It’s happened. We were eleven days into the Race…and it happened. Almost my entire team, down for the count with stomach issues. Five of us woke up at random points early in the morning and found ourselves making a home in the bathroom. We spent the next 24 hours all curled up in bed next to each other, groaning like our stomachs were, but laughing all the same.
At one point, we thought it’d be a good idea to try to eat some dinner. I ate a bit and then promptly returned to our cave and saw my dinner for a second time. It wasn’t long before the other girls were back in the cave with me saying the same thing: Dinner was a bad choice.
It was miserable.
It made us homesick.
It made us feel like worthless bums, laying in bed all day.
But, it caused a shift.
Suddenly we weren’t just teammates, but family. Someone’s making sure we all have water, someone else is sharing their anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal meds, and someone else is taking the trike to the Mini Stop to find anything to help. We’re talking about home together and trying to do everything possible to bring the comforts of home to each other- whether it was with cans of Sprite and saltines or watching chick flicks.
We were a hot mess. Our bathroom was a hot mess. But none of it was too messy to stop us from being there for each other (or from cuddling in the same bed).
And that’s community. Walking through the mess and finding ways to celebrate. I’m so thankful to have spent 24 hours with the stupidest stomach bug (I’m blaming street food) with my team because they choose joy. We celebrated the fact that we were all sick together. We celebrated cooler breezes blowing through our windows, we celebrated real toilets, and we celebrated the blessing of a full size bed to cuddle on in our weakness.
One of my biggest concerns coming on the Race was getting sick. I hate being sick at home when my mom or roommate can take care of me, so I couldn’t imagine being sick in a foreign country. After the other day though – if I’m going to be sick, there’s no place I’d rather be sick than with these ladies.
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By the way, we all made it through. Praise Jesus! We spent quite a bit of time laying in bed together and taking turns running to the bathroom, but we lived. And as much as we hated being sick, we’re really glad it happened to us.
In other news, we’re getting ready to start our first debrief! We have no idea what that even means, but we're excited! Then on October 1st we’re jumping on a plane to Malaysia! My team will be paired with Jacob’s team, team Lovestruck in the northern corner of Malaysia teaching kindergarten classes, doing youth ministry, and more. So excited to get to know not only my team but team Lovestruck better this next month.
