One of the greatest difficulties for me this year has been health and wellness. To sacrifice leaving home, not sleeping in a consistent place & a washing machine, is almost easy when compared to the sacrifice of taking care of my body. Now, I know it may sound dramatic, but here is the reality of living life abroad as a World Racer:
– Since we have a small budget, we are not fed the amount that is “comfortable.” Sometimes this just means a simple 2 full portions but no dessert at the end of a meal but other times this could mean rice as a main course for 3 meals a day.
– Vegetables that are safe to eat are hard to come by in most countries. And if we do come across them, once again, our small budget may not allow room for them.
– Living conditions are harsh. While our homes are always “livable,” they could range from a pig farm in the bush of Cambodia or a sweet Airbnb in the city center of Sofia, Bulgaria. Regardless, each place is different from the last. Usually they are uncomfortable and include things such as no air conditioning, molding sinks or bucket showers.
– Water is scarce. In most countries we are unable to drink the tap water. This means we are limited to bottled water. While we can afford the full necessity of water, we always have to retrieve the large bottles or walk to a clean wel.
– Exercise is always available, but rarely regular. Because of our constantly shifting environment and home, I have yet to figure out a good routine of exercise to get in. I have often found myself stretching in between buses or doing squats in airports.
I hope this provides a clear perspective for you. We are not suffering, we are just struggling to live healthy and this has been very difficult for me. So, I thought I would share with you some tools and tips, failures and triumphs I’ve learned along the way about taking care of my body and finding freedom in the loss of control.
Look at each meal as a blessing. This does not mean to take on the “poverty mindset,” but rather to notice the food set before me as a gift from the Lord. Whatever the portion or smell, it is an opportunity to give your body fuel! When you look at food this way, you take more delight in it. When you focus on the blessings set before you, your heart begins to trust the Lord to provide so you, subconsciously, forget about what comes next.
Use your budget wisely! This is huge. When you have a tight budget, you can choose to get a lot of what’s not good or a little of what’s really good! A great rule of thumb while grocery or market shopping is always “if it’s straight from the Lord, it’s the better option.” For example: tomatoes, oranges, potatoes are all from the Lord! But ketchup, orange juice and frozen French fries are not… get the picture? Be a good steward of the money you DO have and choose wisely.
Exercise when you can! There are plenty of apps that have a downloadable workout plan to follow or, if you have WiFi, there are hundreds of YouTube exercise tutorials. A living room’s worth of space is all you need. If there is a safe area to run, this is another great outlet to get some cardio in and see the new surroundings!
Essential Oils. Honestly, nuff said. But to further explain because… well I want to: I have only opened my bag of over-the-counter medicine ONCE. But my essential oils case the the hottest topic at any dinner table. Why? Because they WORK! The Lord knew what he was doing when he made the vegetation of the earth and it is blessing my body, as well as my teammates’ and squadmates’ bodies.
There is freedom! This is the most important thing to remember. As you begin to take priority in taking care of your body it can easily steal focus or become an obsession. Remember the foundation of why you should take care of your body: because the Lord asks it of you! In order to thrive as a servant, it is crucial we take care of our body. I can’t feed the homeless, teach Sunday School or pray over hurting women if I am sick in bed! So begin with prayer and these simple tips to live each day as healthy as possible.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
