The H A R D facts about traveling
During a mid year de-briefing in a parent visit to our team, we were asked to answer and share the next 11 questions.
Here follows a non mystical approach to my experience up till now
1. The weirdest and most horrible thing that I have eaten or drunk on this journey.
Surprisingly the most horrible drink, was a strong canned malt drink served in a slum in Guyana. The drink tasted like molasses with a soy Souse type of consistency.
The weirdest fruit was in Cuba, it looked like a brown skinned potato, but was purple on the inside and extremely sweet and juicy.
It would have been divine in a smoothly with coconut shavings and Bulgarian Yogurt to counteract the sugar cane sweetness.
2. What is your funniest team story
During a cleaning project with a Ywam team, in Panama, I realized my true scavenging nature had been revealed as I saved a pair of over sized flip flops, ( probably mens size 14) after mine had snapped, and some throw out milk powder and mens clothes, to add to my personal food bag and stained wardrobe.
Boemelaar -I - am
3. What things do you miss from home?
I sure miss having regular free time and being able to make my own choices.
I miss healthy food, my old wardrobe and clean bedding.
I struggle to feel free, when you cannot choose what to eat, when to get up, or who I spend my time with.
Above all, I really long for my siblings and being part of their lives.
4. What person or group had the most significant impact on you?
The believers in Cuba changed the way I now think about sharing with each other, inspite of poverty. Most of them have full time careers and then still spend their free time reaching out and doing life with each other.
They are kind and gentle, hospitable and full of faith.
They are teachable and practical.
I love Cuba!
5. What is your definition of being a T E A M
T. Timely attendance, your time is not your own.
E. Eating and meal times
A. All is well, cause this was God's idea, he created family and community
M. Muscle memory learn from conflict, exercise self control
6. When were you most challenged on unselfish living?
Jamaica and the big banana feud of 2015.*
*Jamaica at it's best
Contrary to what I expected, Jamaica has been the hardest country so far. I thought it would be like a home coming for me, sipping coconut juice with a Rasa friend under a palm tree and just swaying to the breeze on some Reggae music.
The harsh reality:
I was unofficially diagnosed with Chikungunya virus ( a mosquito transmitted disease) that I had never heard of before, that has no treatment other than pain killers)
Honestly the best way to describe the symptoms are: it feels like 4 days and nights spent in Mordor. As I grew up a pretty sick little girl, I have often been sick in my life, but I also had a personal relationship with my doctor and could see him as often as I wanted to... But being a foreigner on the island the pastor that we are staying with, was concerned that if I visit a doctor, I might be deported off the island, if I had any other medical condition that I might have brought with me from the previous country.
It was one of the hardest tests ever, people brought snacks, soft drinks and food to the church each day, but the only face I wanted to see was that of a medical practitioner. I felt so sick, and miserable. I asked Jesus to just make me better, or sommer take me to heaven.
I was able to see a doctor, and the blood tests confirmed that I only had the virus and I am now in perfect health.
Praise The Lord!
While I was sick, our group split up in half, and the other half was taken to visit the fun side of the island, literally ! It has been so hard seeing pictures of them on Face Book on the beach with statuses of snorkeling and being in a tropical jungle.... As my team stayed in the Getto, in one of the roughest neighborhoods I have ever been in.
With music blasting from all four directions, sleeping in a very dirty second story storage area, where we had to remove boards covering the windows, to let in light and fresh air.
The roads stank of trash being burnt and Maruana being smoked at all hours. Lots of homeless and confused people yelled at us and we were called: "white'y, sexy and nice white lady!'
Our pastor is a networker and does not appear to rest, and has taken us to parlement meetings, twice to an old age home, primary school, bible studies, youth groups and church meetings orphanage, shelter for the mentally I'll. We also attended at a riot ( kind of like a strike) against child sexual abuse.
It is funny how when I joined the program, I thought I had good intentions, and while being here, I have wanted to hide and run for shelter.
And I realized that when push came to shove I would trample my team mates for bananas.
7. Why would you advice someone else to do a similar pilgrimage?
If you have an adventurous spirit, and if you want your character to be ground to gold or fine coffee,
If you seek to know who you are,
If you crave to live a life outside of a work routine
And if you base radical decisions only on convictions
This here sort of thing, might just be for you!
( now zoom the camera in and out and yell: join Global Challenge!!! )
8. How have you encountered God during your pilgrimage?
God encounters me and each person each day.
Our most basic encounter with our creator is as natural as breathing, we just do not value or appreciate His encounters with us, as we should.
I am most aware of this when I am in nature and when I enjoy fellowship with humans.
9. What did you discover about prayer?
I can be completely honest with my creator, He knows my un-spiritual, non churchy kind of thoughts and can handle my sucky attitude .
He is not impressed by my words or analytical abilities but Loves that I talk to Him.
His Spirit prayers with groans when we do not have the words to express our feelings.
I have seen Him practically answer so many of my heart out cries and petty cravings.
10. Who is the Holy Spirit to you?
The Holy Spirit helps me to hear, Jesus's voice.
He makes my heart soft.
He gives me clues on what to do.
He helps me pray.
He is gentle and He always points to God.
11. Are you a different person since the beginning of the year?
I am still Kotie-Alet, but I know now that there is still sooo much left to explore and that I cannot return to a normal life. Not made for it
Upward and onward
Before I left home, I was so aware of the things I was giving up,
now I realized I gave up a small life, to gaining the world.
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