Here’s a list of the firsts I’ve experienced on the race thus far (and if I ever get good enough internet I’ll add pictures):
-Live in a treehouse in Cambodia for a month
-Teach children
-Attend the lantern festival in Thailand
-Realize that I’m funny and the Lord works through me to make others laugh
-Zipline through the Thai jungle
-Made friends that will last forever
-Been so homesick I’d give almost anything to hug my mom, much less my entire family and bundle of friends
-Ate a sauteed cockroach and maggot (if you’re curious it tasted like crunchy, mushy earth mmm)
-Fell off of a waterfall and broke a rib
-Preach!
-Danced and sang on a stage in front of an audience
-See such poverty
-Lived with so little and felt so alive
-Realized how incredibly stinkin blessed I am. I’ve grown up with loving parents, a shower, and an education! It’s too bad you really don’t realize this stuff until you see life through another’s eyes..outside of America (not necessarily)
-Gotten hundreds of mosquito bites and survived (i have scars to prove it) (I’m working on round two this month)
-Ride a motorcycle
-Washed my clothes by hand in a pale of already dirty water
-See the beautiful islands of Phuket, Thailand
-Ate so many fruits I’ve never heard of (mangosteins, kineps, bread fruit. Cambodia is the queen of unheard of fruit, it’s awesome)
-See the power of Satan
-Created family (within my team, with contacts, with other squadmates)
-Rode for hours in the bed of a truck. Glorious.
-Truly lived out the quote, “What’s mine is yours” with everyone around me
-Taken so many bucket showers and baby wipe showers
-Eat so many carbs
-Lived among so many bugs and felt normal
-Slept on a roof in the mountains of the Dominican Republic under the stars
-Sweat so much
-Climbed so many stairs in the Malaysian Jungle to get to a lighthouse with the most amazing views.
-Spent Christmas away from home
-Fell so in love with a community (DR)
-Lived through a hurricane
-Heard Gods voice so clearly
-Saw so many shooting stars (roof in Haiti)
-Laughed and cried more in these four and a half months then in my entire life
-Turned so many heads (walk anywhere and people are shocked to see a white person. Oh and you’re from America, gasp…can I take your picture)
-Eaten fresh honeycomb dipped in honey (for those unaware honeycomb freshly picked from a tree contains many many bee larva. Barf)
-Lived day by day with no expectations
-Had lice (false, haven’t had it yet but by the looks of these children I will at the end of this month. Bring on the mayonnaise)
-Went so long without a mirror
-Seen monkey’s in their natural habitat (can you say scary aggressive?)
-Discovered how to have alone time while being among many people (mad skillz)
-Been so thankful for the six friends I live with which is my team and family. They love like crazy. And they accept me just the way I am: goofy, annoying, and obnoxious at times 🙂 Thank you Lord!
-Been so thankful for my peeps back home. I miss you like crazy! SIX MONTHS until I get to hug you all!
