In many ways, this week was basically just a reverse of the last time we were here. Obviously, we didn’t go through a landslide again, and there were other differences, but that’s how my brain is processing this time. Our first domestic missions was to get us used to the field, and this one is to get us used to America (and to help with disaster relief).
Hopefully, you’ve already read my blogs on our first day back (and all the drama that unfolded), because I’m not describing the landslide site again. Not because I’m struggling with trauma (far from it), but because it would be redundant.
The ministry the teams were put on was mostly construction (there were a few exceptions, such as one day of children’s ministry or helping cook our meals), and that looked like anything from digging trenches under houses, to tearing up moldy walls, to replacing floor boards.
I wish I could give a more in depth description of the ministry that went on, but because it was all construction in nature, I wasn’t actually able to help with any of it, because of my sprained ankle (which was turning lovely colors throughout the week).
When everyone headed out for ministry each day, I would lay on my bed, elevate my foot, and find ways to entertain myself until they came home again. This could look like playing chess by myself, reading my Bible, reading on my phone (I’ve read 5 books so far), journaling, watching YouTube, praying, doing ankle exercises, draining my lymphatic system, or just staring off into space.
Then people would come home, and I would immediately begin grilling them on what they did that day (everyone’s ministry changed day by day). We usually had some little thing after/during dinner, then I would go to bed pretty early, because I was exhausted most of the time.
Some examples of things we did were worship, having dinner at Excel college (do you remember them from last debrief?), and random announcements.
Things I was mostly learning during this week included how to let others take care of me (even if I’m perfectly capable of holding open a door for myself), how to be bored and be okay with it, and how to walk again (I feel like a toddler some days😆).
We leave for final debrief today, and while I want to keep you all updated on things that are happening, there’s so little time left I don’t know what to share about! If you have any suggestions, please let me know!
Until then, please keep my Squad in your prayers as we spend our last week together!
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