Hey what’s up hello friends and family! I got a lot of real good questions for this blog, and I’m going to do my best to let y’all into the ins & outs of my life! Feel free to ask more questions anytime too:)
What’s something about the race you have experienced that was really unexpected?
the amount of discipleship/mentoring the first three months and living overseas being a very normal thing.
Biggest fun surprise?
Getting to be best friends with teenagers in Myanmar, seeing sea turtles being released at sunrise, and french toast Mondays in Guate.
Who has been the most influential person you’ve met at ministry?
My host family in Myanmar. Nancy, David, and particularly their son Jonathon. They are people who have big dreams and boldly follow them, even when they have no idea how the money and plans will come together. They have insane trust and dependency on God, and have brought so much kingdom here because of it. They have parented over 30 kids while running and starting schools and churches. They serve us constantly and want to know each of us deeply. They all have a sense of humor and make people feel so seen.
What’s a squatty potty?
It’s a ceramic toilet in the ground. Instead of sitting on it, you squat, and use a bucket to flush it. Ours comes with cockroaches, frogs, and palm sized spiders 😉
(house tour link coming soon)
What’s one thing since being on the race that just blows your mind?
People are people, and we have way more in common than not. Jonathon asked me what the difference is between kids in Guatemala versus here. My answer, frankly, is nothing. The guys in Guatemala and Myanmar, anywhere from 10-20 years old, are goofy, sometimes quiet, sometimes rowdy, they’re always late for class, and they play soccer every chance they get. Their favorite hobbies are eating and sleeping. The kids like to draw and play soccer and play hide and seek, especially when it’s time for school. We all eat, sleep, and read Robert Frost in school.
What is the best moment you had today?
The best moment today (and every other day) was my sweet friend Sara yelling my name and sprinting to give me a hug every time she saw me. She’s 12, barely speaks english, and I love her with my whole heart.
What have you already grown in?
Self awareness, walking out of fear, community, how to love others well, how to let other people love me well, processing my emotions, knowledge about Jesus, experiencing Jesus’ power, peace, resting, boldness, learning to fill the roles I’m skilled at instead of trying to do everything, not being offended, abandonment (to name a few)
What do you still want to grow in during your time left?
Vision for my future, serving others well, gentleness, speaking truth in love, my chinlone skills, knowing my spiritual gifts/roles, discipline, routine, knowledge and biblical background of my beliefs, identity
How much longer are you on the field?
Four full months! One month at a Buddhist school in Thailand starting this week, then three in Swaziland.
What’s been the hardest thing to adapt to from the U.S.?
Everyone expects us to have tons of money. As a woman, we have to bring guys with us almost everywhere, and we are never alone. People take photos of us- a lot. All of this has become pretty normal, though. I’ll have a lot more culture shock going back into the U.S. than I did coming to any of these countries. Every time we’ve been to an American-like grocery store or mall I’ve really struggled.
What does your average day look like there?
Depends on the country! This is our last week in Myanmar, and so far the days here are my ABSOLUTE favorite:
6:45- watch sunrise / hang out with Jesus
8:00- eat fried eggs
8:30- preach / sing old hymns with mission college students
9:00- english class; everything from worship, bible verses, vocab, grammar, listening activities, games (whatever we plan)
12:00- ramen on ramen baby
1:00 – more english class
3:00- free time! I either play volleyball, chinlone (epic game), watch the guys play a soccer game, or hammock. Somedays I’ll read, others I’ll hang out with friends here.
5:30- eat fried rice
6:00- preach / worship with mission college students
7:00- team time / lesson plan
7:30- people go to bed. no joke. I’ll hammock & hang out with friends or read/journal until 10
What’s it like over there? Different than America?
Yep. It’s different. But after a couple days in each country I don’t notice it. In Guate, people wear a lot of traditional colorful clothing and there’s tons of native languages; we would get catcalled everywhere. In Thailand, we lived in the middle of a very Americanized city, but it was really quiet; I could whisper in a night market packed shoulder to shoulder and be heard. There was also sex trafficking everywhere, so it was really spiritually heavy. In Myanmar, women are fully clothed, and the guys either roll their shorts into underwear or wear skirts. People cover their face in yellow paint, but the paint is actually super good smelling sunscreen/acne prevention made from a thanakha tree, and the red splatters on the ground are people spitting chewing tobacco.
Who would you recommend the race to?
Anyone who wants Jesus to be the main priority in their life, who wants to be a full time missionary, who has no idea what they want to do and loves God, or who wants to grow a lot.
The only thing you need is a yes & trust in God.
What do you miss from home?
Dad’s tacos, MY SWEET DOG, driving up the coast, good coffee every morning, the cold.
What did you think you’d miss from home, but don’t?
People – I don’t want to go home and see anyone, rather I wish people could experience what I’m experiencing. I figured I’d get homesick sometime, and I haven’t at all. I also don’t miss my sweatshirts.
Tips for living/traveling with folks you haven’t known very long?
Ask how to love them best/what bothers them, then act on those things, be open minded, be honest, and live with a lot of love and grace.
Random highlight?
Dance parties. Especially when it’s just Camille and Malia dancing and we all just laugh. Sometimes in Thailand we’d turn the speaker up and dance for an hour.
Do you want to be a long term missionary now?
I’m considering it. I’m in process of praying for a lot of vision, but I am also battling with saying yes when I don’t know what I’m stepping into. I would like to have a job skill to be a missionary, and have lots of others ideas up in the air right now.
Love,
Cait
