Today marks 50 days since I left Warner Robins. 50 days since I’ve last seen my family and friends. 50 days that I’ve been living an independent(ish) life. 50 days of the WorldRace!
Soooooo here’s 50 things I’ve learned during those 50 days!
1. I can do hard things.
2. Haiti is hot as Haiti
3. Ladies who hand wash clothes can get stuff real white.
4. The ladies will even use bleach on your colored clothes. :,))
5. Kids in other countries swim naked 99% of the time #noshame
6. Bugs really do like certain blood types… shoutout to my pals that have 40+ bites and those of us who have none 🙂
7. I now respond to the names “gringo” and blancs”
8. AC is a blessing and very rare to come by
9. You can get super super close to a group of people when you don’t leave their side for 50 days straight
10. Buddy rules apply everywhere and every minute
11. Spending time with the Lord doesn’t just happen miraculously. You have to be intentional!!
12. Parents are so lenient in other countries. Kids will run out of their houses and walk with us random Americans for miles without any concern for their parents.
13. Haitian choir is a big deal and us mediocre Americans just don’t make the cut most of the time.
14. Eating American food after 48 days of not eating it will make you very sick.
15. Dehydrating for travel days isn’t a smart move and you will end up sick.
16. “God’s grace is as big as the ocean there’s enough grace for me and for other people because the ocean is just that big!” -Aubrey Webster
17. How to make popcorn on the stovetop!
18. Street markets are very scary and intimidating to walk through (and smelly)
19. Packing a bus with all our people and our 9 months worth of stuff is very cramped, but we make it work 🙂
20. Sex trafficking is very real and very scary! A huge reality in the countries I’ve visited so far and it breaks my heart.
21. You can eat endless amounts of rice and beans
22. Kids always want to be carried
23. That I wish I would’ve memorized more VBS songs growing up
24. Hurricanes under a tin roof are way more intimidating
25. You can get hand foot mouth disease very easily when you hang out with kids all the time
26. “I can go 2 months without a normal poop!” – Lillabea Cochran
27. Prank wars will have you sitting on the edge of your seat 24/7
28. “What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.” – Kelsey Pope
29. You can build amazing relationships with complete strangers in a matter of days. And leaving them after a month is incredibly hard to do.
30. Host family kids have a way to my heart
31. I’m the most clumsy person in all of Haiti. Literally trip over rocks at least 10 times a day
32. Rest is necessary. The realization that I am human and need a break for rest once a week was very real and really needed.
33. Poverty is everywhere and while I personally cannot resolve the issue of poverty in the world I can bring people the gospel which offers so much more than anything this world can offer!
34. Kids learn English in schools here by the teachers opening the day saying “good morning class” so that’s all the kids know to say to us. No matter the time of day.
35. Generators are a gift from God
36. So are the fans that are powered by the generator at night
37. Water bottles start to smell funny after a month of never being washed
38. “Constipation and diarrhea are both real things that happen on the Race within the first month.” – Kaylee Stephens
39. Girls shamelessly talk about bodily functions here :,) *still grossed out*
40. I’ve learned how much I love the south and all its glory. Wow. Life in the south is a dream.
41. “I’ve learned that the people here value the power of prayer way more than Americans do, and they are unashamed of it!” – Ashley Kirchoff
42. “Also that putting sugar on everything I eat makes it 100X better” -AK
43. “I’ve learned to love black coffee” – everyone
44. How to make to-go boxes out of napkins, cups, and hair-ties… apparently to-go boxes aren’t a thing here?
45. Live without wifi
46. Speak fluent Spanish and Creole. What else did you expect?!
47. Missing home is hard but just makes the times when I can call home even sweeter.
48. I can’t escape bugs, moths, lizards, etc. They are everywhere
49. I should have packed lighter
50. God is good.
Thanks for reading and getting me here to learn these things and serve others and I’m V thankful for all of my supporters, y’all are the real MVPs. Btw still fundraising, in need of $1,000!
Love Em :))
