Yesterday I was blown away by the hospitality of a local missionary here in Armenia. We met him at a church we visited on Sunday and he insisted that our entire squad have dinner with him. We met at his favorite pizza restaurant and he treated all 21 of us to the best pizza I’ve had on the race. As if that wasn’t enough, he invited us over to his house afterwards where he served us chocolate cake and icecream.
See if you can spot our Armenian friend
I was so blown away by his generosity. We all sat in his living room, me trying not to fall asleep on his ridiculously cozy couch, bellies bursting with pizza and cake. We talked for a long time, but one thing he said really stuck with me.
He mentioned how thankful he was to spend time with us. He said, “Let’s be honest, we probably won’t see each other again this side of heaven. But isn’t it beautiful that out of the 7 billion people here on this earth, God allowed us to meet and spend time together?”.
WOW. That is something I am very aware of on the World Race, but never say out-loud. It is so weird to live with a host family for a month and leave not knowing if I will ever see them again this side of heaven. I loved the Armenian missionary’s ability to just speak out the reality of the situation while giving thanks to God.
Over the past few days I’ve been thinking a lot about the people we get to spend time with on this Earth. One of my friends back in the States passed away suddenly a couple days ago, and it has been so hard realizing I will never talk to him again.
Justin, I sit here on the other side of the world in shock that you are gone. Just a few weeks ago I sent you a picture of power lines all jumbled up on a street in Nepal and asked you how it made you feel. You responded saying it gave you anxiety and I laughed (he worked as a power lineman).
The past few days have been a blur. Last night I sat in my bed for a long time unable to sleep, memories of you racing through my head.
Remember when we went sledding down that giant hill by your house?! I wish I could find the videos of us going off that ramp, shooting off into the sky, and exploding back onto the ground, crushing our tailbones. Oh my gosh we laughed so hard.
Remember when we were camping and you chipped your front tooth on the playground after I convinced you to play that dumb game, Ground, with me?
Right after you chipped your tooth…
Same spot a year later…after you fixed your tooth, forgave me, and vowed never to play any of my games ever again 😉
Thanks for letting me tag along on all the hunting and fishing adventures. Thanks for sharing your fruit snacks with me in the duck blind, and showing me how to cook squirrel meat.
Here’s a pic of me pretending to be one of the boyz.
Thanks for always being down to eat ice-cream, laugh at my stupid jokes, and find the steals and deals at the outlets.
Thanks for supporting me as I traveled overseas and writing me such an encouraging letter.
I remember talking about your future and your dream of building a house. I remember being crammed in the back of the van on our way to Mexico and driving you crazy. I remember yelling at you to get “9 more buckets of sand!” as you worked your butt off making cement while I stood on top of the dirt pile and barked orders.
I remember playing pool in your basement, arm wrestling, nights around the bonfire, countless games of cornhole, and how you fell asleep during every movie we ever watched. I remember when you showed me the deer in your garage that you had skinned and I almost puked.
I remember how excited I was every time I got to see you.
Justin, you always made me feel so welcomed and loved. You were fiercely loyal, one of the hardest working men I ever met, and you cared for people so incredibly well.
I miss you like crazy, Ole Chip, but I’m so thankful that out of the 7 billion people here on this earth, God allowed me to know YOU, this side of heaven.
