This. Month. Almost. Killed. Me.

Hello familia!

 

It has been quite a bit of time since I have last updated y’all. Let me tell you, this last month and a half has been one of the most busy, crazy, fulfilling, sentimental, joyous, busting-at-the-seams kind of months.

 

 Last time I posted, I was in Cambodia. Our last week of ministry was really amazing. I enjoyed being able to finish out strong. Not just ministry in Cambodia, but ministry on the World Race as a whole. On the last day, our classes flowered us with gifts, letters, scarves, and certificates. At the Buddhist University, they surprised us with a HUGE party! They gave each of my teammates individualized cakes. Then all 200+ students and teachers gathered around us outside and read us a letter written to us. Next, they sang us a song written by our great friend Tola. Tola is the monk who runs the university and he became a great and dear friend. When the song finished, Joshua and Jacob and I were given the opportunity to speak to the entire school and thank them for the blessings and memories we shared. I was even able to publicly pray over this Buddhist Temple that God would bless these people, that His presence would be felt, and that all who enter its gates would feel His peace. The night ended with the president of the university, my friend Vy, gifting us with recommendation letters and scarves. We later met up with the squad and just worshipped the night away and thanked God for His goodness and faithfulness.

 

That weekend we travelled from Battambang to Siem Reap, met up with the rest of our squad, and flew to Phuket (poo-ket) in Thailand for our final debrief. It was a time of reflection and closure. Our last week of the World Race. I ate a LOT of shawarma, got a lot of sun, met Yami and drank the best coffee ever. Oh, and my brother Jacob baptized me in the Indian Ocean at sunset. God is so, so good. (Also what better way to end the Race than with a travel day mishap. We missed a flight. Yeah, we are very good at that.)

(yami’s coffee= yummy coffee)

(my brother walking me out to get baptized)

After many very hard goodbyes and few days of travelling without changing clothes, we landed in LA. A few of us had rented an airbnb and stayed together for a day. It was so good to experience the States again for the first time in nine months with squadmates. Coming back to the US was definitely the biggest culture shock I have ever experienced. Jacob and I got up early to surprise the girls with Guatemalan Chapin breakfast before everyone went their separate ways. Bittersweet. I am thankful that these goodbyes hurt so much. It means that they were something of worth.

(a real american house with a real couch and real throw pillows in a real neighborhood)

Next stop: Indiana! My cousin Skyler was getting married and so I flew to Indy and met up with almost my entire family for his big day. It was very different to go from living with 35 people my age that became like family to staying in a house with 35 people of all ages who are my family! haha During this time, I made it a priority to spend time with the Father and it was just so amazing to vividly see and hear Him so alive in this country. I was reading in Matthew 5 and 6 and just seeing how counter-culturally Jesus was living made me want to just strive for that daily. After Skyler and Nicole’s wedding, the fam headed over to Pittsburgh to see childhood family friends. It was strange to see everyone from my distant memories right in front of me, years older, and in such a jarring transition period of my life. It was like I was 13 again when I said goodbye and moved to Texas.

(when you meet up with the family, you shoot.)

(john and i dressed up all nice and fancy for this wedding)

(photo of real baby phil i found at our friends house in pa)

 

 

 And with that, we started the journey home. I got to see Brittany in Nashville and explore downtown which was just the best. We had super beneficial conversations about being back and how life has been in the midst of change. I told her about how I would wake up from a nap and think I was in Ecuador again or how I get so, so cold in the A/C after living in the Asian heat. It was odd being with her even just 10 days after leaving because the World Race felt like a dream that never happened, and when I was talking to her- the States felt like a dream that wasn’t actually happening. This deep, penetrating essence of never-ending deja vu throwing my head and emotions into a scramble. I went on the Race knowing that there would be times that I would be homesick. I never expected to leave and feel “homesick.” But God was really showing me that home really is when you are with those who love you. Whether in Thailand, an airbnb in LA, a madhouse in Ft. Wayne, the living memories of Pennsylvania backroads, or on a road trip that lasts days. Home is wherever the Kingdom of God is. It is reflection of our eternal home with the Father.

(brittany stole my phone at the shanghai airport on the way to los angeles.)

 

10 days after touching down in the US, I made it back home to Texas. I spent the next week in much-needed rest. I was able to see my friend Kyla for the first time since basically Peru. I spent time with God. I spent time remembering the past year. I spent time to stop and think. Thinking is one of my favorite hobbies. A dangerous pastime, I know.

(i missed the texas skies)

(wizards are actually pretty hairy. that’s a fact. -reagan wilson 2019)

(the kyla cal in my kitchen)

 

Next stop: Georgia! Every year after the Race has finished, there is a reunion-like conference in Georgia. You are invited back to the place where it all began (training camp) to see everyone again; to process what this past season looked like as well as prepare for the next season. It is called Project Searchlight (PSL.) I travelled to San Antonio to meet up with Cami, then we took a train to Fort Worth! Our squadmate Chase lives there and we all drove to GA together. PSL was one of the greatest weeks ever. God is so alive, y’all! He is so good to us. I was so affirmed this week. I learned more about how prophetic the Bible can be (Isaiah y’all.) And God allowed us to live out through missions when a group of us met Frank, a local homeless man and fellow believer. He and his wife live out in the woods and just go day by day on what the Lord provides. He really just needed somebody to listen to him and it was honestly my pleasure to hear his wisdom. Missions isn’t restricted to overseas! God wants so badly to be with us all. Even those in your backwoods.

(cami and i had a photoshoot on the train to chase’s house.)

(thankful for facetime.)

(the myth. the legend. elijah bontrager trying to figure out who will bring him a frosted lemonade from chick-fil-a)

 

Overall May-June 2019 can be described as a season of between. The delta between a river flowing into an ocean. I was in 3 countries and passed through China. I visited 13 states in 20 days. I said just as many hellos as goodbyes; just as many “see you later”s as “how have you been”s. And my God has been with me the whole way. Preparing my way and leading me out. So I worship.

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(the group of leaders i get to call friends.)

Next week I’ll be in Georgia AGAIN! This time for Training Camp!!! I am so excited to meet my new squad and the team I will be leading in Romania! God is doing something huge. I can feel it in my bones that He’s about to move. If you could please support me, donate above. Much love! If you have any questions about what I’ve done, where I’ve gone, where I’m going, or you just want to hear expanded versions of these stories, comment below!