100 days ago, I was sitting in the Atlanta airport, giddy and expectant for the next 11 months.
100 days ago, I had never left the United States of America
100 days ago, I had a shiny new passport, ready to get its first stamp.
100 days ago, I put my phone on airplane mode and haven’t taken it off since.
100 days ago, I questioned why the heck I was doing this thing.
100 days ago, I watched land give way to ocean and a huge, eager, goofy grin took over my face and I started to giggle.
100 days ago, was the beginning of this crazy journey.
In the past 100 days:
-I have gotten into the habit of throwing away my toilet paper instead of flushing it
-I learned to love beans and rice, and actually look forward to eating them (look at me mom!)
-I have eaten more plantains than I count
-I have been swimming in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea for the first time.
-My Spanish has improved greatly, but also
-I have gotten used to not understanding most of the conversations taking place around me.
-I learned how to make pico de gallo, limeade, plantain chips, tortillas, and empanadas.
-I have lived with a sprained ankle
-Team Kintsugi has never been separated.
-I have fallen in love with the people in four different countries, and cried like a baby when I had to leave them.
-I have been homeless, but also
-I have called four new countries home.
Remember in elementary school how you would have a big celebration on the hundredth day of school? You would have sweets and make paper chains and play fun games all day? Well, our hundredth day didn’t look anything like that, but I don’t think it could’ve been any better than it was.
Our hundredth day looked like waking up to a rooster crowing at 6 AM and playing duck duck goose with precious kiddos. It looked like movie and nap time and learning how to make tortillas with our friend Victoria. It looked like a sweet note from my favorite little boy that said “Hello Yessi. I’am Eduar. I love moch”.
In the past 100 days I’ve had other days as great as this one. Days that I wish I could relive over and over again. Days so full of love and joy and laughter.
But I’ve also had days I wish I could change. Days where I was tired or annoyed, and all I wanted to do was lay in bed and watch Netflix and ignore everyone and everything around me. Days where I didn’t give ministry my all and days I didn’t love the people around me well.
My days on the Race are numbered, about 320 in all. That means I have 220 days left (look at my math degree coming in handy!). There are going to be incredibly fun and exciting days and there are going to be super hard and monotonous days. Not every day will be the best day ever, but I am super excited and expectant for what is to come from each one of these days.
These first 100 days are just the beginning. After the next 100 days, I’ll be in my 7th country, that is crazy.
–jb
