A couple weeks ago I posted a blog about things I miss about home and things I’m thankful I’ll be returning to in just a few short weeks. In writing it I felt convicted to share the beautiful things about my present life and things I am sure to be missing once this trip is over. So, here is a scattered list of things that make up my currently wonderful, challenging, vagrant missionary lifestyle that I wish I didn’t have to say goodbye to so soon.
1. I’m just more thankful in general. The power didn’t go out and we can cook dinner! The ATM works! The store sells peanut butter! There is frequent celebration over little victories: finding wifi, being able to to drink tap water, having a bed, finding an IPA beer (this is incredibly rare and receives audible celebration and applause when it happens)
2. The accomplishment of cooking a good meal for 7+ people on a tight budget with lots of unfamiliar ingredients and limited resources
3. All the loving physical touch I get from my teammates. Don’t really know how I’m going to survive without it TBH
4. My many excuses to shower a lot less
5. Trying coffee in new places
6. Not having to worry about figuring out what I’m wearing. The options are few
7. Being surrounded by girls. I love roommates.
8. Sharing a room. I love bunk mates (shoutout to my current bunk mate Jaclyn and former OG bunkmate Chelsey Sobel)
9. Living in Christian community. There is always always someone available to pray with me, discuss the Bible, ask hard questions to, and be loved by. Absolute favorite part of the race
10. Having one common goal of ministry. There’s no where else I need to be. No excuses for me to not be participating, no worries about needing to be somewhere else, because I’m where I need to be.
11. Living abroad and constantly learning new customs, cultures, and languages.
12. humbled by communication barriers and differences in customs
13. My squad
14. Every few months we get a few days to rest and process and meet with our full leadership team. Debriefs are a time of rest, processing and fellowship. I get to see all my friends who are on different teams. Debriefs are restful and helpful. I wish debriefs were a thing in real life. Maybe that’s what the weekends are for?
15. Not wearing makeup. I never wore much before, but I love how my normal is now a face with nothing but sunscreen. And I hope I don’t lose that or forget I’m beautiful without it.
16 Walking. We walk a lot. Right now we literally hike to ministry and getting those steps in isn’t too difficult.
17. Meeting so many new people. I am continually surprised by how many awesome people God has created.
18. Having the freedom to follow God wherever he tells me to go. Though I guess I never lose that freedom, it’s just easier to be obedient when it’s your full time job.
19. Singing with my friends.
20. Movie nights (though they are few and far between)
21. Living with a lot of my closest friends
22. Functioning and mostly thriving without internet access in my down time
23. Local markets. Cheap fruits and vegetables EVERYWHERE !!!
24. My sleeping bag. I love my sleeping bag.
25. Alli’s guitar. I might need to get my own.
26. Being surrounded by people who love God, love people, and challenge me to love better everyday
27. Feedback
28. Being able to easily prioritize my time in the Bible each morning
29. The cutest kids you ever did see
30. Dance parties with those cute kids
31. Never being far from a nurse or nurse practitioner (thanks Brit and Jac for constantly examining throats and questionable bug bites)
32. Not worrying about singleness, dating or marriage
33. Finding out new things about myself and what I enjoy doing by being thrown into new situations and tasks
34. Not having to deal with my car and everything that entails
—> Austin traffic and construction !!
35. Hospitality in foreign countries. They do it right.
36. Home visits. Can I bring this back to the states?
37. Being interruptible. This is something I need to not forget about when I come home. The person standing in front of me deserves my attention more than my phone does
38. My pro-level of resource efficiency: cold 4-minute showers with one item: shampoo bar
39. How healthy my hair is without heat or highlighting
40. No pressure to shave ~
41. Having little to no sugar regret
42. Always having someone to braid my hair
43. Sleeping next to JACLYN
44. Food. If you need dish recommendations for any of the countries I’ve been to HMU
45. Saying things only people on the world race would understand. “Same same but different.” Goody goody. Just knowing Raul. Feedback. Pursuit. Vulnerability. Intentional. Etc.
46. Humorous miscommunications due to language barriers
47. Things being cheaper in general: food, public transportation, clothes
48. Playing “This is Africa” in Africa
49. Traveling with people – I rarely did this as an adult since I lived so far from family. Having travel buddies has been so so good – especially during long layovers and bus rides
50. Exhilarating setup sheet reception
51. Being removed from all the mess of politics and the news back in the States
52. Accountability
53. Comfortable silence – the race teaches you to value those rare moments of rest and silence
54. Weird habits you develop on the race – this is mostly just craving and eating foods you would never eat at home (examples: Coca Cola, lollipops, peanut butter by the spoonful)
55. Giving each other pedicures when they are desperately needed
56. Pillow talk
57. The lack of mirrors
There you have it! 57 reasons and counting of why I’ll miss life on the Race. Lord help me soak up these last six weeks!
