So, I’ve never been the person to be fearful of anything. I’m very adventurous and would literally jump out of an airplane if I were asked to this very moment. But after going through so many exercises during Launch prior to heading to Guatemala that would help us to be more aware of safety and how to respond is those situations, I began to worry a bit. We went through scenarios like…what do you do when one of your teammates gets hit by a tuk tuk driver and is bleeding all over the place and you don’t understand the language and have an irate driver who is upset your teammate just dented his car? Sounds crazy but this is a very real situation as in a lot of countries outside of the United States, pedestrians do not have the right of the way. Yea after scenarios like that I was like uh…I’m the girl who’s going to get hit by the tuk tuk because I live so carefree.
Lodging for my squad in Guatemala has been quite the blessing. We were told we would be up in the mountains in a town called Quiche and to prepare to sleep in our tents. Upon arrival our hosts told us due to the torrential downpour and mudslides it was not safe for us to camp outside so they graciously offered us rooms to sleep in. The rooms were very nice but of course it’s not like there would be a bed for each of us (that would have been too good to be true). Of course what do you do as world racers? You improvise and make it work! I decided to hang up a hammock as my wonderful bed for the month. It was lovely. Few days later I was awoken by loud shrieks and a bunk bed crashing towards me! How did that happen you ask? Well because the hammocks were between two bunk beds (See illustration below), it was important to distribute the weight evenly, but when people left their beds the slight movement in the hammock caused a forward movement/collapse of the bunk. Thankfully we were all ok but it was a very scary situation that we later laughed off. I imagined being hit by a tuk tuk not almost dying in a hammock. As my friend Bridget said, “That would have been an awful way to die. At least I’ll get to see Jesus.”
God reminded me life is so fleeting. Honestly, I can die just by eating peanut butter, which can get stuck in my esophagus (far stretch, but you get my point). So honestly there is absolutely nothing for me to be afraid of. My life is constantly in danger. Whether it’s walking the streets of Guatemala where there are no sidewalks and the drivers are driving on the wrong side of the road, hopping in a pick-up truck with 20 other passengers up a mountain to ministry or just by sleeping in a hammock. The cool thing is because I’m God’s child his protection is upon me everywhere I go. Yes, I know that doesn’t mean I should have a YOLO (you only live once) perspective but be confident in this statement “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Coming up next: Detailed post on my life thus far in Guatemala. Stay tuned.
