This week Q Squad celebrated their 100th day on the World Race. As they reflected and started writing 100 day blogs, it caused me to reflect a little more on my time here. I celebrated my 420th day on the Race! Sometimes the comment about “when you are back in real life” comes up into conversation. It has begun to hit me a little more recently because this has been my life for the last 16 months. This is my life. I am not just “on the Race” or ” off the Race”. I am living my life and happen to be living in a lot of countries. The age old question of “will I keep the change that happened when I move back to the states”? has been confronting me.
I was talking with a friend the other day and mentioned how excited I am to “restart” and “remake” my life back in the States. She stopped me in my tracks and corrected me by saying that I am not restarting. I am walking my life out in yet another place. The location, culture, and people may be different but the way I live out my life won’t change. She was right. I had to switch my perspectives.
No matter where I am at, what I do for a job or who I spend my extra time with, won’t change the fact that Jesus drastically remade my life in the last year and a half. He has changed the way I view the world, people and God Himself. No place can take those experiences and change away from me. It can only add to it. So in 5 weeks I get to come back to the States! I am not scared or sad or mad. I am excited. My season on the World Race may be ending, but who God has made me to be here, won’t. That comes with me!
And just for kicks, here are a few funny things that the last year and a half has produced in me:
1) When your feet rebel when they are in anything other than Chacos
2) When bug killing becomes an art and a sport
3) When you name the lizard that lives in your room
4) When you put on lotion to feel fresh and smell good because showering everyday isn’t generally a thing.
5) When cold showers are a blessing…because it’s better than a bucket shower!
6) Spending time alone generally means putting in your headphones and being around people or taking a nap
7) Sleeping only happens with headphones and an eye mask
8) What is a mirror!?
9) When leggings under running shorts is normal
10) When you learn to enjoy bad instant coffee
11) When you can walk up to a street pharmacy and ask for anything without a prescription and forget that life in the States is not like that!
12) When you name your parasite and have “parasite killing” parties
13) When you buy cans of beans or corn for travel day food
14) When your room begins to smell mildewy because your laundry is hanging in the room because it is raining outside.
15) When hanging your laundry up in front of everyone becomes normal
16) When the lag time on phone calls and Skype calls becomes normal. You just have to laugh or you will literally go crazy
17) When washing dishes or washing your hands is made up of many times of turning on and off the foscet to conserve water. You don’t think twice about it.
18) When you forget there is something called utensils and you just use your hands.
19) A wet rag pushed by a broom may be the best or only way to clean a floor
20) When your heart is opened up to more people than you ever thought possible and realize that it is only a small taste of the heart of our Father.
21) When you walk by runny cow poop and the first thought that comes to mind is “wow, that cow needs some Cipro in its life”
22) When you call the hostel you live in for 5 days, “home”.
23) When you have slept in over 60 places in the last year and a half (including planes, airports and buses)
24) When you haven’t stayed in a country longer than 5 weeks in 17 months.
25) When you realize that you will never be the same
Still needing $1100 by May 20th so that I can see the squad in July! If you feel led, click the “Support Me” link on the left! Thank you!!
