Today marks the halfway point of our race and so here's a bunch of random thoughts to reflect on our first half!
Coolest moments (in order of country):
1. Healing a man through prayer in Uganda
2. Getting our Rwandan names by dancing in front of the elders at the church
3. Connecting with the kids in Kenya
4. Visiting the Taj Mahal and getting to celebrate Christmas in India
5. Paragliding in the Himalayas (Nepal)
6. Playing soccer with the kids in Cambodia
7. Meeting all of the incredible people
Countries I've preached in:
3: Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya
Things I wish I had brought:
-more deodorant (the two places I've seen brands we are used to have been Kenya and Cambodia)
– a pocket shower: yes they're silly, yes it's unnecessary and showers have been available outside of Africa but it's a lot easier than washing your hair with a bucket and helps not waste a ton of water. So not at all necessary… But nice.
Things I didn't actually need to bring:
-two pack towels (I accidentally forgot both of them and you can find sarongs everywhere that are smaller, easier to pack, don't smell, and dry quickly)
-two Nalgenes: one is super useful but bringing a spare was unnecessary. It's a great waterproof case but bulky and while you can't necessarily find a Nalgene elsewhere, you can find water bottles pretty much anywhere.
Most impressive thing we've seen on a moto(rcycle):
-The driver, the passenger and two live sheep.
Cheapest meal on the race: 80 cents in India for a big plate of chicken fried noodle off the street. We ate this pretty much everyday. Technically Nepal wins on the days that we ate 12-14 cent ramen noodle packs, but they weren't very filling.
Most expensive meal: probably Heaven in Rwanda, about $15 for a really really good steak.
Months using a bucket shower and squatty potty:
Two (although we've used squatties when we're out and about in all of the countries)
Things I'd love from America (other than the obvious family and friends)
1. A cold Dr. Pepper
2. Chickfila (number one with buffalo sauce, ranch, and extra pickles)
3. A pair of Teva flip flops (I brought a pair on the race and they're pretty much already done and apparently cloth flip flops aren't a thing anywhere I've seen so far…)
Things I now appreciate more about America:
-Having a personal bubble; whether it's on a bus, in a shop, or having my very own room… Personal space is not a thing most of where we've traveled, and certainly not valued as much as in America
-The unhelpfulness of people. Don't get me wrong, I love Americans and think they're generally friendly. I really like that I can walk into a store without them standing right next to me while I look around (Cambodia), that they'll tell me they're out of something instead of insisting I take the close enough (India), and that I can walk outside without being asked if I need a ride every time one passes (pretty much everywhere).
-Not getting special treatment or standing out.
Things I will miss about the race:
-community living: I have a love/hate relationship with this one. On one hand, I like my private space and quiet, but on the other hand it is pretty nice to have a group of people who do life with you and to almost always be able to find someone to adventure with.
-coffee stands and street vendors: cheap food and drink almost everywhere. It takes a bit to figure out which ones are safe but it's a great concept and I don't really understand why America doesn't have anything similar. I guess we have food trucks, but those aren't cheap or common.
-sugar cane: it's so very good
-incredibly fresh fruits and vegetables: this has varied from month to month but some months there have been tons and since they're usually local they are usually very good.
Modes of transportation:
-tuk tuks (motorcycles with some sort of attachment to carry around passengers)
-autos/motos/border borders (motorcycles)
-vans (packed to the hilt)
-cars (rarely)
-buses
-planes
-camel (once so far, at the Taj Mahal)
Body parts we've had to cover to be appropriate for ministry:
-Ankles
-Knees
-Armpits
Countries visited:
-Uganda
-Rwanda
-Kenya
-India
-Nepal
-Cambodia
Countries left:
-Thailand
-Malaysia
-Guatemala
-Nicaragua
-Honduras
Teams:
Kingdom217: September-December
Amala: January-present
Hope you enjoyed my halfway glimpse!
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