I spent 16 days living in an indigenous village in the Amazon Rainforest in Bolivia.
I’m not going to pretend I’m so World Race now that I found it easy. It was one of the most challenging months I’ve had on the race. But the most challenging 16 days brought some of the greatest memories, the best stories, and many lessons that I will never forget.
1. Having water is a luxury. Extra luxury when it’s running out of a faucet. Triple points if it’s clean.
2. Faith was designed for the dark.
3. Sustainability is so cool. People can really live off the land and work together to get what they need. And then have enough left over to throw a few parties.
4. Yes, there is always room for more bug bites, it doesn’t matter how much repellant you put on or if every square inch of your body is already covered in bites.
5. Community is a beautiful thing.
6. Lemons can grow to be the size of a cantaloupe. & they’re still sour.
7. Prayer is important. It’s also powerful and it takes discipline.
8. I don’t like beets. Or papaya.
9. It is possible to sweat in your sleep. Or to not never fall asleep because you can’t stop sweating.
10. Harvesting rice is a lot of hard work for not enough pay.
11. Proximity to God is more important than works for God. He just wants to hang out with us.
12. Having a floor in my bedroom that is not made of dirt is something I will never take for granted again.
13. Chickens make terrible roommates.
14. How to tell the difference between a grapefruit tree and an orange tree. Sounds obvious right? False, all the fruit is green and looks exactly the same.
15. The hard seasons are a gift. We come out of them stronger than when we went in.
16. The Lord doesn’t make mistakes. Even when circumstances seem hard.
Here’s to one heck of an experience, and a hot shower afterwards.
