It started with Joshue in Honduras. Then Julio in Nicaragua. In Panama it was Enoc. And Victor in Indonesia. Now that we are in Botswana, it’s Dipsy.
Transportation in foreign countries is a quite interesting concept. For the majority, traffic rules and regulations do not exist – clearly I am living in the wrong country. However, these experiences have become an adventure within an adventure and favorite memories of mine on the World Race because you never really know what is going to happen….
A Dunkin’ Doughnut Kidnapping –
In Honduras, we were not allowed to leave our host’s home without him or his son, Joshue, due to safety concerns. After what seemed like weeks since we left the house, which in reality was only two days, cabin fever had completely set in for us. And like any desperate women would do, we “kidnapped” Joshue to go get coffee.
Joshue had just returned from getting groceries and before he could even get out of the car, we were begging him to take us somewhere…anywhere! Joshue laughed and allowed us to hop into his green two-door Kia with hope that we communicated well enough that we were in dire need of coffee. During the drive, we turned up Joshue’s spanish music on the radio and treated the car ride like a girls night out with a personal body guard. Upon arrival at Dunkin’ Doughnuts, Joshue embraced the role of our body guard as he leaned against the wall while we devoured large sugar-filled coffees and two doughnuts each. After a few short hours of freedom, we got back in the car and went home. It was a quick trip and one we will always be grateful for because Joshue was willing to be kidnapped by four women and allowed us to indulge in something that reminded us of home.
Spilled Coffee –
About five miles from the house, Enoc would drive us to his coffee acreage for the day to plant coffee, sort coffee beans, or package coffee grounds (their coffee farm supports missionaries around the world). I sat up front in the truck with Enoc while the rest of my team would ride in the bed of the truck. Sometimes my friend Hannah would join us up front which always added to the laughter and conversation in those truck rides.
I can’t pick one specific story to tell you of Enoc’s truck rides to the farm because I feel there was something ridiculous that happened almost every day. From taking selfies to having an escape plan if the brakes went out to riding in the bed of the truck with chicken poop, Enoc knew how to make work fun. Enoc would laugh if we looked a little concerned about his driving but in the end was always protective of us. Who knew a white Ford truck would have such an impact on God’s kingdom.
In the end, God used riding in cars with boys for His glory and used these moments to bless me. And because of that, there are people that change our lives but we don’t get to keep them forever – It started with Joshue in Honduras. Then Julio in Nicaragua. In Panama it was Enoc. And Victor in Indonesia. Now that we are in Botswana, it’s Dipsy.
**Our host Joshue recently passed away. Please pray for him and his family**
