If you know me, you know that I don’t really cry a lot. I don’t really know how to do it. I don’t like the snot associated with it. And I especially don’t like when other people see me cry. Ergo, I have not been a very happy camper these past few days.
I’ve lived in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the past 2 months. It became my home. The 18 strangers I came with became my family, a sisterhood.
I will miss a lot of things about this season of my life…
The kids in the slums who demonstrated unconditional joy.
The girls working at Zion who joked around with me day after day, meal after meal.
The kids at the college who may or may not have hated us.
The way that our amazing contact Emmi loved us and poured into us for 2 months.
Our mom at the Village who opened her home to us so graciously.
The smell of sewage that emanated each time we used the washing machine.
The women at the bars who shared their hearts and their brokenness with me.
The tears that come from Blaze’s eyes at the slightest sad, or happy, thing that happened.
Staying up late at night in our room talking with our headlamps on.
Sweating non-stop…Literally, non-stop.
Feedback. Well maybe not yet, but I will miss it one day.
Dance parties all of the time.
Wawee, but more so the real conversations shared over our beloved iced coffee.
My “Aunt” and “Uncle,” Lu Win and Ba Phon who loved me so well… Yeah, I will really miss them.
Getting my entire team hooked on using abrievs.
Changing the glug-glug.
The guy who told us “I love you” in sign language every night as we walked home.
Lizards in our rooms.
Snap-chatting my teammates while sitting next to them.
Shaving heads on the reg because we are free birds.
Sexy-berries.
Listening and talking to my “monk friends” about anything and everything.
Singing terribly at open-mic night.
Heartfelt duets with Kim.
Constantly having people ask me how I’m doing, and actually care.
People laying hands on me and praying for me whenever and wherever.
Iced Americano little sweet.
Blowing the budge.
Reading, ALL OF THE TIME.
“Where’d you get that? Is it good? How many baht?”
Having Jesus rock my world, day after day, as I get to know Him more.
Praying against food poisoning before every meal (except at Zion of course).
Cold showers.
Knowing Kylee’s eating habits enough to know I can take the cukes and tomatoes without asking.
Nok talking about the “famiry” coming to stay with us.
Song Tao rides.
Really this list could go on and on, but I think you guys get the point. I will miss this summer. But my God is good, He is faithful, and He knows my heart. I am so excited to see where He is going to take me in this next season and trust that it is going to be beautiful.
To my wonderful team: I love you guys and I can’t wait to see you change the world! Thank you for being you.
To my fearless leaders: thank you for listening to the Lord and going to the hard places with me, I couldn’t have asked for anything more!
To my family and supporters: thank you for giving me the opportunity of the lifetime, I can’t wait to share it with you!
See you soon America.
