“We love because he first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19
When you travel you immerse yourself in new cultures, customs, and regulations. You pick things up from the people you travel with and the people you’ve traveled to. I have picked up a few new habits that I would like to warn you about when I come home.
1. I might/will hold your hand (this applies to anyone). Let’s just be honest, I’m a very physically affectionate person. And being on the Race amplified that because it is so welcoming to be physically affectionate in most parts of the world that I’ve been to. When it happens, you might feel awkward and you might even show me some nonverbal ways that this is making you feel uncomfortable. I won’t notice. Tell me if you don’t want to hold your hand because I just won’t catch on.
2. I might/will cry at the little things. This year, God showed me so much of the Father’s heart for His children. With that, I am more emotional when things happen and I want to long and show my emotions for that person. It will be a few months after I come home and you will say something like, “Hunter, thank you for hanging out with me.” And I will say something like, “*insert crying noise*.” It’s just going to happen.
3. I might/will hug more often. Like I said, physical affection was amplified on this trip and so much more accepted. Plus, I see an actual way of showing my love by hugging people and I want to love people.
4. I might/will ask you to go on some insane trip either for the day or for the year. God has truly set my soul on fire for Him and the mission He gave us. With that I get restless when I see a need and I want to go there. It could even be just some weird fun activity that I usually don’t do. We might not have talked for a week and I will call you and tell you that we absolutely must go base jumping in Rio this weekend. As kind as you can, please let me down softly. Remind me that I am a broke missionary. That usually gets me pretty quick.
5. I might/will try and make a video about your life. I make a video every month of the Race. I love shooting videos, making a story, and editing like crazy. I once made a video simply on piercings. Weird things just interest me. If you don’t want me in yo business then tell me to back up (in a thug voice, please).
6. I might/will only shower every few days. It’s weird for me to say that because I’m a total queen when it comes to pampering for a dude. I just got used to not having water for showering. Kindly tell me, “Hunter. You don’t smell like David Beckham. Please go shower and put deodorant on after.” We could even use a code word like: David Beckham.
7. I might/will want to see you more often than before I left on this journey. I love people. The Race has shown me that it’s real. I might be a complete introvert but being around people all the time has got me used to the fact that people are everywhere and I need to deal with it.
Month 10 || M O N G O L I A from Hunter Young on Vimeo.
