We have been in Africa for almost a week now and it is SO different from Asia! Here’s a recap of what we did in each country and 11 of my favorite memories from our six months in Asia. (Sorry for any typos…I typed this on my phone on our bus ride today)
India
At this point, I was still on Team Joyous Light. We spent April in Bangalore, India working with YWAM. We did a lot of different things including slum ministry, speaking at a university, VBS, and praying over the city. We did not do ministry the last week due to the accident that sent four squad mates to the hospital, one with a severed spinal cord.
1. We helped at a Vacation Bible School for a week and it was quite possibly my favorite single week of ministry on the entire race.
Nepal
We were scheduled to arrive in Nepal on April 27 but when the earthquake happened on the 25th, we delayed a few days but still decided to go to Kathmandu and help with relief efforts. Month 5 was my first month as team leader and with Team Full Force.
2. This might seem strange but one of my favorite memories was experiencing the second major earthquake on May 12. We were up in a village on the side of the mountain and the ground started moving beneath our feet. It was the most incredible thing (and quite terrifying as well) I have ever experienced. I felt the power of Almighty God to the point where I could not stand. Experiencing the quake also gave us so many awesome opportunities to share our faith. We could relate to the people and offer them hope in Jesus!
3. Flying over Mount Everest is one of my favorite memories from the race. I was in tears as I visually saw God’s majesty and felt his love.
Malaysia
Malaysia was such a crazy but awesome month! We worked at Desa Amal Jireh, a home for under privileged kids. We stayed busy from 8 am to 8 or 9 pm everyday with about two hours in between for team time. We did anything and everything in between from gardening and cutting vegetables to sorting store rooms full of clothes and teaching sex-ed.
4. The people at DAJ are for sure my favorite memory from month six. If I could go back to one particular ministry from this year, it would be DAJ. The kids and staff hold a special place in my heart and I love reminiscing on all the fun and hilarious times we had as a team there.
5. Zach, Jennifer, and I took a two day trip to Singapore during our time in Malaysia. It is a beautiful city and it was a blast trying to see everything in two days.
Thailand
Month 7 of 11 (there were lots of Seven-Elevens in Thailand), Team Full Force worked at Bankai School in Mae Ai, Thailand. We all became English teachers for the month and taught Pre-K through 9th grade at a Buddhist school.
6. I rode an elephant and pet tigers all in the same day!!! It was definitely one of my favorite off day memories from Asia.
7. My parents came and spent a week with me and half of P-Squad and their parents at the end of July. It was so much fun getting to hang out with my parents in Thailand and also do bar and slum ministry with them.
Cambodia
Cambodia was the only country on our route that I had been to before. And I fell in love (again) with the Cambodian people and culture. We worked with Cambodian Ministries for Christ International in Siem Reap. We taught more English and Bible stories to kids at three “schools”.
8. I really loved our night English classes. Our students were older (between 16 and 19) and it was a conversation class. Teresa, our squad leader, took that opportunity and showed us how to teach English using the Bible and asking questions that gave us the opportunity to share the gospel.
9. During our debrief in Siem Reap, we visited Angkor Wat, the ancient temples of the Khmer Empire. They were beautiful and enormous!
Vietnam
Our ministry in Vietnam was Unsung Heroes which meant we spent the month looking for new contacts the World Race could potentially partner with. We spent time in Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Mui Ne, all in Southwest Vietnam. It was really cool to meet people in different places that are doing awesome work for the Kingdom, especially in a closed country.
10. In Can Tho, we went on a tour of the floating market. Most of the people live on the river and buy their products from farmers and then distribute to various buyers along the Mekong Delta. We also went on a surprise visit to a Python skin-drying “factory”. They had bags and bag of live pythons from the Python farm and then they would blow them up (like a balloon) and stomp on them so the skin would come off easier. They usually died during the stomping process. The skin was dried and sent off to be made into purses and boots. It was pretty cool.
11. One of my teammates generously gave the entire team the opportunity to go to a Vietnamese Cooking School. I learned to make Chicken Curry (SO GOOD), beef noodles, and Vietnamese spring rolls. It was a blast to do together as a team!
Now, I am in Malawi with my new team, Team ROAR! Internet is very limited but I will try and keep posting via Instagram and Facebook as much as possible! Thanks and much love!!
