I’ve been trying to thank God more recently for all that He’s given me and all that He has done in my life. It’s kind of like with your parents, how you feel like they probably deserve a big thank you every once in a while. So, I’m trying to do that with God more on a daily basis.
It’s also about that time on the race that we all start thinking about all that has happened on the race and how we have changed, what we’ve walked through together, all the buses, all the adventures, and all the laughs. We just got off a bus where my friend peed in a bag because there were no bathrooms and chucked the pee out the window and on a drop off my friend chased down a guy who had stolen my other friend’s backpack. This is our life and in this very moment, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I know I haven’t shared too many pictures on my blogs because it’s never worth it to me to fight with the Wifi and spend more time than I need to just sitting at a coffee shop waiting for an hour for one picture to upload. And that’s how I felt when our blog leader (yes we have one of those and she’s awesome) challenged us to post a photo blog this month, so I wasn’t going to. But the city we got to before we travel to Peru actually had a Starbucks with good Wifi so I decided to post a photo blog, so to put some pictures with some of the places I’ve written about here it is.
Month 1 in a village in Nalgonda, India
Month 1 was full of lots and lots of laughs. We never knew what we were about to do and never knew where Pastor Shamson was going to take us but we were always along for the ride. Team Overflow got real close that month but we had no idea the friendships being made in that short amount of time. India was where I realized just how real my passion for house churches was, worshiping with church family every single night, and making disciples.
Month 2 in Kathmandu, Nepal with the whole squad
My favorite ministry in Nepal was the 24/7 prayer tower we stayed at for a few days. We spent time with some people there who lived there and were handicapped in some way. We prayed over them and loved them and worshiped with them. We loved Pastor Naryan. He showed us a beautiful picture of the church and intercessory prayer for the country of Nepal.
We also went on one of my favorite adventures of the race. We went on a hike to Chisapani in the Himalayans. It was a hard hike and the last hour of it was in a torrential downpour which resulted in hundreds of leeches feasting on our legs and feet. We went through it together though and then played mafia around the bonfire. I’m smiling even as I write this because I loved this weekend so much and am so thankful for these people.
Month 3 was in a small village in Thailand with Burmese refugees
(Missing Bekah, she was sick that night)
We loved Thailand but it was a hard month for all of us as a team. God was working on all of us in a lot of ways. It was another month of bucket showers and squatty pottys, and several of us were going through a lot. We lived in the actual jungle pretty much in bamboo huts. We got to worship every night with these beautiful kids from the village. We also went on a little weekend getaway to Phuket at the end of the month. We always refer to it as the beach weekend.
Month 4 was in Siem Reap, Cambodia
This was actually kind of a break for us from living up the village life. Our job was to find more ministry contacts for the World Race. It also started us on a journey of self-discovery with the enneagram. If you do not what I am talking about, please look it up and look into what type you are. It will change your life. I’m serious.
I am truly thankful for each and every one of these friendships from Team Overflow. They started out as team members that I was looking forward to pouring into as their team leader and they turned into dear friends who I cherish with my whole heart. I know I can count on any of them and I trust that they fully know me and accept me for me. I love them a lot and will miss them a lot.
Man am I thankful for these people. Jess, Cristin, and Brad are the other squad leaders who were raised up with me and I wouldn’t want to walk through some of the hard and fun decisions with anyone else. Taylor, Luke, and Janine are the logistics team and we literally couldn’t get from country to country without them, so we are extremely thankful for them as well. They’ve killed it.
Month 5 was in Vietnam
I honestly don’t have a lot of pictures from Vietnam because we spent the month traveling from city to city visiting each team, as we were trained to be squad leaders. There was a lot that we learned that month. Still so thankful from all that I’ve learned from them and have gotten to walk through with them.
As a squad leader, my role shifted a bit to focusing on pouring more into the squad. We have of course been involved in ministry as well, but the squad takes priority for us.
Month 6 was in Ethiopia
We were at an orphanage compound for the month. We got to love on some kids for a full month with absolutely no wifi. We were a rough 3 hour van ride away from any civilization. It was really good for everyone I think. We learned so much from Worke, who worked in the kitchen. She was a prayer warrior. Ethiopia is where I started to realize how much I love these people, even though it was one of the harder months.
Month 7 was in Rwanda
This month my parents came and visited me! They got to work with us building a road in a village and got to visit an African Church. I am very thankful for a mom and dad who support me in all I do and encourage me as I do it. I’m thankful they got to see a small part of my life, including the large buses that took us through small spaces.
We worked with a Rwandan church and stayed with the pastor’s family this month. Pastor Fred was one of the most humble men I have ever met. I loved their church. Full of life.
Month 8 was in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
In Bolivia, we worked with a Ywam base. We worked in a school, an orphanage, and a girl’s home. We got to go to the Salt Flats at the end of this month and obviously loved it. It was unlike any place I have ever been. Regan and I also got to go on a 17000 foot hike and absolutely loved it. I’m definitely thankful for her and her adventurous spirit. (We are both Type 8’s on the enneagram, seriously go look it up).
Month 9 was in Cusco and Chincha, Peru
We had debrief in Cusco, Peru and it was amazing! We loved Cusco! Full of alpacas. I’m also thankful for Mikayla and her ways of pushing me to the Lord and just getting me.
We loved this Airbnb. Erika, our squad mentor, has done so much for us, so thankful for her as well and all she does. She isn’t always on the field with us, but she keeps things running back in the states.
We worked with a church plant in Peru all month. We really got to know our american missionary hosts. They have sacrificed so much to come live in Peru for the people of Chincha. A few people really impacted us this month. Blanca was a sweet precious soul we felt led to bless as we left the final day. She inspired us with her steadfastness and love for the kids of the neighborhood and her family.
To continue the thankful train, I can’t help but be thankful for those at home who have been with me every step of the way. I don’t have many pictures of those at church or at wellspring but I’m so thankful for your continued prayers and encouragement.
The top 3 right now are these girls, the gorge (and the usual crew we go with-love you guys too), and my family.
The greenhouse will forever be in our hearts.
The gorge will always be my favorite place.
I’m always praying for you mom, dad, adam, becca, and ryan. Love you.
My heart is full. Even on the hard days, because there are plenty of those, my heart is still full. Because of Him. Our Father is a good dad. I hope you feel the same!
