So yeah, I’m pretty sick right now- right now being 2 A.M. And let me tell ya, being sick at home is bad, but being sick overseas is the worst. A million questions run through your head:
“Is this serious?”
“Do I need to go to the hospital?”
“It could be something foreign, not to be taken lightly.”
“It’s definitely malaria…no wait, is that even a concern to have in Chiang Mia?”
“Did I eat something bad?…maybe it’s that silkworm I ate the other night.”
“Am I dying?”
Okay so this last one might be a bit dramatic, but the struggle is real you guys. It’s pretty unnerving. So as I sit here on the bathroom floor typing up this blog and praying for just one good vomit so I can finally get some rest, I realized something:
I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.
Duh right? Well it’s easier said than done. This month I’m working with an incredible organization that provides a home for children who come from extremely poor, desperate families. How desperate are these families? Desperate enough to sell their children into the sex trade industry. Most of the people in these families are not bad people, they are just desperate; they cannot provide for any of their children, and there are other people out there who prey on their desperate situations. Not only do they get good money from selling a child of theirs, but it is also one less mouth to feed at home. It’s cold, but it’s practical. It’s just the reality of this situation.
Fortunately, like I said most of the people in these families are not bad people. So when this organization came in and offered them a place that would house, feed, clothe, and love their children, the families willingly took the opportunity. The houses these children live in are essentially boarding schools. They live there (each child has a sponsor who pays $60/month), they go to school during the day, and they go home for holidays.
When the children go home, their tribes see happy, healthy, educated children; they see a future for their tribe. This has had a huge impact, and many tribes have stopped selling the children all together. They see that there is a different, better option available. So now when a family is desperate enough to sell a child, instead of selling, they contact the people at this organization. Like I said, it’s incredible!
So when I’m asked to help build a new home for the boys in this organization, it’s easy to neglect my body in the blistering, jungle heat of Thailand. No one is making me push myself this hard, but I’ve hung out with these boys, I’ve met the “mayor” of one of their tribes, I’ve thought of what the lives of these children would be like if it were not for this organization…it’s unfathomable.
So again, it’s easy to deny myself water breaks and rest when truthfully I’m just happy when building their new home. However, if I’m not rested or taking care of myself, I cannot help anyone. It’s easy when working with nonprofits or volunteer organizations to forget that your health-physical, emotional, and spiritual- is just as important as the health and well being as those you are serving. I guess I’m learning how to serve as well as how to be served on this trip; it’s humbling.
I’m not feeling sorry for myself in this moment. I’m just learning I have limits. And on the mission field, that’s a pretty valuable lesson to learn early on.
And! As crazy as it sounds, I hope to risk getting sick like this for 9 more months this year, but I cannot do that if I do not reach my fundraising deadline at the beginning of December- I only need $800 more! So if you feel led to support me on this insane, overwhelming, exhausting adventure, I would love to continue and be forever grateful for the opportunity to continue growing and serving. Just click the “Support Me” link at the top of my blog!
Much love to you all.
