So, I’ve been doing this for 5.5 months now. Here are my reflections from halfway through. I’ve experienced Central America, Eastern Europe and currently I am in Asia. Take what you can from this, but really, don’t over pack.
This is real life. You’re not leaving your life behind this year; you’re living it. The people you encounter are living their lives and you are going to learn to fall in and live yours right beside them. You’re going to experience every emotion you did at home. Anger, selfishness, pride, deceit, bitterness, judgment, gossip, fear and offense will all raise their ugly heads at some point. However, true love, peace, joy, goodwill and mercy will triumph. Even when you feel like they won’t, they will.
(this is life)
Our God is big. You are trusting Him with your life this year, so let go of all the preconceived notions you have of Him. He doesn’t fit in a box (a bit cliché, but true) so tear that box up right now. It will give Him a lot more room to work.
How quickly you will realize that your wardrobe back home is too large, that you brought too many clothes and too many gadgets. So go for the smaller pack. Go for the tiny daypack. You’re a minimalist now; embrace it. No, you don’t need your mess kit or a bag shower. If you have to wear the same outfit for a week, it really isn’t going to matter. If it really bothers you, there are malls even in third world countries. I know, shocker right? You really can buy everything you need overseas, and you will want to anyway. Who doesn’t want to own a pair of drop crotch wildly patterned pants from an Asian market? Everyone does, and you need room in your pack for your purchases. The rule of thumb for me is, if you buy something you toss something else.
(drop crotch asian pants)
Weather changes don’t matter, and your route will probably change at some point so don’t count on that for a clothing guide. We found out at launch that we were going to Central America first, putting us in Eastern Europe in October and November. None of us had any winter clothes and it worked out just fine. There are second hand shops everywhere in Eastern Europe, even Draganesti-Olt, Romania.
Personal space and comfort zones: they don’t exist. I’ve slept in my tent alone (awesome), in a room with two other girls, in a room with thirteen other girls, in a room with all the guys and only two other girls, in a room with one old man and six squad mates, in a bus, in an airport and on a train. I’ve been hugged, cuddled and had my hair touched by a million people. All the old ladies in Eastern Europe have kissed me, and I’ve hugged all the malnourished babies in Guatemala. If you’re not a physical touch person now, you will be. Trust me.
(holding those Guatemalan babies)
You’ll probably miss home at some point. That’s ok, just sit down and cry, but get up and move on. You’ll be there soon enough. Then go eat some weird food, or go make a friend, but DO something. There are always plenty of both to be had, weird food and God’s children and they both have a way of making you feel better. Friends more so than the weird food, now that I think about it.
(friends eat nuxee on spoons with you)
Your contacts are not always going to be awesome and love you. Most of the time they will, but when that isn’t the case, you need to honor and respect them anyway. Learn what honor means. Learn what it means for the body of Christ to work together as a cohesive unit. You can teach them, and they will teach you.
Rest is essential. Sometimes it means you miss out on a trip to the mall, but choose rest. Learn to rest from your soul. I’m still learning, but I think I’m getting there. At the same time, choose adventure. Go snorkeling, swim in clear ocean water, visit the markets, ride elephants, ride horses, go hiking, go dancing, climb the 1500 steps to a castle. Chances are that next month, you’ll be in a village, miles from anything, so seize this moment.
(sitting on the ruins of Dracula's castle)
You will discover that you are stronger than you think. You are able to love more than you thought. You will find that love looks differently than you thought. You will learn what spiritual warfare is, and you will learn that you are on the winning team. You will learn how to be intimate with the Father and you will learn how to be vulnerable with your teammates. You will learn that ‘real’ is not ‘having it together’ and that broken is beautiful. You will feel hurt and pain, but you will feel love and redemption. You’re going to be just fine; in fact, you’re going to soar.
