This first month of ministry has been one for the books, thats for sure. Between manual labor, a nursing home, various church activities, a lot of smiling, and random adventures, life has been a whirlwind.
Trying to find a place to start, I’ve decided to begin where I am: my bed. Why? I’ve been sick since Sunday…and I think I am about to lose my mind.
Saturday morning we were told to wake up early and to be at the pastor’s house by 6am. When our ride still hadn’t arrived at 6:30, we caught a taxi and found ourselves there just shy of 6:45. We were handed six clues and sent on an adventure.
By 8AM we were starting our summit of Monte Christi. To spare you the details, this mountain looked easy, but was EXTREMELY deceptive. The mountains of Australia were a piece of CAKE in comparison. We had no clue of what was ahead, only that I hadn’t brought enough water. My teammates cheered me up the mountain, and eventually it was just my teammate Chance and I (I was struggling hardcore). They say that trials reveal your true character. The mountain revealed that I am a baby. A baby with a bad attitude. Unfortunately, I was only able to make it 90% of the way. We met up with the rest of our team and Chance and another teammate went back to the top so he could see the views, but I felt like an utter failure. At that point, I didn’t know the worst was about to come: going back down the mountain. The only way? Sliding.
Cue a pair of ripped shirts, bike shorts, and underwear…and an EXTREMELY skinned up, battered, and bruised rump. Oh, and the rest of me. Somehow I came out the worst of my teammates. I accredit it to the larger mass heading down the mountain…and for not working out like I said I would before the Race. OH WELL. What should have taken us 3 hours took us 6. And then I came home to discover that I was sick.
24 hours later, I found myself in an Ecuadorian hospital with an IV and antibiotics. Please, Lord, take this cup from me. BUT REALLY.
The last two days I have been on the mend, still sick and waiting to visit the doctor for my worst scrapes, but I am okay.
I’m learning that no matter the circumstances, I should cherish the moments. Moments like under the mango tree when I am playing cards with my teammates and my new friend Aaron at the nursing home. Moments with mangoes and new friends. Moments where my teammate Josh is ELATED to have just cut open his first coconut. Moments where my host sisters and I sing Taylor Swift in their car. So much of me wanted to write about ministry this month, and how much of an impact we are making. However, I am humbly learning that this month’s ministry is about being humble and about just being with people. It is about being present under the Mango tree with your new friend who hated your presence a week ago. Its about taking that 5 seconds to truly listen to what he was truly saying in the doorway…words like “You, you are so beautiful!” and moments where you have no clue what story they are telling, but your joy comes from the joy they have from sharing. Too often, I forget that a lot of Jesus’ ministry simply had to do with presence…and being who he was.
Today, I am feeling physically defeated. I am missing home, and looking for the purpose of sickness. Today. I am not the only one on my team, or squad for that matter, that is sick. Today, I am facing the reality that I will likely not get to properly say goodbye to my new friend due to my own doctor’s appointment. But today I am learning that these moments don’t take away from all the wonderful moments, silly faces, and laughs under the Mango tree. My presence isn’t my worth, just like what I do isn’t my worth.
Thank you for being a community I can be real with. Thank you for supporting this journey, for seeing my humanity, and laughing with me anyway. Jesus is good. My heart is to see him more and more on this race. I miss you all, and I would hate to miss out on this. From here & the mango tree, to you and wherever you are, be blessed.
