This month is so different compared to last month. Last month we were living in the jungles’ of Cambodia with a Khmer family working with the local children to teach them English (Check out my “Day In The Life” video blog from last month:http://andreachvatal.theworldrace.org/?filename=day-in-the-life-cambodia). This month we are living in the city of Da Nang in Viet Nam with most modern comforts and working to help our Kentucky native hosts’ prepare for their church’s Christmas production. One month we have bugs and small animals crawling over us while we sleep, and this month we have air conditioning and cable in our hotel room. Every month on The Race is completely different, but exactly what each team needs at that moment. This month is our Training Camp 2.0.
Training Camp was a weeklong endeavor that all Racers must go through about two months before they launch onto the field. The AIM staff do their best to give you realistic situations that will help you when you get out into these other countries. From sleeping in a simulated “airport” scene, to eating small portions of foreign foods, to getting all of your belongs pickpocketed in a simulated busy market scene; they do it because they want to help you transition into this next season. Well, this month is turning into a similar feeling for my team and I. God is preparing us for going home.
The Wi-Fi, Facebook, TV, air conditioning, people speaking a language we can understand; all of the distractions you could think of. That is what we are walking into. From months of no Internet, running water, or beds, to all the comforts and communication we could want. He is preparing us for what the next season holds. It is exactly what I needed this month. This month really is our training camp 2.0: Getting back in the groove.
This month we are being given the opportunity to begin this transition back home. With the comforts all around us, we are able to begin walking through this transition with our community supporting us. People who will call us higher if we are getting sucked into social media scrolling, not spending time with The Lord, or getting our entitlement back. It is a balanced mesh of the last ten months colliding with what we can expect in the next few weeks. We are in an environment where we can work through the distractions to keep our priorities in check. It is giving us a chance to see how we can really do life like this when we come! And I am kinda loving it!
Ministry, family, friends, passions; how can it all fit together? And in a first world society? But it can! I am loving finding a new way to express my passions, and I am beginning to see all of the changes that have happen over this past year with many of the first world situations I have stumbled into. He is sparking new passions and refueling old ones. He is giving me visions of the future and I am excited to get there! I am excited for the next chapter!
This month is a refueling for me. I am re-acclimating to flushing toilet paper, taking regular showers, and being able to communicate clearly with others. It is exactly what He knew I would need before going home. I am less worried about the transition home now. He has given me an opportunity to work through the things I knew I needed to. I am so grateful for this experience. It has truly changed my life. But, I am happy to be seeing many of you in about a month’s time!! Cannot wait to hug you all and see you smiling faces! I am so excited to continue living my life for God with you all.
