With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I only found it appropriate to write a blog expressing what I am thankful for. Plus, you’ll get a neat little look into what life on the race is really like sometimes. Being a missionary and living away from the US for this long has grown me to really appreciate home and all that I have waiting for me back there. It has opened my eyes to see the little things of my everyday life that I had taken for granted and didn’t even realize were a privilege. Here are some things I am really thankful for, and why I’m thankful for them. When I return home in 7 months, may I never forget for the rest of my life how much of a privilege and blessing these following things are to have:
1. Toilet paper
Often, restrooms do not have toilet paper in restaurants, bus stations, churches, etc. and its unfortunate when you find yourself in those places and realize you forgot to stuff some napkins or tissue in your pocket or bag and you’re left with no option but to drip dry or beg your squadmate to share a square of TP with you.
2. Toilet seats
Also often, public toilets in Africa don’t have toilet seats. I have absolutely no clue why, but most of the time you have to squat over the toilet bowl (or hole in the ground) when you use the restroom because the seat is missing.
3. Hand soap
Soap—a freaking luxury! Same theme as above, it’s not found often. When you are lucky enough to come across a public restroom that has soap, it’s like winning the lottery!
4. Washing machines
We do our laundry using powdered detergent and a bucket. I wish I knew how to scrub and hand wash my clothes as good as the Africans. Basically, I’ve been wearing dirty clothes for the last three months that have just been coated in a sticky film of detergent to mask the smell of sweat.
5. Dryers
I didn’t realize how much dryers shrink our clothes back into place. I’ve been swimming in a layer of cloth due to the combination of losing 22 pounds on the race so far (yay, let me be happy about this!) and having stretched out clothes that I can’t shrink back into place with a dryer.
6. Electricity
I think I’ll let this one speak for itself. My team has spent so much time in countries with long (8-17 hours), daily power outages which just makes things a bit more challenging.
7. Air conditioning
The weather in Zambia (month 3) averaged about 106 degrees F per day. With no escape from the hot, scorching African sun, it became normal to feel like you were suffocating in your own body. I had multiple breakdowns because it was miserably hot, and there was nothing that could be done about it. Due to the power outages, I couldn’t even stand in front of a fan which honestly wouldn’t help much anyway because all it would do is circulate boiling hot air around me.
8. A clean body
Showering daily isn’t always an option. Some months, we didn’t even have showers—just a spicket and a bucket. I don’t know how to explain it, but the African dirt stains your skin. My feet—no matter how hard I scrub—will not get 100% clean. Sometimes we decide to go days without showering because there’s really no point when the moment the lukewarm water stops trickling down your body, salty sweat drips down instead. I found myself wondering multiple times literally mid-shower if my face was wet because of water or because of sweat.
9. Ranch dressing
Okay, so they have this in some places in Africa, but it does NOT taste the same. And they call it salad cream. Enough said.
10. Options in my wardrobe
I’ve been wearing the same 5 t-shirts on rotation for the last 116 days—shirts that have too many holes and stains on them. I definitely don’t want to ever take my closet for granted ever again.
11. A real bed
I have slept on a carpet, a hot tile floor, 20+ hours on an uncomfy bus seat, couch cushions, patio chair cushions, and a sleeping pad. I miss having a real mattress and bed frame to lay myself down on at night, and I have been reminded that even something as simple as that is a privilege and something to thank the Lord for.
12. Cars
So many people in Africa walk places or ride bicycles for miles and miles and miles just to reach the nearest water pump or purchase fresh vegetables from the market. They are such strong people. Many people don’t have the option of being able to pay for a taxi ride when they need one, let alone afford their own car/gasoline. My parents blessed me with a car when I turned 16, and for my whole life as a licensed driver, I have been able to hop in my car and easily and comfortably get myself from place to place. I miss driving. I miss rolling the windows down and cranking some Dermot Kennedy or Jon Bellion over the aux. When I get home and drive again for the first time, I hope I don’t forget about the beautiful, hardworking, strong men and women I’ve met here in Africa whose feet literally take them everywhere.
13. Running water
“Our place is really nice, there’s running water!” The world race really lowers your standards for living. You know you’re a missionary when your definition of “nice” living conditions is based on whether you have running water or not. No running water means not being able to flush the toilet, not washing your hands, not doing laundry, not bathing, and not being able to drink anything until the water is turned back on or until you walk to the nearest water source to gather water.
14. Hugging my family
I’ve been sick a handful of times on the race. Diarrhea and vomiting is no stranger to me (what’s really fun is when you’re doing both of those things simultaneously!!! haha). I’ve had to visit the dentist, and I’ve had to be taken to the hospital for a fractured foot. What’s super cool about my foot is that my squad prayed over me and the Lord actually healed my foot. Literally two days later, I was 100% fine and able to walk like normal, hop on my foot, run, all the activities. But my main point is, nothing makes you wish you were at home more than when you are absolutely miserable in pain. You want nothing but to be laying in your comfortable, clean bed in your air conditioned house with your parents nearby for comfort. Don’t get me wrong, the race is absolutely amazing and I would never wish it away, but some days are hard. Really hard. And it is in those moments the most when I’d love to just hug my mom and dad.
Psalm 107: 8-9 “So lift your hands and thank God for His marvelous kindness and for all His miracles of mercy for those He loves. How He satisfies the souls of those who are thirsty and fills the hungry with all that is good.” Happy Thanksgiving!!!
With love,
Hals
