Some of you may know that this month my team and I are working in an orphanage. I know you must be thinking that we are working with kids all day long right? Well you would be wrong, we were all wrong. My team and I were all expecting the same thing, but when we showed up on our first day we were very wrong. We were greeted by not kids, but two adults telling us we were going to be doing work around the orphanage while the kids were at school. We were handed gloves and sickles, then put to work weeding around passionfruit and pineapple plants. Even though cutting dead banana branches down in the rain was not what we were expecting we made the best of the work. We got muddy and sweaty but enjoyed the work.
Later that day in team time we were debriefing our day talking about what we thought of how our day went. We talked about what we were expecting from the day and what really happened. We didn’t get what we were expecting but we had a good day anyways. That realization helped us look forward to the next day, knowing that what we were doing was helping the kids. We also found out we got to see the kids on Saturdays, that was a great reward for our full week of hard work.
I realized then that I had come into the Race with a lot of expectations that I didn’t even realize I had. I still can’t tell you what those expectations are, which I know doesn’t make any sense but it is true. I just know I have found myself saying “that’s not what I was expecting.” I really did think I was starting this journey with no expectations but alas, here I am. I’m not saying I’m disappointed or unhappy it’s just different and better then I could have expected.
As a team we have decided that our new motto is “no expectations.” We didn’t expect to be mixing and pouring concrete in the blazing Thailand sun. We didn’t expect to be weeding a garden and be cleaning out around fish ponds or to be mixing and pouring concrete again. We didn’t expect to be cutting down palm trees, but we’ve discovered that the stuff you don’t expect can be the most rewarding. We have grown so much closer over the past week working together, sweating together and laughing together. We love where were we are even with how hard it is.
We are so thankful for our ministry and for our ministry host and how we are able to help him take care of the orphanage. I am so incredibly grateful for all the people that believed in me and in Gods plan for my life. I am so thankful for all the support and donations I have received, it means more to me then you could ever know.
Also my birthday is coming up in November and the greatest birthday gift I could receive would be to be fully funded by my birthday! We are co close, only $1473 left! It is so crazy to think that only nine short months ago I was just starting this journey and here I am in Thailand almost fully funded! Thank you for anything you are able to give and for taking the time to read my blog!
Love Iz <3
