Hey friends!! Here are seven things I’ve learned while being overseas. Some are practical, some are spiritual, but all are applicable. Let’s get started!
- Cleanliness is not defined by circumstances
Friends, I have been washing my clothes by hand for the last five months. Sometimes I’ve had a facet and scrubby surface thing (it’s called a pila), sometimes I’ve had two buckets and a hose. I’ve almost always had soap, and if I didn’t I could go to a local shop and get some. It takes more time to wash clothes by hand and sometimes I don’t want to, but I do it because I value being a clean human being.
In all the time I’ve been overseas, there have been very few days where I couldn’t have a shower. Whether it’s showering late or getting up early or showering in the middle of the day, I have always been able to squeeze in a shower.
Being a clean person is not defined by where you live, but by your mindset. I decided that I was going to be a clean person and take care of myself, so I do. I decided to take the time to take care of myself, even if it’s out of my convenience. Someday I can’t wait to tell my kids “If I I can wash my clothes in a bucket in Africa for 3 months, then you can clean your room once a week”.
- The food you eat matters
Y’all, my system (the intestines and stomach things inside of me) is wrecked. Most of the food I eat overseas is straight carbs, my squad rarely have a lot of fruits or vegetables in our meals simply because we’re fifty people. The food budget just isn’t that big. In Kampot, Cambodia I ate rice and take out almost every day. In Ethiopia I had bread or pasta for almost every meal every day. In Nicaragua I had rice and beans in almost every meal every day (and if we didn’t have rice and beans, then we definitely had some kind of bread). In Costa Rica it’s much the same. We have carbs or rice/beans for breakfast, a sandwich with chips and an apple for lunch, and a cook comes in for dinner (which always includes rice and beans).
Please understand that I am not complaining, I get enough to eat and I survive just fine. However, being on the field totally wrecks your system in every way. Do not come on the race if you think you’ll go home with a tan and bikini body. It is far more likely that you’ll go home with awkward tan lines and a stomach that can’t handle dairy like it used to. And you know what? It’s worth it.
- If you’re not wrecked, you’re doing it wrong
Along with my system being wrecked, I have also been wrecked spiritually. Friends, I can honestly say that I have served what the world calls “the least of these”. I’ve seen extreme poverty and deep pain, people who come from the worst situations and most broken homes.
However, the most shocking thing I’ve experienced is how numb I can be to the people around me. It is so easy to turn off your emotions and avoid empathizing with the people around you, but that’s not the church. We’re called to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn (1 Corinthians 12:26), and you can’t do that unless you let the Lord break your heart. God has broken my heart for the people I have met overseas, it has changed my world perspective and how I view the poor (in wealth and spirit) all around me.
- No one can read your mind
Ah yes, this has been a hard one. When I first came on the race, I didn’t know a single person on my squad. I committed to living with fifty people long before i even knew all their names, and that’s scary. None of the people around me actually knew me.
When I had needs to be met or things to do, I had to openly tell people where I was at. Unlike my friends back home, my squad (and especially my team) couldn’t “read” me. They didn’t know me well enough to do that, so I had to advocate for myself for everything. I didn’t even realize that was a thing until I came onto the field, and I wish I would have realized that sooner when I did. It’s hard to be around people who don’t know you, but if you speak up for yourself and address your needs (instead of waiting for other people to do it for you), then you’ll probably get taken care of. It just takes speaking up.
- You’re never alone, but often lonely
I have lived with fifty other people for most of my race. It’s messy, the rooms are crammed, and sometimes I just want a moment alone (but aye we got a rule about the buddy system). However, I cannot possibly count the amount of times I’ve felt completely and utterly alone.
Going off of number four, being around people who don’t know you is hard. You feel unseen and isolated, even if no one is purposely isolating you. People are used to living in community, but when you’re community doesn’t know you, you feel pretty alienated. I am living with fifty other people, and every single one of them has walked through the same thing. We’ve all been stuck with each other for the last eight months, but somehow every single one of us has felt completely alone.
This phenomena is a beautiful season, as it forced our squad to lean into Jesus. When the only person who can meet you where you’re at is the Lord in high, chances are that you’re gonna look to Him a lot more than you would if you had all your friends and family to support you. My squad couldn’t support me the way I needed to be supported, so I turned to the Lord instead. That was the best decision of my life.
- You don’t need it
Depending on where I’ve lived, it’s been very easy to live a simple life- or very easy to break the bank. No matter where I’ve gone, I’ve always been in walking distance of a store selling junk food, and everywhere (except for Ethiopia) has had relatively accessible wifi. It would be so easy to spend all my money on snacks and treats because “I deserve it”, and sometimes I did. However, I don’t need it. I don’t need junk food or social media to comfort me. I don’t need a ton of souvenirs or fun filled adventure days to make myself feel whole. All I need is Jesus, and while I’ll sometimes pick up a microwave popcorn or coffee from Starbucks, I don’t need that stuff anymore. In fact, I usually regret buying hints afterward because I realize they aren’t worth the money. Especially snacks, why would I pay money to destroy the beautiful temple God has created me to be just because it tastes good? All I need is God, period.
- Jesus is better
No matter what this world offers you, whether it be food or drugs or sex or money, Jesus is always better. He’s literally the best there is. There is no one who will fight for or love you more than the Son of God. He will meet you wherever, whenever, no matter whoever or whatever is around. However, you gotta deny the rest to receive the best. You got to let go of all your addictions and idols and just dead sprint to Jesus. It will cost you everything, but I promise it’s worth it. Jesus is so much better.
Well thanks for reading my blog, keep a look out for more coming soon. Love you all!!
~CLS
