So, I thought I would post a less serious blog about our life here. Even though we all love Jesus passionately, we are a bunch of young adults living together, and funny/disturbing things become a way of life. A week or two ago a friend of mine on the Swaziland team, Lila Dillon, posted a blog called “Missionaries. Or should I say hippies?” She met a Chik Fil A employee named Hannah who was genuinely afraid when we piled out of the vans because we looked like a bunch of hippies. Well, I will just quote her blog now because she says it better.
“But when I really thought about it, we kind of do look like hippies. We drive around squished into big vans, none of us are ever actually clean, we wear a lot of tie dye and bandannas, we all love each other a lot, we smile all the time, and some of us are weird enough that strangers might legitimately think we’re on drugs. But really.. we just love Jesus. So, in honor of Hannah, I’ve comprised a list of some of the ridiculous things we do because we’re missionaries.
- One night we were about to have evening session and some girls were sitting on the ground fixing coffee for each other, completely and utterly undisturbed by the huge dead cockroach laying belly up right in the middle of them.
- Showering is absolutely optional. The end.
- Dreads, purple hair, nose rings, and tats have become the norm.
- Wearing the exact same outfit for multiple days in a row is totally okay. This might actually have more to with the fact that we try to avoid doing laundry at all costs though.
- Musical instruments are always present. Guitars, Jessica’s flute, tambourines that no one really knows how to play, harmonicas, drums/objects that sound remotely like drums, etc.
- John Parish has only brushed his teeth three times since we’ve been here. That really has nothing to do with being a missionary, the rest of us uphold our dental hygiene, it’s just super gross.
- Sharing is caring. We all wear each other’s clothes, eat each other’s food, use each other’s stuff.
- Facial hair is revered, sadly. All the menboys (I don’t really know what to call them anymore) stopped shaving a long time ago.
- The three most talked about things are 1) God 2) Food 3) Poop.
- We’re supposed to exercise every morning, but instead we play elementary school PE games. Red Rover, dodgeball, kickball, tag.
- Due to the massive infestation of bed bugs our legs will never be the same again. They are forever scarred.
- Having at least twelve bracelets on your wrists and ankles is common.
- We use toilet plungers to wash our clothes.
- We consume an average of at least four gnats with your dinner and are completely okay with it.
- For a few days I was really frustrated because I couldn’t get my feet clean no matter how hard I scrubbed them in the shower. Then I realized that they weren’t actually dirty- I just had an awful Chaco tan line.
- Additionally, we all have probably irreversible farmer’s tans.”
I would add a few things:
– Cookie dough tastes best when made at 12:00 at night, after salsa/merengue dance parties.
– Cookie dough tastes best when made at 12:00 at night, after salsa/merengue dance parties.
– We snuggle. A lot. (only girls with girls, and boys with boys….our menboys like cuddling)
– For some reason we end up talking about marriage a lot. We made the ultimate man list…I will post some of things that made the list later. All I remember now is that he must make homemade whipped cream.
– Life is one big musical. Song can break out anywhere, at any moment. Disney songs are current favorites.
We are who we are. Ha. God was in a humorous mood when he made some of us 🙂
I love you sooooo much! Even when you don’t shower for awhile. Love, Mom
I had a big comment all ready to hit send and it disappeared! I guess God did not want me to say I went along with everything but the nose rings and tats! Oh Well, I’m just a grandma. Keep having fun, you are only young once! Energy is precious at my age! I would love cookie doubh at 12:00am too if I could stay awake. I am helping MOm take care of Molly, Olivia and Jackson tonight. Miss you soooooo MUCH! I LOVE you soooooo MUCH!
Grandma
Wow! That’s incrediable. Living life. Alive! Love you sooooooooooooooooooooooo much too!
Liana – Good to see you again and to get to spend two weeks around you. I hope outreach is great for you and the team. Keep me posted on how life is, and if you need anything, holler my way.
This sounds about right and like every AIM trip I’ve ever been on. I miss it! Girl, it is so cool to hear about things and I can’t wait to hear more. You rock!
“The three most talked about things are 1) God 2) Food 3) Poop.”
Ditto.