The journey continues. Next up…
MOST LIKELY TO WEAR EVERYTHING YOU OWN BECAUSE OF
THE COLD AND RAIN
Month 7: SOUTH AFRICA. City: Cape Town
My most challenging month of ministry. We worked at an impoverished school in the middle of a farming community where most of the kids have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, amongst a variety of emotional and behavioral problems. I went into three grade leveled classrooms each day to teach English by way of teaching the history of the Olympics, since they were approaching at the end of the month. All the difficulty of their behavior and learning how to love them was worth it when they would run up, hug me, and smile … after learning that they haven’t showed emotion or attachment towards anyone since they’ve been attending school.
VIDEO:Life in a Day: South Africa – http://vimeo.com/47154052 (courtesy of Abby Steverson)
(my 3rd grade class) (the two Romero’s of my 7/8 grade class)
(encouraging my girls of their potential in life)
MOST OPPOSITE OF ALL THINGS AMERICAN… AND HARD
Month 8: INDIA. City: Giddalur
India is everything opposite of American culture! The hardest month of my entire year as a whole, yet so sanctifying. Amidst the lack of activity and restrictions of what we are allowed to do during the day, heat, sickness, excessive food, scary traffic, and monsoons, it was redeemed by beautiful colors, a warm and hospitable culture, and finding a love for preaching the Word to those who don’t know Jesus. We set out each night to nearby and far away villages to preach and pray for people at churches and clarify who Jesus truly is to Hindus.
VIDEO: Life in a Day: India
(making every moment count with my captive audience: (sorting through rice as part of the wedding festivities)
sharing the story of Jesus)
(a Hindu blessing to the bride)
(a Muslim man I shared Jesus with. (our dear neighbor, friend, and running partner, Sambrin)
He wept in sorrow… and joy)
BEST PLACE FOR SHOPPING AND HIKING
Month 9: NEPAL. City: Kathmandu
Cooking. Sharing my testimony. Shopping. Coffee. Flight to see Mt. Everest. Hiking Pokhara to see more of the Himalayas. And more cooking. Nepal is my favorite country as a tourist and I look forward to returning someday to hike the Annapurna trail. While some of my teammates taught computer skills to students who are becoming missionaries within their own country, I assisted in cooking for the students of the school… they’ve gotta eat, right? Along with this was much down time to enjoy the beauty of the country!
VIDEO:Life in a Day: Nepal at http://vimeo.com/50811334 (courtesy of Abby Steverson)
(view of Kathmandu from the monkey temple) (the graduates from the Bible School)
(the women of the mountain village of Hindi) (the Pokhara hiking crew waking up to the Himalayas)
(hiking in Hindi to baptize some of the students)
MOST LIKELY TO DIE AN EARLY DEATH IF YOU DON’T WEAR A
FACE MASK
MOST COMPELLING MINISTRY
Month 10: CHINA. City: Jiaozuo
God called me here. For this month, and the future. We worked at Eagle’s Wings, an orphanage for kids with disabilities. We volunteered at and painted their school, took the kids on walks, fed the ones who couldn’t feed themselves, and pushed the ones in wheelchairs to go for a “walk” outside. I held 12 year olds with Cerebral Palsey up to go to the bathroom, changed babies diapers, held hands with no muscle control in order to color and put legos together, and tossed kids up in the air to pretend they were flying. And I can’t wait to do it all again when I return. My thoughts and heart has been with these kids every single day since I left.
VIDEO:Life in a Day: China http://vimeo.com/52460238 (courtesy of Abby Steverson)
VIDEO: Dancing on The Great Wall of China:
(The Spina Bifida crew… and some of the boys with the most personality!)
(My main man, Fu Chang) (My heart is stolen by deaf/blind Wei Tao)
(Juen Fei) (The Great Wall of China)
MOST LIKELY FOR ME TO LIVE
Month 11: THE PHILIPPINES,. City: Manila
As a whole, my favorite country. With the freedom we were given to do anything that we wanted, this was my month to pursue the people and passions God put on my heart. I helped feed and befriended the kids and one specific family of Tent City a few times a week. Spent nearly every night as a friend to street kids who are in a life addicted to drugs, begging, and not in school. And, surprisingly to myself, loved being one of the caretakers of newly orphaned, 2 1/2 month old baby Mikey. The Philippines is a place I could see myself living in the future. God has put the street kids on my heart as a potential full time ministry. I can’t wait to see what He does…
(My favorite kids to feed, then spend the mornings with). (Daily smiles from these boys… made my days)
(feedings at Tent City) (Thanksgiving with baby Mikey)
BEST PLACE TO PARTY AND RELAX
FINAL DEBRIEF
The year came to an end and it was time to have a dance party, reflect on our celebrations, triumphs, and ways we had grown… and spend our last days together as a squad at a fancy, shmancy resort in The Philippines. The 5am club (Leah Malone, Meagan LaFoy, Rebekah Clark, and myself) shared our last mornings together, drinking fresh coffee and watching the sun rise as the moon faded amidst the readings and conversations about Jesus (just for the record, we are the only 4 that I know of (aside from Grace who has always known she would be in Uganda) so far that are pursuing life overseas… there must be something to the madness of “waking up at death” as my friend Reagan Taylor would call it). And Team Summit shared our last debrief meeting and time together as a unit. My time as a racer is over, but the memories, influences, and experiences will forever shape my life, my perspective of God, and the eyes through which I view the world. I am forever changed.
Whelp, that’s all she wrote.
NEXT STEPS:
I recently posted a blog announcing that I was returning to China in July. I AM GOING TO CHINA… however, God may be leading me to do some discipleship work with future World Racers first as they set off on their journey in July then heading to China after. After much prayer, I am in the interview phase of this process and waiting to see where God will lead me. Either way, I am leaving the states in July and desiring to be obedient to what He’s calling me to do. And I’ll let you know as soon as I know.
(In the meantime, I am working on a new blog to continue sharing what God is doing as well as my heart, joys, frustrations, and life in general. If you do not wish to be a continued subscriber to that blog as it gets up and running, please respond to this blog at my personal email address and I’ll take you off. Email me at [email protected]. I will forever be thankful for your support!)
