purpose for me being out in the middle of nowhere with no internet and no communications from the outside world. There is a purpose for me to be eating traditional food (having rice all the time). There are still thing for me to learn. There are still things for me to process – lots of things for me to process. I can do this… this crashing, low point has to end. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. I know it. But I need your prayers to help me get through this last month here on the race. I need you right now.
Thank you.
PS. Thank you if you have kept up with me throughout this journey. Thank you for all your prayers and support. I appreciate it.
