I am currently on my way into my fifth month of the World Race…. EXCUSE ME. Where has the time gone? At the end of our first month in Colombia, we had our first week long debrief which was filled with worship, lessons, and bonding. While cleaning out a dirty cabinet (that I worked on for two hours because I wanted it to be spotless) in the orphanage my first week in India, one of the songs from Colombia debrief came on and it made me realize how fast time has gone by now that we are going into our second long debrief. Were there tears in that moment? Absolutely.
It is truly a weird feeling of missing home so bad and counting down the days until you are back in America and also wanting time to slow down so you can enjoy the craziest year of your life. I have to get my first full-time job when I am back since I graduated college right before leaving so I should be terrified of going home (who wants to adult anyway?). This past month in India has been amazing. Being able to volunteer with different organizations, orphanages, and churches. I cannot explain much for my security and the organization’s privacy, but I had an amazing month serving a certain orphanage that helped disabled youth. I got to clean (which my OCD loved), I got to build IKEA furniture, and assemble Frozen character puzzles while listening to the Lion King soundtrack. I was truly living my best life with these kids.
I also loved India because we got to be apart of an ENGLISH speaking church with an American (I think) pastor!! It feels so good to be poured into out here when you are constantly pouring into others. Do not forget the importance of that. I got to be a Barista for the Café they had at the church with some of my teammates. It was a little stressful at first, but they taught us how to make everything under the sun. I am now a professional Indian barista (please hire me when I am living at home for like three months). What I actually wanted to share with you, that doesn’t have to do with how to make a perfect Caramel Latte, was some of my notes from the sermon at church that day.
Our first Sunday church service was hard for me. Since I was a day ahead, I was mourning the loss of my beautiful friends, Karli & Kelsey, since it has been two years since they joined Jesus in Heaven and during the sermon I got a text from my best friend with a photo that would not load because my data was not strong enough. Want to know what it said? “CALLING TO TELL YOU THE GOOD NEWS!!!” after I missed a call from her. I knew exactly what it meant but I was squirming in my chair the entire service just wanting to call back before she went to bed due to time difference. I wanted to see the picture of her beautiful engagement ring, I wanted to watch the proposal video and freak out over the phone with her. We talked a few days later, but it was a difficult day for me in India.
While being half present in the sermon that day, I learned so much about the relationships we have with God and how to keep them ALIVE. A message I needed to hear when I felt so alone that day. The pastor talked about how important it is to build your spiritual house on a firm foundation and choose each and everyday to live with honor and integrity. He talked about how love is a daily choice and so is spending time with God. He encouraged us to read daily, live by the words written, grow within them, and let it transform you.
When I finally got ahold of my friend she told me, “even though you are missing the wedding, I still tell everyone you are my bridesmaid and I am going to treat you like one even though you are not here”. This is the 7th wedding I will be missing this year. Instead of falling apart (a few tears were welcomed out of joy for her), giving up on the race, and just throwing in the towel to go home. I went to the Word, I chose to love the situation for how it was, and text all my dating friends and threaten them to not get hitched until I’m home in December. That Sunday was a super hard day for me, but God had some really important things to say to me and when He has something to say, he finds a way to make sure it connects with you.
I am going into Month Five feeling all the things, I am so thankful for my time in Asia in general and even though I am moving to Africa for a month six in a few weeks, I am taking in every moment. Plus, I cannot be too sad since I get to see my parents at the end of Africa and celebrate my 22nd birthday in my favorite continent, then do ministry via a pilgrimage in Europe. Life is too exciting to not be present.
