Disclaimer: This is my diva post. However, I will not be telling you a brand of makeup I swear by, how a hair wand changed my life, or which boutique has the most chic accessories. This is my list of items I have realized are first world luxuries. Growing up with them as readily available as my next breath, I never knew how rare these things were around the world.
A bed.
I will admit I told God I would carry my tent around for 11 months as long as He never made me sleep in it. In Ecuador, we served victims of the earthquake who had lost their homes. We saw several tent villages and visited one where mattresses were lying on the ground under Samaritan’s Purse tarps. These people had no home and no personal space. It was month nine and I had not used my tent, so I felt compelled to give it to them. I know it was the right decision, but in doing so, I did not hold up my end of the bargain. Its month eleven and I am in a tent.
Tent life isn’t bad. Honestly, it is liberating having personal space after months upon months of bunk beds or the whole team bunked out on the church floor. That being said, I cannot wait to jump into a bed with a mattress thicker than 5 inches and have it all to myself.
Climate control.
Heating. Air Conditioning. I swear these things only exist in the States. But seriously, they were nonexistent in our living conditions for the past eleven months and sorely missed. I want to finish a day’s manual labor and have a nice room with A/C to cool down in. I want to go to bed in winter and not see my breath whilst lying in bed.
Hot showers.
Not a bucket of larvae infested water to pour over my head. Not a concrete floor with mud all over it and an overhead spigot. Not a trickle of water so cold that I avoid showering until I’m a threat to public health. All of these are things I have been VERY thankful to have this past year. But I have been dreaming of a shower with water pressure that steams up the mirror—one that I can get in everyday and is not only cleansing but also refreshing.
Tap water.
I love drinking water. I hate paying for water. I do not want to have to use a filter, boil it, or treat it with chlorine. I want it straight out of the tap.
Oven.
People cook over fires. And if they are lucky enough to have a stove, they boil and fry their food. Mostly fry. Everywhere we go they fry us food. And give us rice. SO MUCH RICE. I want an oven to bake me some nice chicken and roast some vegetables. Maybe every now and then to bake some muffins.
Dishwasher.
Hand washing is the worst when you know what a dishwasher is. I love to cook. I don’t love to clean. I love dishwashers.
Washing Machine.
Hand washing clothes is actually more worse than the worst. Especially when you are like me and avoid it until all of your clothes are dirty… then you have to 1) re-wear filth, 2) go naked, or 3) wash your clothes. Then it takes 2 hours of scrubbing and wringing, and you really only do the job half heartedly, so who even knows if they’re clean.
Dryer.
A dryer is less of a necessity than the washing machine. However, after having had certain traumatic experiences, I think I will still be using one. (EX: Once the guard dog named Blackie ate my favorite shirt off the line, it poured rain on all of my clothes, and the neighbors burned their trash and my clothes smelled like dirty fire)
My car.
I might boycott bus transportation for the rest of my life. There is a joke (that I made up) that one-third of the race is ministry, one-third is spent looking for wi-fi, and one-third is spent on busses. I was not a car sick person before this year, but there are some “roads” in the world that make everyone queasy. Around the world, they are severally lacking asphalt and have an abundance of potholes, gravel, and sharp mountain turns. And an abundance of over-confident drivers whose speed is not deterred by the aforementioned obstacles. I want to drive. By myself. In my car.
Vegetables.
Asparagus. Broccoli. Green beans. Kale. Spinach. All things green. I miss you. Like I said, rice, potatoes, bread, fried food. These things, whilst sustainable and energy-providing, have been extremely detrimental to my self-image and digestive system. I miss my veggies.
So here is my testament to all of you—I will never again under-appreciate these luxuries. The United States is truly a land of blessing. This year has opened my eyes to how richly He has lavished favor upon me. I know those who fall victim to guilt for “having too much” when others have so little. I do not want to be that person to limit the Lord in what He has planned for me. I will, however, always be aware of who is blessing me and thank Him for making me a diva who enjoys laying in a bed, taking a hot shower, and eating vegetables.
