A 200 sq ft apartment for seven adults isn’t ideal for starters. Cramming yourself into a two person tent that has minimal ventilation in a country that is on average eighty-five degrees and seventy-five percent humidity in a room with no windows does not help the situation. So.. for the first month of the world race I set up a tent and slept with a stranger.
When you share a tent with a stranger:
-your sweaty bodies unintentionally roll towards each other making you twitch in fear forgetting you’re laying next to someone in close proximity
-you both roll around in agony at trying to sleep when you can’t breathe
-you have no personal space to be private with your thoughts
-you often find your tent mate sleeping just when you thought you’d get a nap to yourself
-you have to crawl over them at 3am to get out and go to the bathroom
-you wake up at the sound of the zipper unzipping when they go to the bathroom
-you get use to seeing the glow of their dimmed phone as you fall asleep
-you learn that sometimes you have to go to bed with a smell of the other person because they didn’t shower (or you.. no way you can distinguish the difference)
Although physically sharing a tent with a stranger does not seem enjoyable and personal barriers are often broken… by sharing a tent with a stranger:
-you learn that they want to travel to New Zealand some day
-you learn that they miss playing their favorite sport
-you learn that they were (still are) one of those crazy horse girls from middle school
-you learn that their best friend hooked them up with the most amazing boyfriend they could ask for
-you learn that they love their brother more than anything
-you learn that their heart is in the church
-you learn that they are compassionate, sweet, and gentle
-you find out that you have the best listener for all your problems ready to go 24/7
-you learn that they feed you snacks at all the right moments
-you are able to cry together with no shame
-you dream of future Independence day gatherings together
-you learn of their hopes to build a van home and travel the US
-you have late night deep belly laughs that you’ll randomly remember in your 40s and smile about
-you learn that they are so creative and are able to capture the most beautiful of things from God’s creation through a camera lens
-you learn that God has given them so many gifts that will take them into the future
-you learn that they are one of the bravest humans you’ve ever met
-you see the fruit of what it looks like to be obedient to God
Most importantly when you share a tent with a stranger:
-you learn that they love you … really love you … deep, intentional love
For a month I slept shoulder to shoulder with a girl named Mikayla. Some nights we cried together, some we laughed, some we prayed, others we dreamed. In a time that we felt deep in the valley and a far cry away from home she was my light, my hope and my comfort along with being my northern stars pointing me towards my Almighty. Thankful and grateful for her always. God couldn’t have placed me with a more perfect stranger, a midwestern girl from Michigan who has a heart not of gold but one of pure joy and love.
To a new friend for forever – love you lots MikDaddy
Much love and many blessings on your journey,
Ossy xxx
