After being gone for 5 months people often have several questions about each country I have lived in, how I have grown, what I miss, and they generally want to understand what I’m going through in each new season or country of life. This blog is nothing more then me answering as honestly as I can all of the questions that have followed me the last 5 months.
Q: What are or aren’t you looking forward to coming back to?
A: I’m looking forward to people! I can’t wait to truly invest in the people I know from back home. I believe I have always been surface level with people I encounter. But now… Now I want to love radically and learn what that means for each place I visit. I’m not looking forward to the lack of understanding. What I mean by that is after living abroad for a year and seeing some pretty heartbreaking things I am worried that I may show a lack of grace to people who simply dont understand.
Q: What will you miss most about your time in each country?
A: Each place is so different! In Swaziland I miss the simplicity. There was no Wi-Fi, no markets, no noise, no distractions. I miss Saturdays in Africa where you had nothing else to do but play card games, eat bread, and play soccer. In Nepal I miss my hosts. The hosts we lived with were the definition of loving like Jesus. They poured into us, took us on adventures, treated us with respect, they cared…. They truly cared. I miss living with a giant family that wanted nothing more than to love us well. India, I will miss the rest. This place is somewhere where I can easily get the restoration that is needed.
Q: What is the thing/situation that surprises you the most?
A: I love this question! It surprises me how I easily I forget to be thankful! I will often find myself being grumpy about where I am or what I’m going through or what I’m giving up. And that blows my mind! Because when I stop, truly stop and look around…. I see that I am living the most outrageous adventure. When I stop thinking of myself I see that I have everything I need.
Q: How bad was your homesickness and how did you recover?
A: Can I be honest and say it is month 5 and I still get incredibly homesick! I was never homesick my first couple months of the race. To me everything was a grand adventure and I wanted nothing to do with my old life. However, soon the “honeymoon” phase wore off and everyday life began. I was desperate for home, for comfort, for something I understood and knew. The best advice I can give is laying it down before the Lord, journaling and being honest with myself about how I was feeling and where I am. Speaking truth over myself like “I am meant to be here! I was called here for a purpose!” Lastly, get off the Wi-Fi. I promise you the second you stop looking at Instagram, texting everyone constantly, the fear of missing out will subside and you will be more focused on where your feet are rather than daydreaming of home.
Q: What has been the craziest culture shock moment?
A: Okay I can think of 2 very distinct moments. The first was in Africa. I was on month 3 and had been living very minimalist. I ate the same food everyday (hardboiled egg, oatmeal, 2 pb&j sandwiches, and bread and sugar). I lived out in the bush of Africa… I very rarely saw a new face or really anybody other than goats and my squadmates and swazichildren. So when I was taken to the market I remember walking into what looked like an almost normal Wal-Mart and began to cry! There was so much food! So many people! So many choices! So many people wanting to touch my blonde hair! I was completely overwhelmed after 2 months of being pretty isolated. The other moment was in Nepal. We were camping in a jungle over Christmas and when we first arrived to our little campsite I became exhausted and fell asleep on the jungle floor. I awoke a few hours later to 2 small barefoot children speaking to me in a language I didn’t understand playing with my hair. And also a small nepali man crouched in front of me peeling green beans. Uhhhhh I felt like I had just landed in a completley different world and in some ways I did!
Q: One of the moments where time seemed to stand still and you were breath-taken?
A: Hiking in Nepal…. That should be answer enough haha. But I remember we hiked to this remote village to preach and as we were returning we stopped off at this little shack that served tea. So we stocked up on cookies and milk tea for lunch. Now inside the little shack was a window that gave the view of the mountains and the noonday sunlight streamed through the opening. If you looked inside that shack you would find 7 exhausted sweaty hikers, a strange Nepal Tv playing some nepali drama, too many cookies and tea, and an abundance of laughter…..I was doing it. I was really living! It took my breath away. I felt alive for the first time! My every step had purpose.
Q: What has been the hardest struggle for you on the race?
A: Dying to myself! Absolutely nothing is about you and learning to lay yourself down. Dying to my comforts such as not having a bed, never being clean, never choosing what you eat and gaining 20 pounds because of it. To walk through leaving loved ones. To die to entitlement. No I am not entitled to Wi-Fi or information about where I am going. It’s a constant battle for me to lay myself down and remind myself the reason that I am overseas is not for me.
If you have more questions please message me or leave a comment and maybe soon I will do a part 2 for questions.
