Then and Now {Blog #3}

Eleven months have finally come and so much has changed since I have left America! I have been thinking about some of the things that have changed from then to now and thought I’d share!

Then: My favorite food was Chinese food
Now: My favorite food is Bananas.

Then: I would never try any new foods, ever.
Now: I try new foods on a very regular basis.

Then: Squatting to use the restroom would never happen
Now: Not squatting to use the restroom is a rarity and a treat!

Then: I actually understood what people said
Now: I don’t even catch onto when people are speaking to me in English because I don’t expect it

Then: I would go to a movie theater on my free time
Now: We put on a movie on one of our laptops and set it on a table or chairs for us to watch.

Then: I had money
Now: I don’t.

Then: I was able to drink water off the tap or water fountains
Now: My mind can’t even wrap around the thought being able to do that again.

Then: I worried about the essay I had due or issues at work
Now: I worry about if my food will give me a parasite nor not.

Then: I had the fear of pooping on the side of the road on the Race
Now: It’s a regular occurrence.

Then: Working out was something I thought I needed to do
Now: Working out is actually something I need to do.

Then: I had many clothing items to choose from every day from a full closet or dresser
Now: I have about five clothing choices to choose from out of my bag…. That I call my closet, or home since it holds all my belongings.

Then: I didn’t ever think about electricity
Now: I pray for electricity and thank God every time we have it

Then: “Sick” meant I ate too much of something or ate something bad
Now: “Sick” has a whole new meaning and is now used when I get a parasite or the stomach flu, otherwise it’s no big deal.

Then: I told my mom everything
Now: I tell Jesus everything

Then: I had a job which I was paid for doing
Now: My job is storing up treasures in Heaven by doing ministry as my job.

Then: I never once expected I’d actually finish the Race
Now: I am three weeks away from finishing the Race.

Then: Jesus was just a man who I knew “died for me”
Now: Jesus is my close friend who I know a lot better and who didn’t just “die for me”. He’s my mentor, teacher and friend!

Then: God was sort of like my Genie who I made wishes to.
Now: I try not to make God my Genie and actually praise him, thank him, love him, and do the work that he set out for me to do.

Then: I wouldn’t have ever thought of leaving America for more than a week
Now: I’m so glad I left America for more than a week!

I’ve been gone for over ten months now and am getting very close to the eleven month mark and the end of this journey. So much has changed, so much still will change. I am a little anxious of getting back and being so used to doing things one way and going back to doing things the old way. I will be a new person, going back to old environments, where my old self used to be. I am trusting God that he will help me be my new self in a place where it would be easy to fall back into who I was before the World Race. I trusted God with my life the past ten months, and he created so many great “Then and Now’s”. There will be so many great “Then and Now’s” to come in the future and I trust him with those as well! Amen!