Back in Month 5 in Malawi, I was extremely sick. During those long, hot days of laying on my sleeping pad under my mosquito net in Africa, I read Love Does by Bob Goff.
Bob and the way he lived and continues to live out his life inspired me. I was so inspired in fact, that I wrote a message to each of my family members, and invited each of them to go on an adventure with me. It could be anywhere in the world, and we could do anything.
The irony was that after sending this message to my mom, she later responded (okay, demanded) me to come home. I was sick, she was worried, and it was just not an ideal situation. She sent me this whole long message of all the reasons why I should go home, but then in her last few lines she wrote, “Please pray on this and really think if it is worth it to put yourself through this much to just stay on the race. I love you and worry about you and I will be behind you in whatever decision you make.”
She was trying to shut the door on this season of my life, but left the door open just a crack. Up until this point my teammates and I in Malawi were joking around about going home, but when I read my mom’s message I knew without a shadow of a doubt I was meant to stay on the race. So of course I had to bust that door wide open, in a loving way, to my mom.
Fast forward a few weeks. I’m FaceTiming mom, all happy and healthy once again, and she mentions she just got her passport. I was overjoyed for her but was confused as to where this was headed.
Please note, in the meantime, my squadmates have been praying for my mom to attend Parent Vision Trip (PVT), and I’ve been praying for her too. It was a 1% chance she would attend, but I clung to the hope that she would. There was still a chance.
A few weeks later in Zambia, my mom confirmed that she was attending PVT in Thailand.
Are you kidding me?!
Fast forward to Month 9 in Thailand.
My mom flew halfway around the world–the first time out of the country for her, first time she got her passport stamped, and the first time ever going on a mission trip, so that she could see me.
That’s love people.
She came with the intention to see what God has been doing in my life, only to realize that He’s also writing her story as well, and He allowed her story to become intertwined with mine.
In Thailand of all places!
Thailand has a special significance for my family. You see, we have a family-owned business where we import leis from Thailand to Hawaii. All those purple orchard leis you see in movies, pictures, and whatnot? Odds are, they are from my daddy’s company. My dad created this company leading up to my mom getting pregnant with me, and this business has sustained us ever since. Ironically enough though, none of us have set foot on Thailand.
Until now.
I’ve had the privilege and honor to do bar ministry, slum ministry, chat with monks, go on prayer walks, and in essence, love on everyone with my mom by my side!
I’ve had the opportunity to have those deep talks, those kinda talks that cause both sides to cry/are awkward but are necessary to bring forth a healthy relationship, great laughs, crazy adventures, and get a glimpse of what coming home/back to America will look like.
PVT was a rollercoaster of emotions. It was crazy to have my mom here with me, but I’m so thankful she got to meet my family, see our interaction, and understand my perspective on life.
There are just some things you can’t truly explain. I can’t truly show you, as a reader, how unique our community is, and that though it’s messy and hard sometimes, we love each other through it all.
But my mom had the courage to step out of her comfort zone and go on the adventure of a lifetime.
With me.
And with God.
This experience made me realize how much my mom loves me. The lengths she would go to be with me.
But even more than that, I realized the depth of love that God has for my mom.
It’s infinitely more than I can give her.
I’m beyond thankful for our mother, daughter adventure, and I’m excited for my future adventures with her and the rest of my family members!
P.S. This whole experience made me realize how much I truly love every single person on J Squad. They are now my family and we have 11 weeks, yes 11 weeks, left to love each other well and love those whom we come in contact with. Please pray for us to finish strong and make the most of the time we have left together!
