So Day 6 was like the Arctic. So so cold! It was 55 degrees when we left in the morning and didn’t get much warmer as the day went on. Then the wind picked up. It became like negative 32. When you have only had one month of winter in the past 14 months, this is ridiculously cold. My fingers started to go numb, my feet hurt and I couldn’t feel my ears… It. Was. So. Cold. Because of this I really didn’t take any pictures today. Too cold. Couldn’t do it.
I did have some very good conversations with Brooke about what it looks like to go home. Setting up boundaries on how we, and other people, will use our time. Setting a goal for what it will look like when we are home. Praying into and planning what our reaction to particular things will be. What friendships are good at home and which ones are no longer healthy for us. It was really good to walk, talk, and pray through those things.
Once we got into town, we huddled in a coffee shop in all the clothes we had in our packs until the Aburgue opened at 1:30. It has one huge room in it that has 100 beds. It’s pretty impressive, and the people are super welcoming!
After moving in, we went to the grocery store and met a lady who talked to us a long time about the Camino and all about the town. She then showed us around town… Kinda… We think she had Alzheimer’s because she kept giving us the same info and we made a circle around the city and didn’t see anything new. It was hilarious, and we enjoyed her company, so we followed her around. She enjoyed us too I think.
When we got back, we hung out with a friend of ours from NY who is in her 50’s. She is trying to find her way in Christianity again which has been cool to witness and pour into. She is a hoot.
Lastly, today I processed Zambia. Such a good month. That was the month that I broke my toe when we were supposed to be doing door to door ministry – aka a lot of walking. I got frustrated by not being able to go to what I thought was Ministry. God gave me a huge heart change and showed me that Ministry is where you are, not where you’re going. It’s a now and where you are kind of thing. It’s also what He wants it to be not what I want it to be. I ended up becoming EXTREMELY close to the long-term missionary family and a lady from the Netherlands, Sharon, that month. Shew, so much life from those people. I poured into them and let them pour into me. That was incredible!
Zambia was also the month that I learned that they celebrate special occasions with popcorn as one of the dishes for dinner. I will forever make this part of my celebration activities. It is genius!
Tomorrow is supposed to be just as cold if not colder, so I am going to drink lots of water and call it a night. I am excited to process Malawi tomorrow. It was one of my favorite, but also harder, months. Please pray that we don’t freeze.
Until Tomorrow,
Elise
