I left the US a month ago tomorrow to go on this crazy journey called the World Race. You know that insane thing to go to 11 countries in 11 months chasing after all that God has for me while serving people all over the world? Yeah, that thing. Now that I’m a month in, at least every couple of days I have to ask myself, is this real life?!
Answering this is not so simple, but really the answer is no. I recognize that this journey isn’t one that everyone will go on. It’s not “real life” to wake up in Thailand after having spent a month serving in Cambodia. It’s not real life to get to live in crazy, beautiful community with 40 strangers (now extended family). It’s not real life to do and see some of the things that we have, but it’s my real life right now, so let me tell you a little about it.
When we got to Cambodia, I was a little overwhelmed. Phnom Penh was fast moving, crazy crowded, and I was suffering from some serious jet lag. The next day, we got on a bus and traveled 8 hours to Siem Reap, and I fell in love. The pace was different, the colors were different, it was just right. God did so many cool things there, but one of my favorites was Him full out showing me that my passions are real and can all be put together to bring Him glory.
Being the nerdy map-lover that I am, I picked up a book with dining locations and a map of the city. While flipping through it one day, I saw a picture of this cupcake shop. Another girl on my squad who was in the capitol had posted a picture of a cupcake place there, and I was already kind of sad that I missed it. So I was determined to go to the one where we were staying. We tried two times to get there, but once it was closed for a holiday and the other time it was too late in the day. I was so devastated, but God finally opened the door. I walked in to Blossom Café and literally had tears in my eyes. We spoke with the general manager about the work that they were doing, and I was speechless. The café employs 26 women, who were once at risk, that receive training to become cake bakers and decorators. These women’s lives will be forever changed because of Jesus and cupcakes. They now have an income that doesn’t demand they live in guilt and shame. They are learning English, have a community of support, and get to live a life that is full. Seriously, is this real life!?
On this past Sunday evening, our entire squad got into these crazy trucks called song taos (forgive my spelling) and headed to a surprise dinner. At this dinner, we ate delicious Thai food sitting under these beautiful wooden awnings, watched an amazing Thai dance show, and laughed in the amazing community that is L-Squad. After the show, we all went and took pictures in the courtyard next to the stage. We acted out poses that we saw in the show and laughed our butts off at our silliness. You can see Kathy and I doing a pose below. Trust me, the outtakes were pretty hilarious as balancing like that was much harder than I thought. On the way out, I stopped for a second and looked around at the place where we had just shared this experience. I almost felt guilty for getting to experience this and I kept thinking this can’t be real life, but I really felt that God was saying I love you so much that I want to shower my blessings on you. Real life that day was watching this show, enjoying this food, and laughing with my crazy community.
Today, I’m sitting at a café drinking some hot pink milk (or for those of you not in my family, strawberry milk), typing a blog, and looking forward to this next month. The café where I’m at is actually the first floor of our ministry location. We will be living here, working with women who have been rescued from trafficking, ministering in the bars nearby, assisting in the café, and developing relationships with monks. This is my real life, and I am so excited for what God is doing. He is working in amazing ways in my life and in the lives of those on my squad. He has blessed me with a team of six other women that love Him and love me. We have a blast serving and living this crazy journey together.
If you can’t tell already, I’m very excited about this “real life” that I get to live! I hope you’re living your real life too. You don’t have to be on the Race to let God use you or show you His love. Have some fun today. Go have an experience where you get to ask the question, “Is this real life?” I don’t think you’ll regret it!
