A few weeks ago, when we were still majorly adjusting to the heat here, my friends Aidyn, Maddie, Caela, Carter, and I decided to go on a little adventure and find a place to swim. We had heard about a lake near Battambang, the city we live in, so we called our friend Sam who drives a tuk tuk and asked him to take us.
After the sweetest hour long tuk tuk ride (the views & tunes were so good!) we arrived at a waterfront lined with wooden buildings on stilts.
Sam explained that we could either buy something at one of the little restaurants and swim right there, or there was a boat that would take us out into the lake where it was deeper. We mulled over the decision while we got some cold drinks, and then decided to pay $10 for a boat to take us to the deeper part of the lake to swim.
We told Sam that, and he translated it into Khmer for the woman at the restaurant. We were then lead down to the water by a young boy (around age 12 or 13) and two young girls (around ages 12 & 10) to a little wooden boat. We got in and expected an adult to get in with us to drive the boat, but the young boy started the engine and off we went.
We boated across the lake past fishermen and around little islands of dark mud and grass that stuck up out of the water. We finally arrived at a tiny mud island with a makeshift canopy on it.
We got out of the boat, took in the beauty of our surroundings, laughed, and then all of us jumped into the water.
The three kids also jumped in, and for an hour we threw mud at each other, splashed, caught a fish, floated on life jackets, and honestly just laughed a lot. The time went by way too fast as the boy motioned that it was time to leave. The wind had started picking up and the sky started to sprinkle.
We headed back to the restaurant and thanked the family. We played with the kids a bit longer and then took the tuk tuk back home.
This day was one of many in which I think about the context of what I am actually doing and I just think “God, WHAT?”. There I was, a random lake, in the countryside of Cambodia, on a wooden boat with 3 kids who didn’t speak English, with friends who 10 months ago were complete strangers to me. It is days and moments like this where I can’t help but smile for hours and thank God on repeat for his glory and goodness.
A few months ago as I was journaling, I wrote “grace brought me here and I have no idea where it will take me next!”. That quote rings true for days like this one and for the race as a whole.
Grace brought me to the lake that day. Grace brought me to Cambodia. Grace brought me on the race. Grace will bring me back to the states and my family. Grace will bring me through and through to places and moments I don’t expect. Grace carries me each and every day.
All in all, everyday on the race does not look like this. Most days are not adventurous, and some are very difficult. Everyday has different challenges and emotions, joys and tribulations. But, everyday has grace.
