There are days when I am overcome with fear. Fear that I will walk away from these 11 months and not have changed. The Lord has been revealing a few of the things (some more silly than others) that I have learned thus far on the race as a reminder that I am right where I need to be and that He is changing me in so many areas of my life.
Things I have learned on the race:
-How to make chapatis (Kenyan tortillas), chicken noodle soup, and homemade bread over an open fire.
-Healthy community is hard.
-Toilet paper is a hot commodity.
-How to wash clothes by hand with a bar of soap.
-My interaction with other people i.e. ministry hosts, my team, random strangers is out of an overflow of my relationship with Jesus.
-Earplugs are my best friend.
-You don’t need to speak the same language to share a smile or high five with someone.
-How to brush my teeth with a stick.
-Life goes on without scrolling through social media.
-The American church is desperate for unity.
-Patience (in progress)
-Enjoy the little things.
-Talking to the ginormous spiders/millipedes in the bathroom helps them seem less scary.
-Kids love to be seen.
-The dark spiritual realm is real.
-Coke is literally everywhere around the world.
-How to drink water with “things” floating in it.
-That God is a good Father who gives good gifts.
-A trip to the doctor is an all day affair.
-Being ok with being ok.
-How much I miss my mom’s chicken casserole.
-Finding time to spend with the Lord is extremely difficult on the race. But well worth the fight.
-That I can endure 24-hour bus rides.
-How to love people even when I don’t like them.
-Self control (in progress)
-Swimming in a lake counts as bathing.
-How to live in close quarters with just about anyone.
-Cultural awareness is important.
-How to effectively live out of a backpack.
-Being ok with not being ok.
-How to eat my food in the dark. (because when I turn on my headlamp, I get a spoon full of bugs)
That this 11 month journey is the hardest thing I have ever done, but the lessons taught in only 3 months are shaping me into the woman of God I was created to be. …and for that I am grateful. I can’t wait to see what the remaining 8 months have in store.
xx
Ali
