Lately I’ve felt like I’ve been drowning… in a good way. I’ve been busy and exhausted with so much to think about and plan and do that I’ve felt so overwhelmed. And it’s been so good.
I love life on the race. Between banana roti stands, 60 cent boba thai tea, and 80 degree rooms at night, there’s so much to soak up and enjoy. Life will never be this way again. When I literally have no idea what to do or where to go, being in over my head, and yet having no choice but to press on – that’s the best.
This past month has been a blur as time has raced ahead. Ashley and I spent a week with a team working at an organization that does prevention work for high-risk children susceptible to trafficking. We spent the mornings and afternoons helping with construction for the new boys dorm, dinners were eating and visiting with one of the children’s homes, and the evenings were for helping to facilitate feedback.
After about a week I hopped on a 13 hour bus ride to visit another team helping a ministry that does prevention work as well. We poured concrete and dug holes on the property. Then we’d go to the market for dinner (sticky rice and pork on a stick. Yum!) and sit and talk about how left handed people kill their twin in the womb (but not really). 6 days later I’m in the hospital with a team leader for a girl who has had joint pain and nausea for a month. 2 days after that I’m on a 5 hour bus to Bangkok to catch a flight to Nepal for Z squad’s final debrief. For four days straight, I drink masala tea and have 1on1s with people, celebrating the last 11 months and the progress the Lord has made within them.
Turns out the day I leave Nepal my flight is delayed 12 hours (for some prime minister or something) and I end up on a red eye to Bangkok (with a layover in Kuala Lumpur. Gross) only to end up dashing to the bus station as fast as possible to catch an 11 hour bus to Chiang Mai. Just in time for Thanksgiving.
Sweet reprieve.
But it only lasts for a day as Friday through today (Monday) has been filled with preparation, vision casting, and teaching as the squad came together for what we like to call Leadership Development Weekend (LDW). We ended tonight as I taught on intimacy.
So like I said. Busy, drowning sort of way. But the only way that I’ve even made it is because of the Lord. My prayers have looked less like, ‘Dear Lord…’ and more like ‘Jesusssssss’ because I don’t know what to pray; I just know I need to.
Tomorrow we leave for Laos, aka that closed country. Pray for safety and wisdom in sharing the sweet love of Christ with the people of Laos.
