Today’s my birthday…and no, we’re not on the boat anymore, we left Thursday night. But boy did I feel special the last couple days on the boat!!
My birthday started on the 22nd for these crazy ladies and Jenny made the team a pan of delicious banana bread. They said it was my 1st birthday surprise…definitely one of my favs and it makes me think of my grandma.
On Tuesday I was trying to help figure out how much food we had left over and when we needed to eat what to make sure we wasted as little as possible. They all kept avoiding the topic and I was honestly a little frustrated! I was trying to help and they weren’t letting me. I just let it go eventually because they were being so secretive and I decided I needed to just trust them with it (a common theme the Lord has been teaching me on the race).
Wednesday morning we got up and finished our [now] short list of things we needed to do on the boat and got to play cards for a while before getting ready to leave somewhere.
They told me to be ready by 17:30 to leave for my birthday dinner. As I sat downstairs waiting, Suze got the EP’s (emergency poops) and had to stay back with Cami and Jenny. Phil, our host, had come by and was loading some things from his truck so he stayed back until they came to the restaurant. We walked to a cute little cabana a little ways down our dirt road on the river and shortly after they brought out a huge plate of rice, plantains and fried fish (Pacu, a local fish in our river)! I had been wanting to have fish since we got to our boat and was so blown away by their thoughtfulness.
We waited for the others to arrive and at the delicious, fatty but so meaty fish. We took pictures on the pier as the sun was setting and then headed back home right as the mosquitos were starting to get bad.
As I entered the boat, I saw the whole room decked out in decorations and a big ‘FELIZ CUMPLE’ sign over the birthday chair covered in balloons! I was shocked!
I realized in that moment that Suze didn’t actually have the EP’s…they got me good! Brook even believed them even though she was in on the plan.
We sat down, 9 of us around the table, (Phil and a sweet girl named Dani were there with us) and Jenny asked if I would like to cut my own cake…they know me so well. I enjoyed serving my teammates and making sure the cake was cut exactly right so everyone had an even piece. One thing I’ve learned about myself on the race is that I always try to be fair…especially with food. My team learned that quickly and knew that I would want to make sure all the pieces were the same size and also that I would want to serve it-they know me so well! The cake, made by Jenny, was what she called a ‘white velvet cheesecake’! She worked with what she had available to make a cake that was the closest to what I had expressed I would love. I opened my gift from Phil and then my team hit me with letters from each of them. As a words of affirmation person, these letters mean the world to me! They each read their letter out loud as we sat at the table and the tears just kept coming. I felt so loved!
Here are a couple things they said to me…
“It has been sweet to see you walk in freedom” — Jenny
“Megan, you care so deeply for others and it has encouraged me to take time to know others and serve others…” — Suze
“I’m inspired by the way you speak the hard things with truth and grace.” — Cami
“You also invite others into your space and welcome them so effortlessly” — Han
“Let me name a few, your joy, yeah, that stuff in contagious! Your servants heart, your vulnerability and willingness, your maturity, your desire to press in, your adventurous spirit and your drive. You are a breath of fresh air, you revel in the wonder of life” — Brook
“I have had the privalege of watching you grow and change, and man, it’s been awesome!” — AbbyLin
Then, to top it all off, we had such a sweet team time. We started off sitting in the presence of the Lord and took communion. To sit with these amazing women and partake in the Lords supper on my birthday celebration day was one of the sweetest things I could have ever asked for. And finally, to end the night, we sat in a circle and washed each other’s feet. How beautiful to sit with each other and the Lord and serve as He did on our last night on the boat. It was definitely the sweetest birthday celebration I’ve ever had.
Thursday night we took our bus ride (only 10 hours!!!) to Santa Cruz and spent the day Friday relaxing, resting and spending time together.
Waking up this morning, I spent some great time with the Lord and then met with my team and got a chorus of ‘happy birthday’ wishes from my sweet team. We left the hostel to go get a birthday brunch at an asai bar and they each went around the table and shared their favorite memory or favorite thing that has happened with me during the last 4 months. I have felt so honored by these women and can never thank them enough for their love, kindness, and thoughtfulness in making my birthday the most special it could possibly be.
To finish the day before leaving on our 40 hour bus ride to Mendoza, Argentina tonight, they had 1 last surprise for me!
They took me to get a pedicure and get a little pampered after spending life on a mosquito infested boat for almost a month! It was such a sweet way for all of us to get pampered and celebrate.
I am so thankful for these women.
I am thankful for their love for me.
I am thankful for their thoughtfulness.
I am thankful that I got to spend my birthday with them this year.
I am thankful for 26 years of life and having the opportunity to be with 6 new sisters on this day!
So here’s to you, AbbyLin, Jenny, Suze, Hannah, Cami and Brook. My sisters today and forever! I am so thankful for each and every one of you and the special relationships we each carry.
