I’m baffled that we only have a couple days left on this journey circumnavigating the globe. From start to finish, there have been plenty of amazing highlights, but I’m here to tell you about the mundane. The little things that don’t make the cut, but certainly make the journey. Each of these has a story of its own, but it’d be a stretch to make them a blog of their own; this is for the unsung stories.
I’d love to talk about these with you when I get home, so please ask me about them!
Here’s a list of things I’m going to miss about being overseas:
Having to search for wifi to be connected.
Playing endless games of Cribbage, Nerts, and Settlers of Catan, then holding grudges for months, even though we agreed to not let our emotions transcend the game.
Being laughed at/with for how I say hello in the local language.
Playing Soccer with children far more talented than myself
Sharing the Gospel to families and groups of children
Worship in foreign languages
Shawarma (or any Arabic food for that matter)
Bucket Showers
Fresh mangoes, coconuts, and avocados
Soda in glass bottles, made with real sugar
Chewing on sugarcane
Walking to the market to buy fruits and veggies from your favorite vendors
Sharing meals with a team every night. Our team is the only thing resembling a family while traveling.
Men and women selling anything from pastries to trinkets, from charcoal to live chickens
Legit non-profits who give everything so that others may thrive.
Riding shotgun in a car in countries that drive on the opposite side of the road.
Amazing missionary/expat families who are great at making you feel like you’re home, even if you’re the farthest thing from it.
Here’s a few things that I’ll miss, but only for a short while:
The smells… some pleasant, but most not.
Cooking every meal over hot coals
Being called Gringo, Mazungu, or White man wherever I go.
Taking pictures with all of the locals… Being a celebrity would be exhausting…
Handwashing my Clothes
Stray Dogs
Squatty Potties (Squatting is good for your colon!)
Bartering to get what I want… Set prices are a beautiful thing.
Here’s a handful of things that simply happen overseas, and you simply have to laugh about them:
A Mosquitoe buzzing in your ear at night, knowing that it could be carrying Dengue, Malaria, and Yellow Fever.
Army Ants… and yes, they bite. Hard.
Monkeys trying to take your food or drinks in popular tourist destinations
Knowing you have to pay a higher price… because you’re different.
Wondering if your showers do anything because you always feel wet (Asia and Latin America)
Language Barriers
Eating street food and praying you don’t get sick
Lastly, (I’m going to be selfish for a moment) here’s some things I can’t wait for upon re-entering the States:
Eating Palisade Peaches
Good Pizza and Ice Cream
Driving
Riding a bike
Snow
Apple Cider
Tall Mountains
Canyons
Watching American Football
Being with family
Playing Ultimate Frisbee
I’ve come to realize it’s the simple things I take for granted the most back home, but they also become the things I miss the most when I don’t have them. I have absolutely loved this journey. The people and places will always hold a place in my heart and I’m certain I’ll be back to some of these places, God willing.
This is my last blog I’ll be writing from the field, but stay subscribed, I’m hoping to have a picture blog and video once I arrive home! Thank you again to everyone who has supported me and prayed for my team, squad and myself as we’ve gotten to share God’s glory, grace, and love around the world.
