11 things I took for granted before I came on the World Race
The Ability to speak English – I never realized that every time I opened my mouth to speak a language that has come natural since birth, is a skill that people will do ANYTHING to learn. Knowing English gives you freedom in your life when you live in poverty. Knowing English opens doors of opportunity. Knowing English is a skill so cherished and so coveted across the globe. I'll never take for granted the natural ability that I have to communicate in a language people of all ages are so desperate learn.
Toilet Paper– I've been in Asia for 4 months, and the concept of throwing toilet paper in the toilet has become foreign. In every country I've been to so far I've had to put my used toilet paper in the trash. In a matter of one day with 6 people using the same trash can to put their toilet paper in, the stench can be nauseating. No toilet paper? No problem! Asia has hoses attached to their toilets (in the nicer bathrooms) that are used to spray your bum…… Sounds fun, right?
Beds – I haven't slept in a real bed in 4 months. My sleeping pad just inches from the ground has been my place of rest each night. The thought of a real bed at this point seems like HEAVEN. I think at this point if I saw a bed and knew that I got to sleep on it…… i'd run and jump and do a happy dance while jumping on the mattress. And the worst part? I've got a better place to sleep than most of the people I do ministry with each day. I don't sleep on concrete. I don't sleep on a piece of ply wood, and I don't share a bed with 4 of my other siblings. When you crawl into bed tonight give thanks to the Lord. When I finally get to sleep in my bed at home again, I'll never go another night in my life without thanking the Lord.
Dish Washer – I went through 4 years of college in dorm rooms and apartments without a dish washer. With roommates who ate all day long, we survived hand washing the dishes…………. with clean water and real soap. Washing my dishes in a bucket full of dirty lake water and a drop of soap is the reality most people around the world face……… including World Racers.
Internet – You know that unconscious addiction that we don't even realize that we have…….. the one that has us checking our phone while we drive, while we are sitting in class, while we are at work, or when we just checked our Facebook two minutes ago, but without thinking we check it again? yeah, that doesn't happen on the World Race. Finding internet is gold. FREE wifi is a GIFT. If you are a small hole in the wall indian restaurant in the streets of Malaysia with free wifi and cheap food, you can BET World Racers will be making that place their home. But don't get too excited…….. wifi is NEVER fast. Things take time…….. LOTS of time…….. patience is ALWAYS being practiced 🙂
Clean water – Don't worry. We always have clean water to drink from bottles. It's hardly EVER cold though. Warm water it is! But the rest of the time? The same water in that pond over there……….. yeah, same water we wash our clothes in, wash our dishes in, shower in, and cook with. If we are in a more urban area the water for daily use doesn't always come from a lake, however, water around the world is not what we so easily have access to in America. It's unreliable. Next time you turn on your faucet, say a prayer for your brothers and sisters in Christ across the world who don't get to do that……. ever.
Freedom to talk about Jesus whenever and where ever I wanted – The other day I was sitting in a coffee shop soaking up the wifi. The muslim waitress asked me where I was from. When I told her I was from America she didn't take another breath before she could tell me that I lived in a land with Freedom. When we were in China I asked my friend Harrison what the first thing he thought about when he thought of America. Expecting him to say, 'Hollywood, or New York City' I had to swallow the golf ball in my throat when he replied with 'freedom.' You can't talk about God around the world. You have to live a secret life in order to pray and worship Jesus himself. Next time you see your friend who doesn't believe in the Lord yet……. share the gospel with them, and radiate the love of the Lord………. because you CAN.
Privacy– Alone time is the best thing besides Jesus himself on the World Race. It's needed. It's cherished. But, It's RARE. You're almost never alone on the World Race. You sleep inches from your teammates. You eat 3 meals a day at the same table as your teammates (try finding enough conversation for THAT!) Sometimes alone time means sitting in the bathroom a few minutes longer, or putting in your headphones and closing your eyes to pretend like you are alone.
Warm Showers – I've taken ONE warm shower in the past 4 months. Enough said.
Air Conditioning – Basically, sweating every second of the day is an accurate statement. Gallons of sweat are produced on my body daily. Sometimes I can ring my hair out….. or my clothes. Need I say more? It's ATTRACTIVE, let me tell you 😉
Take out pizza – But really. I've eaten more rice in the last 4 months than I've eaten in my whole life. Tonight order a pizza, and then give the delivery guy a good tip and bless him…… because I said so;)
Bonus!! I lied. I have a #12. I guess I always took for granted having a bank account that had money in it coming in steady. (Who am I kidding? That was never a real thing.) But seriously….. living on an extreme budget on the World Race IS a real thing, and has humbled me to the core. Living off of 4 dollars a day to feed me is not easy.
Ok. One more… and then I'll be done. I took for granted having a closet full of clothes everyday to chose from. First of all, I had WAY more than I ever needed. Second of all, I looked presentable most of the time. (that might be a lie also) Basically, I've worn the same couple outfits for the past 4 months now. Buying a $2 shirt at the market is a BIG deal. It's NEW!
Feeling bad for me? Don't be silly. I'm living the LIFE! I'm facing challenges every single day, I'm falling more in love with the Lord each and every day while traveling to some of the most beautiful places in the world, I'm meeting his children that he created and making them apart of my family, I'm making the best friends I ever had, and walking through pain that's bringing me more freedom than I've ever experienced……… all because I abandoned everyday day luxuries and a lifestyle that wasn't filling me with the Lord. Now THAT'S what I'm talkin about.
Count your blessings today. Now go, and SHARE them!
