Last month, Cambodia-Month 10, was a PERFECT month.
By all accounts, however, it should have been one of the “worst” months on the race.
In fact, it was very much IMPERFECT.
Month 10 wasn’t perfect because we had the best living situation. If it wasn’t sweltering hot, it was pouring down rain. For most of the month we had to sleep in our tents. At nights it was hard to sleep because it was so hot. If it was raining, it was hard to sleep because the fear of your tent flooding (or the actual flooding of your tent) kept you awake.
It wasn’t perfect because the temperature was the most comfortable…not too hot, not too cold. We barely had air condition and the temperature was usually in the 90s with quite the humidity. We spent our days, nights, and mornings sweating with heat rash.
It wasn’t perfect because our team got along perfectly and loved well. Our team wasn’t 100% united and we struggled the first part of the month. Many nights were spent in frustration and hurt because of assumptions and lack of communication.
It wasn’t perfect because no one got sick and everyone felt their best. Two of us (me included in that two) got a parasite that felt like a bad flu mixed with a horrible stomach bug…NOT FUN! A few others had weird rashes, colds, or other uncomfortable ailments.
It wasn’t perfect because we had luxuries at our disposal. We actually showered in a humid bathroom that seemed to breed mosquitos and some of us had to use a squatty potty at night. We had to walk to get our breakfast of just bread. We had to be creative to heat up food or even have cheap affordable meals. We had to walk with big jugs to get our drinking water. All the double stuffed Oreos I found tasted 10 years old and snickers were scarce…if any at all!
Month 10 was not a perfect month. But through it’s imperfections it became a truly perfect month.
Our host family was one of the biggest blessings. They love so many and loved us well. When we were sick and feeling awful, just seeing their faces made the imperfection of pain perfect because of their warm embraces.
Our living conditions were hot and sticky, but through the imperfections of discomfort we discovered the perfection of having what we NEEDED. We had our tents, bug nets, bug spray, sleeping pads, and even a squatty potty and western toilette inside.
Through the imperfections of team challenges we learned what perfect community is about. Perfect community isn’t roses and sunshine all day but toughing through the pain of vulnerability and supporting someone even though you can’t understand their view but you know it is important to them.
The imperfect ministry of teaching English when you’re not too fond of teaching young children morphed into perfection by seeing the sweet children love you and smile when you entered the room. Perfection despite the exhaustion of teaching our hearts were full from the children we ministered to. Seeing the success and the understanding of English flow through the students we encountered opened my eyes to a sense of new pride of, “I had a hand in THAT.”
Knowing that despite the imperfections and discomfort we stuck it through and fought well and didn’t give up is perfection in itself.
This year has been a year of struggles and many imperfections. But it has also been a year of switching my focus and view of what is truly perfect.
And I have learned that most imperfections are perfection in disguise.
