There are a lot of things that are hard on the Race. It’s usually the simple things in life that just get harder in the places we go. But normally right on the tail end of me wallowing over a “hard” experience, the Lord is quick to show me my “hard” really isn’t so bad after all. Here are a few examples.
When you… have to go to the bathroom. This is a whole big ordeal. Let’s just make this example in the middle of the night, for kicks. Say you’re tucked away in your sleeping bag, virtually with no clothes on because everyone knows you actually stay warmer with less on because of how sleeping bags reflect your body heat. Then all of a sudden you have the immediate and urgent need to go to the bathroom. So you zip out of your sleeping bag (instantly freezing; remember, no clothes on), zip out of your tent, get to the door that becomes impossible to open in the middle of the night, throw on a pair of shoes, dash to the nearby squatty potty (praying not to get attacked by jackals), do your business, pump water at the well into a bucket, flush your business, wash your hands at the well (tricker than it sounds), sprint back inside hopefully covered by the dark of night, and get back into your tent and sleeping bag. It takes time people! And it’s up there on the list of one of my least favorite things on the Race.
But then, the Lord speaks by… showing you the 6 year old boy that lives next door, struggling to pump any water because his measly 45 lbs isn’t enough gravitational weight to pull the pump so that he can fill up his bucket to flush his business. Ok Lord. This isn’t so bad.
(our beautiful squatty potty AND shower)
When you… end up in a freezing cold country when you were planning on being in summer all year long. Aka Nepal in February. Yes, I’m a Minnesotan and yes I have become a wimp and hate the cold. But I was not prepared for this! I have one pair of wool socks, a sweatshirt, a pair of jeans, and that is about it for keeping that cold morning air off of my already shivering body. I am cold constantly in this country and not for lack of trying (I am fully participating in our squad challenge: No Shave Nepal). Despite it getting up to about 70 degrees during the day, the instant that sun drops out of the sky, you better not think twice about grabbing your wool hat and bringing it to dinner because it will be frigid by the time the rice hits the table.
But then, the Lord speaks by… showing you dozens of kids that show up for school every morning without any socks on their feet and sometimes far fewer layers than you have on. And you’re reminded of just how blessed you are to have that one pair of pants that go to your ankles and the long skirt you’re saving for Africa because it appears to be a lot more than most these people have.
When you… only have electricity for about 7 hours a day, normally during the middle of the night. This is particularly difficult in the role of “Field Producer”, essentially our team’s cameraman since we’re a part of this little thing called a documentary. For the latest info check out here: http://updates.adventures.org/?filename=a-reality-tv-show-of-the-world-race-why-not1. Electric cuts make it virtually impossible to do the ABC’s of camera work (“Always Be Charging”) and then I inevitably run out of batteries when a really awesome moment happens (like Jesus healing teammate Victoria’s ankle) and resort to my good ole handy dandy (ghetto) iPhone. It’s tough people. And then the electric comes on and we get connected to wifi and the connection is so slow it’s almost not even worth having it. It’s a tease.
But then, the Lord speaks by… the sound of the next door neighbors praising the Lord late at night while you use the precious few hours of electricity and wifi to do social media. And He reminds me of all of the incredible testimonies of faith by actual persecuted believers in Nepal. Imprisonments. Church bombings. Families abandoning Christian converts. The list goes on. And He renews my faith by reminding me of actual trials and tribulations Jesus followers face because of their belief in Him.
The Race is hard. It’s not always what my Instagram feed chalks it up to be. But it is so worth it. And for every struggle and difficult moment, Jesus always shows me His grace, His mercy, and His promise to never leave me nor forsake me.
Forever His,
Grace
