There are many risks you run while traveling overseas.
So many risks. The first time I went to the doctor for a ‘traveling appointment,’ I left overwhelmed and in tears, fearing that I would never quite understand just what I was getting myself into.
During this appointment, (and during training camp…and from many loved ones), my doctor said, “don’t drink the water in the countries you go to. If you get a water bottle, make sure the cap is sealed. Better to be safe than sorry.”
To be totally honest, my immediate thought was that my constant precautionary steps (not drinking the water, peeling all fruits and veggies, etc.) would come across as ignorant, rude; I’ll be seen as someone constantly assuming the worst.
I was hesitant to come across this way in other countries, especially where I am trying to spread and share the love of Jesus, who was inclusive and had no fear of worldly risks.
But I decided, “better to be safe than sorry.”
So, fast forward to Colombia.
Our living situation this month is beautiful.
We are staying in a hostel, with a sweet man named Guillermo, who offers us coffee every morning. We have hot showers. We have a kitchen, and we make most of our food. We have it so good here in this sweet little town.
Being comfortable in the beauty of this home we have built, I started getting lazy in my ‘precautionary steps’ to stay healthy.
I didn’t drink the water, but I used it for brushing my teeth, washing my face, etc.
About a week ago, I started to feel a little funny. My stomach didn’t feel quite right. I was having weird pains and feeling queasy all the time.
After a few days of not quite feeling right, our team decided it was time to go to the doctor and check out what was going on.
My teammate, Jada, was feeling the same things.
We went to the hospital and sat in the ‘urgencias’ area. Jada, Jenny, and I sat and giggled at the fact that we were there and waited to be seen. We waited a little over 15 minutes, and Jada went back first. She came out shortly after, and I followed immediately.
I went back into a tiny room, with a female doctor. She asked me a few questions in Spanish, and proceeded to push on my stomach, take my temp, etc. When she pushed on the lower part of the left side of my stomach, she said “OOH lo siento!” This can either translate to “I feel it” or “I’m sorry,” so I’m really not sure which she meant. But there was something there for sure.
After a little while, she sat me down and told me I had a “parásito severo” (severe parasite) and that I needed to rest and return in 24 hours if the medicines didn’t help immediately.
What? How?
Jada and I proceeded to go to the pharmacy and returned home with our 7 prescriptions. You read that right. SEVEN.
I was so overwhelmed by the pills, the drink mixes, the different times I had to take them, etc. etc.
In the midst of the “this is ridiculous…,” I couldn’t help but giggle. This could all have been avoided by simply following directions.
“Use the water bottles to brush your teeth.”
Isn’t this how sin creeps into our lives?
“It isn’t gossip if I just think it in my head. I’ll just tell my best friend, they won’t tell anyone.”
“It’s not judgmental if I repent for it later.”
“It’s okay to watch porn, just once.”
“I’ll spend time with Jesus later.”
“It’s not hurtful, it’s just honest.”
We convince ourselves it isn’t a big deal, it’s just one time, it’s harmless, and the next thing we know, we are sitting down, being confronted about the severity of the issue.
Jesus confronted me of my inability to follow directions AND the severity of a sin in the same week.
With a parasite, you are forced to rest. There’s no option to ride the horses, and just take it easy.
Or to play with the kids, and just not run as much.
Or to evangelize in the heat, and just drink more water.
Parasites feed off of the energy I consume and produce.
I HAD to rest.
I’m not good at resting.
I realized how restless I was.
I would rather sit in a coffee shop and read, write, color, etc., than to sit in the house and rest (often times doing the same things to avoid boredom).
Why is resting so hard?
Jesus, sweetly but straight forwardly, showed me why it’s so hard for me to rest.
I feel like if I’m not actively doing something, I’m useless and bring no worth or value to a group.
I’m supposed to lay in bed and allow someone else to cook dinner, without help?
The beauty of being shown this – I saw, in action, the power in a team. I live with 6 other girls who seek to exhibit the heart of Jesus. They actively served me (and Jada) and encouraged us to rest. They consistently asked, “how are you feeling? Do you want to sit and rest?”
They encouraged me to rest and loved me through the moments where I didn’t want to.
There’s a great likelihood that Jesus has also surrounded you by a team, your people — your warriors. People who fight to know you, encourage you to maintain the Jesus-rooted qualities they see, and call you higher in moments of sin or shallow thoughts.
Dig into these relationships.
We are so much better off when we have someone to say, “hey, don’t drink the water.”
Someone to push us to the greater water, the living well, Jesus Christ.
