Today marks 11 days until I complete this 11 month journey overseas.
11 days. WHAT IS LIFE?!?
This year has been a crazy, exhilarating, adventurous, and life-altering roller coaster ride.
When thinking about all that has taken place in this year, a huge smile takes over my freckled face, tears start streaming down, and laughter ensues. The same occurs when looking through photos from each month.
I don’t journal as much as I would like too, and I really don’t blog as much as I should, but one thing I do is take TONS of videos and even more photos. Like a plethora of pictures… yep, plethora.
So, in honor of these last 11 days, here are 11 memories that stick out from each month of the journey.
AHHHHH, okay, here we go…
(cue soft melodic music playing in the background to set the mood… )
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Throwback to wandering the streets of Podgorica, Montenegro and making friends with anyone who would say more than two words to us. On Sundays we would visit a Kosovo refugee camp and attend church with that community. We befriended the most precious kids who danced around with pure joy and energy. These cuties spent hours chasing us around and braiding our hair in the most interesting and inventive ways.
Month two we worked directly with Syrian refugees escaping their home countries to find Asylum in Europe in the middle of the refugee crisis of 2015 in Greece. I remember holding crying, soaking wet babies just to provide warmth. We handed out dry clothes to thousands of shivering refugees who most of which had been fully immersed in the Aegean Sea while trying to cross from Turkey on not-so reliable rafts.
In Macedonia, we squished as many people we could in the back trunk of our hosts van to get around. Little did we know, we were just practicing for Africa.
In South Africa I fell in love with dozens of cute little African babies, who still to this day, have my heart.
In January we went in to public schools all around the city of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe and hosted bible studies, taught the bible, and shared our stories to students apart of Scripture Union.
Some of the most fun memories of the race involve teaching 25 of the cutest preschoolers you will ever see in the middle of a valley in Lesotho.
I remember preparing to share my testimony in front of hundreds of people in the Philippines. I was unsure of how my story could help impact anyone in that crowd, but I watched as more than 35 people came to know Christ that night after my squad ministered the Gospel to them. What a great night.
Month 8 in Malaysia was Unsung Heroes month, this means we travelled around A LOT. I felt like a true backpacker that month.
The day I got to play with elephants with my parents after serving with them in ministry for a week in Thailand was one really fantastic day.
On our last day in Cambodia, we got to spontaneously be involved with giving free eye exams and prescription reading glasses to the elderly. That day brought the most joy my heart had felt all month. Seeing the smiles and tears of joy from the eyes that could now see what was in front of them clearly, was a memory that is forever ingrained in my mind, something I’ll never forget.
Kids camps in Vietnam are full of fun, crazy, overly-energetic children who run around popping balloons and running quickly away as I chase them back to the area they’re supposed to be in. Sometimes you just gotta dance it out and choose to embrace the chaos of it all.
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These are just 11 memories. Only 11 out of 11 million moments that have impacted me greatly.
I’m going to miss these moments, these people, and this journey.
But the best part of it all?
I GET TO DO IT AGAIN!
In case you missed the announcement, I’m going back out on the field and leading a new squad in October! This means NEW adventures, NEW experiences, and NEW memories to be made.
IM SO PUMPED.
As I get ready to say goodbye to this Race and start a new one, I need support to help me get there.
If you would like to help me pour into the lives of new Racers as they embark on a journey like mine, you can click the “Support Me!” link above or to the left of this post.
GUYS. Just 11 Days….
What an adventure.
