Today is our last day in Panama, say what?! Month 1 is over and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve come, I’ve seen, and I’ve conqured, and now I’m ready to take on Month 2 in Costa Rica. Here are 11 things I learned this month…
1. A snake is still VERY dangerous even with a machete through the center of its head. It may look dead, but for a few hours after they have been “killed” they still have reflexes, which means they can have a reflex in their mouths and still open up and bite you. Whaaaa?? I seriously didn’t know this.
2. I can even have authority over cows. On our ministry hosts property there are cows. A lot of times, or should I say many days these cows were in the way, so one day I took it upon myself and started talking to them and clapping my hands, and y’all without hesitation these cows moved. I’m not kidding ask my team. I even earned the name of cow whisperer during ministry days.
3. It’s really hard to stay hydrated when the humidity is constantly at 95% and higher. I sweat out water quicker than I can get it in my body. I’m currently trying to start drinking earlier in the mornings so I have a early start before it gets too hot.
4. It’s really hard to get your clothes really clean by hand. I’ve never had to wash my clothes by hand until this month, and lets just say I’ve taken for granted washers and dryers, I never gave it a thought that other people around the world aren’t as privileged as I am to have a machine do the work for me. I am so thankful for a washer and dryer.
5. The mission field isn’t just leaving the country to serve the least of these, but that my mission field could be found in my career, family, friends, etc. Missions is so much bigger. It’s also VERY important what God does in me rather than just through me.
6. Ministry is life and life is ministry. Everyday of my life and everything I do is ministry. It doesn’t matter if I’m standing in mud and cow manure for 4.5 hours a day, with the most dangerous animals in Latin America, pulling brush to piles, it’s still ministry. The plans God has for that piece of land is huge whether I see it right now or not. My team and I were called to do ministry this month in the form of manual labor. Ministry is more than teaching, preaching, and holding babies. Life is ministry.
7. I really do value alone time. Before the race I would very rarely take time for just me. I am an extrovert so I get recharged by being with people, but I’m quickly learning that it’s good to take time to just sit and be alone, but on the world race you have to get creative with how you can get that alone time. At any given time there are 5-6 people always around me. I’ve found myself getting frustrated because I just want to be alone without someone on top of me all day long. Over these next 10 months I believe I will have gained more creative ways to get my needs met.
8. Culture shock is a real thing and it sucks sometimes. Being in Panama has been really hard for me. Day one our plumbing was giving us problems to the point that we had to stop using the toilet in the apartment we’ve been living in. My sleeping pad sprung a leak day four, so I’ve been laying on the tile floor for 3 weeks, and having to pitch our tents inside because of bugs. It’s been a really hard adjustment, but hey I lived to be able to tell you guys.
9. It’s possible to find comfort in the midst of discomfort. This month has really highlighted a lot of areas of my life I would run to for comfort when I was experiencing pain or discomfort. I would often times run to my friends, food, social media, or my job to numb any feelings I was feeling. All of that has been stripped, and it has been extremely difficult, but I have learned to run to the one and only thing that will bring true comfort, and that is God. Everything around me was different and constantly changing, but He is literally the only thing that is unchanging and remains. I am so thankful.
10. Building trust with new community is extremely difficult. I am apart of a squad of 31 and a team of 6. There are a lot of different personalities and maturity levels. I am the second oldest on the squad, so It’s been difficult for me to find my place. I often times find myself comparing others to relationships I have back home, but I’m learning that grace is very much needed over these next 10 months with myself and with others. It will take time to build relationships and I can’t or won’t be best friends with every person on my team or squad and that’s totally okay.
11. I look to others for my worth, but God wants me to look to Him for affirmation because His love for me is unfailing. He’s perfect in ALL His ways. It’s literally impossible for Him to fail me. My family will let me down and so will some of my closest friends, but He remains.
I know I have said many times how hard this month has been for me, but know that I am thankful. I am thankful for the things I learned in the midst of the hard. I am thankful for God’s comfort and unfailing love He has for me, and as always I greatly appreciate your prayers and sweet messages. I am so blessed to have each and every one of you on this journey with me. I’m so ready for you month 2. Next stop is Jaco, Costa Rica!
Much love,
Kayla
