Let me set the scene
Four American girls, a tuktuk that has run out of gas, a bridge, a gas station not too far over the bridge, and lots of curious eyes.
Our host, Chanla, owns a tuktuk and we were driving into city, Phnom Penh. Four American girls in the back of the tuktuk and we always get stares. So when we ran out of gas on the bridge, not yet to the half way point, and all started pushing uphill, you better believe we got some looks.
Once we got halfway and started drifting downhill, Chanla shouted, “up, get up!” KellyAnne, Rosie and I hop in with Bethany running to catch up because she was recording behind us. Don’t worry, she made it.
At the end of the bridge we hit more traffic, and came to another stop.
Out to push through traffic once more.
Photo Creds: Berthany Witte
With multiple shouts from Chanla, “Stop!… Go!” Along with the hint from the brakes we finally merged into traffic and then headed towards the gas station ahead.
Multiple tuktuks for hire were lined up along the side of the street near the gas station amazed to see 4 white girls pushing this tuktuk.
They began cheering for us. “Go! Go! Go!”
It was like coming to the end of a race, having a bunch of complete strangers, grinning ear to ear, cheering whole-heartily for you.
We made it to the gas station, high-fiving with this sense of accomplish. Laughing at all the people who cheered us on and could have joined in on the pushing, but didn’t, just kept cheering.
Photo Creds: Berthany Witte
And it made me think…
About this race. How close we are to the end, how close we are to the finish line, with people cheering us on, praying for us, encouraging us. But there is no one we can finish this out with but ourselves, God, and this community that is around us.
The people that we started pushing the tuktuk with are the people we have to finish pushing the tuktuk with.
People from home, friends, family, all of our loved ones, can’t come tag us out from the sidelines. You all are the support that is there when we are hot, tired, and maybe a little run down from pushing a tuktuk around (pushing the tuktuk was a fun experience, I hope you all see where I’m going with this). The ones yelling, “Go! Go! Go!”
Because when as we get closer and closer to the end, as we begin to see the gas station, let us not forget those around us, the same people that have been there since training came, the people we’ve been with for close to a year of our lives. Living in 24/7 community. These are the people alongside of me, pushing this tuktuk, laughing at everything passing by.
Because when you see so far ahead, it can be so easy to forget to look right next to you, to see who is pushing with you.
Keep pushing that tuktuk. We are being cheered on every step of the way, by complete strangers and by loved ones, by all members of this giant family of Christ. Look next to you, see who is pushing with you, and don’t forget that. You’ll be crossing that finish line with them.
Photo Creds: Berthany Witte
