Hello everyone.
Im beginning to enter my last week of ministry and my last two weeks of the race. It’s insane that it was nine months ago I was in Georgia getting ready to fly out to India. My parents told me to be careful because it will go by faster than expected. I told them in response “how the heck could it? It’s nine months!” It flew by faster than I ever expected. And I remember each country like it was yesterday which is even weirder. I remember the routines, the ministries and the food. I hope to remember these things for as long as I can. I’m excited to go back home with the things I’ve learned and the things I’ve done but I don’t want this trip to end. But I’m ready to continue life with a better understanding and a new approach to the things around me.
I have not been home for several big holidays as well as my birthday. It was hard sometimes, but I was experiencing each of these things in a new country with new experiences. Some where a bit lackluster than others but I still enjoyed each moment. This trip has challenged me greatly but I didn’t even realize until Mother’s Day, just how much it was costing my family. And what getting older means. My parents were able to have my sister come home for thanksgiving and Christmas but didn’t have their son. I didn’t wake them up on Christmas morning, ( which I’m sure they enjoyed ) because I was in Zambia or get to be with the rest of the family on thanksgiving because I was in Zimbabwe. Then New Years I was in the middle of a village also in Zambia. Then I turned 20 in Malawi and my mom couldn’t be an annoying mom and hug me and cry all day saying she remembered when I turned 10. And then on Mother’s Day, I am here in Ecuador and can’t hug her and give her flowers.
(Happy belated Mother’s Day mama) These things have been hard for me but until recently I didn’t realize just how hard it must be for them. And I’m thankful they helped me get here.
Now to a more light hearted update.
Covi has been awesome these past three months. And I’m preparing myself to say goodbye this Thursday. Because of the amount of time I’ve had with these kids it will be harder than all the other countries.
This is the one kid specifically that I have had fun with.
A little girl named Kimberly (I caught her at A bad time. I’ll upload a better photo later)
This one has been the little girl I immediately say hi and bye to when I get there and when I leave. And of course, the head honcho and lovely lady Tamarita.
She runs things at Covi and is such a sweet hearted woman. But when the kids need correcting or someone messed up, her inner boss comes out and it’s really fun to watch. I’ve helped her a lot in the kitchen making rice and soup or whatever else will be for lunch that day. But with the cooking comes the cleaning. I spend a lot of my time at Covi washing dishes, making juice, cleaning pots and pans and then cleaning the dining room after the kids are all done eating. The race has given me such a new mindset towards cleaning and doing dishes it’s crazy. But I’ve been happy at Covi. It’s been a blessing to be there and watch these kids just be kids. I don’t want to leave but I know I have to go back home.
I thank every one of you supporting me. Without help I would not have made it where I am now. I know I haven’t been the best at updating you guys but from the depths of my heart, this would not have been possible without all of you.
Thank you.
