So, I realize that it has been quite awhile since I’ve written a blog. I apologize for that! Life can certainly get hectic while on the Race, and sometimes it’s difficult to pull my thoughts together and inform you all about what is going on. So, since I have not blogged since Thailand (month 2), I will dedicate this blog to updating you all on what had been going on with month 3 and 4.
Month 3: Cambodia
It’s no secret that the Race is an incredibly difficult thing to be called by God to do. Month 1 and 2 were quite the struggle for me, with moments where I found myself sitting alone on a staircase and sobbing because all I wanted to do was go home. I missed my mom and dad. I missed my brother and sister. I especially missed my nieces and nephews. By month 2, I was already over the Race and wanted nothing more than to leave. Month 2 in Thailand was hard and seemed to drag on forever, but something amazing happened as we entered into Cambodia and were beginning month 3 of the Race: a strange peace came over me, and I finally felt okay with being on the World Race. This may sound silly. You may think, “wow, she chose to go on the Race. She knew what she was getting herself into. How could she not be fine with being on it?” Trust me, there are several people who feel called to go on the Race and have absolutely no idea why. I was one of those people. I still do not understand or know my full purpose for being on the Race, but I finally felt content by the time we made it to Cambodia. What made this significant heart change interesting was the fact that this was going to be a month where we were “roughing it”. We had been blessed by staying in hostels with showers and beds for the first 2 months, but this was not the case with month 3. Cambodia was hot, very hot. And as team AbandoNment entered into the small village church (without air conditioning) where we would be sleeping on the floor, saw the “bathroom” that consisted of a squatty potty and buckets for showering, I thought: “this okay. I’m okay. I’m okay with being on the World Race”.
It’s amazing how much easier it is to struggle through the World Race when your perspective changes and you are actually fine with being on it. I loved Cambodia. I now wouldn’t necessarily say it was my favorite month, but at the time it was better than the Philippines and Thailand. Ministry in Cambodia was slow, however. We worked with village pastor (who took great care of us, I loved him!), doing door to door ministry in the morning, and teaching English to some of the village children in the afternoon. Our days consisted of door to door for maybe an hour, sitting in the heat of the church with red Cambodian dirt caked on us, trying to pass the time for several hours, breaking the team up to teach 2 different English classes (an hour each) going to sleep, then waking up and doing it all over again. Life and ministry was slow in Cambodia, but by no means unfruitful. Everyday, we prayed for the same people in our door to door ministry, and actually saw progress. One sweet woman had trouble walking because of the pain in her knees, but through the help of Darlene, who has a background in physical therapy, and prayer for God to give her strength, her knees were less pained by the end and walking became much easier for her. One sweet older man had had surgery on his stomach 3 times in the past 3 months. Through the language barrier, we never quite understood why he needed the surgery, but prayed for him nonetheless. By the end of the month, his surgery scar was healing, he was able to get up and walk around, and more importantly, was healthy enough to return to church (which was his wish). It doesn’t matter that we had a lot of downtime in Cambodia, I think God still used us to encourage the people there, and It became the month where I finally realized that it was okay for me to be on the Race.
Month 4: Vietnam
I LOVED VIETNAM. By far, my favorite Asian country we visited on the Race. We were in Da Nang, a beautiful city on the coast. We also stayed in a hotel room with air conditioning and hot showers. No complaints there! Not only was living significantly easier than in Cambodia, we also worked with an amazing organization that gave us different things to do day to day. Our work consisted of many things, such as: painting murals on a wall outside of an orphanage, teaching orphans how to swim on the weekend, going to a baby orphanage and holding and feeding them, playing games with the children at another orphanage, sitting with sweet older ladies at an elder home, picking peanuts, or even hanging out and homeschooling our contact’s daughters (shout out to Jillian, Elizabeth, Anna Mai, Faith and Joy! Miss you guys!!) We had a lot to do there, but it was by no means overwhelming. I loved the country. I loved the work. Vietnam has been my favorite Race country and work. But, unfortunately, it was our shortest month of work. At only 2 and a half weeks of ministry, it was my last month with my first World Race team: Team AbandoNment.
After 2 and a half weeks of ministry, we left Da Nang and travelled to another city in Vietnam for our month 4 debrief with the squad. What happened at this debrief was some much needed relaxation, team debriefs, and team changes. I have to admit that I was scared to death about team changes. Team AbandoNment was filled with girls who loved me, understood me, and constantly challenged me to grow. God knew what He was doing when He placed the 6 of us together, and I honestly believe that I would not have grown as much had I not served and lived with these amazing ladies who became my best friends and family.
It’s a new season on the Race. We are in a new country, a new continent, with new teams, and approaching the halfway mark of the Race. With this, I would like to announce my new team on the Race, Team Avengers: Dani Arlinghaus, Isaac Coltrain, Jess Jenkinson, Laura Baumback, Rick Brown, and Tabitha Waco! If you would like to meet them, click on the left side of my blog where it says “Meet My Team: Avengers”. They are an amazing group of people, and I’ve loved starting off the new season of the Race in Africa with them!
I also have a small favor to ask of all you following me on my journey. I am currently at around $13,121. To be fully funded by July 1st, I need to hit $16,250. I am so close! So, if you feel led to help support me I would greatly appreciate it! With support for the Race, every little bit helps! Keep looking out for more updates! I’ll try to have an update on life in Malawi in the next week or so!
