arkun fr th mmrs

(Even though they WERE so great. This title can only be appreciated by the likely minuscule population of Khmer-speaking Fall Out Boy fans.)

ANYWAYS.

Today is my last full day in Asia! Tomorrow, circa 3 am, we begin yet another continent jump and travel to Tirana, Albania. It’s so hard to believe I’m now beginning month six, and we’re just 2 weeks shy of the official halfway date of the Race! Shooketh is all I have felt.

Before beginning this month, we had five days of debrief where we received our team and role changes. Now, before traveling to Albania, we’ve had three days of what we call “mini debrief”. At first, having two debriefs so close together felt a little unnecessary to me. Now, having finished ministry and our month in Cambodia, I am so thankful for this established time to rest, relax, and process. To put it lightly, I am exhausted. Almost all the time. I remember back in the beginning of my summer interning in Jamaica almost two years ago, we had a running joke of where and how many times us interns could fall asleep in public places. (I think I may have won after falling asleep standing up in the middle of a furniture store in Kingston once.) Life on the mission field is very different from our typical American lives. And the World Race is no exception. I’m talking early mornings, late nights, and rest days that actually look like having to decide between catching up with friends and family at home, spending time with the Lord and processing whatever you’re currently learning, or actually napping because you’ve slept maybe a total of 40 hours all week. Plus, adding in all of our travel days and time zone changes…normal sleep schedules went out the window week one. But, such is the missionary life and don’t get me wrong, I am so thankful to be living it!

So, with this time at mini debrief, I’ve actually had time to sit down and process everything month five has been, everything the Lord has taught me. I never realized it was so much until I began to reflect.

This month has been full of change, newness, and so many firsts. I received a new team and stepped into a new leadership role this month that has drastically changed my Race experience. I’ve begun to fully embrace the community aspect, beyond just fighting for my team, and instead stepping into what it looks like to choose the people around you. Choosing to love, lead, and live with these dear sisters I’ve been given. We served with a church this month, and I experienced some firsts in sharing my testimony to an entire church, as well as doing door-to-door evangelism and sharing the gospel with people who have never heard of Jesus. 

Five months on the Race, five countries, five distinctly different ministries, and two continents behind us. Only six to go! I recently shared this on my Facebook and Instagram:

Every month feels like a lifetime and every month changes me. Two months in Asia has been hard. 

In Vietnam, I hit the World Race wall. Where everyday felt like a chore, the world began to no longer make sense, and everything just felt unfair. I started to question if God is really good. 

I carried all of this into this past month in Cambodia. I met people here who have never before heard the name of Jesus. I shared the gospel with people living in small huts in village communities who live simply, taking each day as it comes. People craving hope and people who probably understand more about life than I ever will. I taught English to kids who don’t care about where I’ve been, what I’m walking in, or even why I’m here in their country and in their school. Kids who just want someone to hug and love on them, to be silly and to laugh. 

On repeat this month:

Ruston Kelly- Mockingbird

Gregory Alan Isakov- Chemicals

Mike Posner- Move On

Bright Eyes- Road to Joy

Brett Dennen- Here’s Looking at You Kid

 Maggie Rogers- Back In My Body