So. Its been 11 months.
On this day that we have 1 week until we leave for the states and the time is quickly drawing to an end, I thought it fitting to reminisce over the most awkward moments from each month..
Now, how did I narrow it down you may ask? It is always hard to separate out the awkward from the normal:
A lady comes wandering into your house speaking Russian and asking for pamphlets?
Normal.
Cramming into a tuktuk and being asked to sit on your contact's lap to make more room?
Awkward.
So, for your entertainment (and mainly mine) I present to you, the 11 most awkward moments of the World Race!
1. INDIA
That time the Indian women in the village we were staying in, kidnapped us ladies, stripped us down and dressed us up in saris.
Not another plate of rice and curry!! If you look close, Shelley is near tears 🙂
2. NEPAL
That one time the Pastor's son had to rescue the girls from a (I kid you not) screaming bug… in the middle of the night… in his white lab coat.
Getting down the mountain soaked through our "rain"jackets.
3. THAILAND
When we fit 7 of us into a 4 passenger car and while driving, our Pastor asked us if there were lesbians in America. Didn't see that one coming.
Ready for church! After riding in the back of a truck…
4. MALAYSIA
First month as squad leaders, went out with a team and ordered a drink… after getting our drinks realized that team had taken a vow not to have any alcohol during the month…talk about a good influence.
Joel finding a fun surprise in his hostel bed!
. 5. CAMBODIA
That time I went to pay for a hotel room with $20… a breeze caught the bill and it flew out of my grasp landing right in the middle of a shrine.
The ladies on the beach trying to remove my leg hair with thread.
6. VIETNAM
The afternoon I convinced Aubree to hang out with the brother of a friend I met that month… turned into a double date to go eat snails.
Biggest. burger. ever.
7. UGANDA
That early morning I stressed out getting to the bus on time… ended up waiting 3 hours till it actually left.
Jason stuck in front of the entire congregation by himself at church because he was preaching that sunday.
8. KENYA
The service I was told to go get my "dink-a-dink" (guitar) and Chip was told to get his "machine" (viola) to play in front of the congregation that was then broadcasted through loud speakers over the whole village.
Sunday School in the Maasai.
9. TANZANIA
The entire bus ride from Morogoro to Arusha. The moment you regret making friends with the drunk guy when you realize he wants to walk up and down the isles of the bus every hour or so to come chat.
Two little Tanzanian boys watching us enjoy the water.
10. LATVIA
That one time I tripped and fell getting off a bus… no one gave any expression that they had seen me.
The team in Liepaja, Latvia
11. ESTONIA
That evening that I sat down on a pile of clothes and blankets only to realize it was not a pile of clothes and blankets… it was an old Estonian grandma taking a nap…
We are going to miss wearing whatever we want were ever we go with the excuse that we are foreigners!
Some moments are more awkward than others, and some you can't remember if it would have been awkward in the beginning, or whether we have become used to it.
I sure will miss the uncomfortable first encounters with contacts, not being sure if they are going to ask you to preach a sermon or share a testimony at church, and cramming as many people into a car as possible.
So, cheers to the awkward moments! Big and small, may they be a part of everyday life for as long as we shall live. Embrace them and love them 🙂
