You Lived Where?! Yep….
In a tent on a mountain in the rainforest, in a one bedroom apartment with 8 girls, in a dentist office that doubled as a chocolate factory, a hotel, and on a farm in the middle of nowhere. This is the reality of life on missions abroad. Learning how to love your teammates well amidst living somewhere totally out of your comfort zone. So if you’re thinking about doing the race you are in for a wild and extremely rewarding ride! Or, if your a friend or family member curious about where I have stayed—hey! I’m happy you’re here.
Month one—Guatemala
My team and I lived with our precious hosts that owned a chocolate business in their house. Their house always smelled like fresh cacao powder as something sweet was always being concocted at the front of the property. Not only did they have a chocolate business, but the wife was also a practicing dentist in the town. So her dentist chair was in their living room which doubled as her office when her buyers got a cavity from all of her chocolate. She’s a very smart lady and gave us a good laugh when we woke up one morning to her using her drill on a patient. When we lived with their family, the 6 of us girls had two bedrooms with mattresses on wooden pallets and a bathroom for just us. I loved living here, but sadly, a week into our stay another teammate and myself contracted COVID and had to spend 10 nights in a fancy hotel just outside of town. During our time at the hotel we each shared a room with two queen beds and heard quinceaneras going on downstairs most nights. It was an interesting, but very fun month to say the least!
My adorable bed in our host home.
Our sweet host in her chocolate factory!
The fabulous hotel that Caitlyn and I stayed at when we had COVID.
Month two—Honduras
Wow!! Where do I begin? During our stay in Honduras my whole squad endured “the mountain”. We each popped up our tents on sites in the middle of a jungle forest near Comayagua. We spent long days working in the sun and nights shivering under our sleeping bags in our tents as the rain poured down. We were the lucky ones that got to stay in this luscious jungle country during their rainy season of the year. Yes, if you’re thinking muddy shoes, lots of creepy crawleys, and wet clothes 24/7 you are absolutely right! This month was really hard, but honestly one of my favorite months on the race thus far. Although we didn’t have WiFi or a conventional kitchen to cook in…the men and women of this stay treated us with such love and kindness. 10/10 would camp for a month in a tent with all my best friends again after this!
This is my friend Emmery and I sitting in her tent:)
Sweet friends and I sitting at the top of the mountain to watch a movie during our free time.
Month three— Costa Rica
This month was definitely my hardest season on the race up to this point. Not because of our living situation, but because the Lord was walking me through a tough time as a leader and in my walk with him. We stayed in two locations during our time in Costa Rica. Our first location was in the church of our hosts where we would pull out mattresses at night to sleep on and clean up each time there was an event in the church. It was really stinking hot there and I debated many times going to buy a fan. Our second location was quite literally in the jungle with monkeys we could see from our “house”. We stayed on what I can best describe as a camp site on a farm in the middle of nowhere. My team had bunk beds and a few rooms to choose from on our side of the farm. We had a massive outdoor space where a sweet lady prepared our meals in an outdoor kitchen. We used the outdoor space as a place to play double-Dutch with our farmhand friends, and to make organic fertilizer with an agronomist professor. 
This is my teammates Lauren and Kaley wrapping Christmas gifts in the church and also the same space we slept in!
My teammate Makalah and I sifting the dirt to make organic fertilizer.
This is where we kept our things on the farm in our room. I won’t lie I totally thought I was uploading a photo of our bunk beds, but this will you give you some insight into Lauren and I’s room.
Month four—Nicaragua
This month I lived all over the place. The majority of my stay in Nicaragua I worked with an organization that rescued women from sex trafficking. During our time with this organization we lived on site with the women that were provided homes in a disclosed location. We had mattresses on the floor of a room in the central building where the women were taught how to sew and cook on a gas stove. The women all around us had homes that they shared with their children and were taught how to be mothers in. This location and these women have such a tender place in my heart and I hope to return to continue loving these women and their children for decades to come. The area of town we lived in often ran out of running water for days so there were times where we had to reserve water to flush toilets, shower, and clean our dishes. I gained so much perspective this month on the privilege I grew up with and a newfound appreciation for how others live across the world. The second part of this month I stayed in a few different hostels for debrief and raised up squad leader training. This was the first time that I stayed in a room that had air conditioning for over just one night. I won’t lie, I felt super pampered sleeping on a nice bed and having a real washing machine for the first time on the race. This month holds such a special place in my heart. I definitely will be returning to this country!
Our humble abode in Nicaragua!
The adorable stove that Lauren and I managed to cook our Thanksgiving feast on.
The little girls on site loved to play with our hair and put fresh flowers in them! This was sitting on the porch of one of the women’s homes. They have beautiful plants all around the houses.
Month five and six—Albania/Turkey
This month/s our stay has been extended here in Albania. We have had some route changes due to COVID and have had to be super flexible with ministry and our placements. I have lived in a one bedroom apartment with 8 girls total. YEP. It’s been interesting to say the least. There has been some rotating of people sleeping on the floor, couches, and the one big bed we have in the bedroom. We have been preparing our meals in our little kitchen and spent a few holidays in this precious apartment on the Adriatic Sea. We are walking distance to a ton of coffee shops and restaurants and have a view of the Sea from our balcony. There are so many pros and cons to living in this space, but I have honestly enjoyed it so much! This month, our team has a few days off and will be taking a short trip to Turkey which I am beyond excited about!!! 
Our sweet little kitchen in our one bedroom apartment.
I wanted to give you all a glimpse into how I’ve been living the past few months during my time on the field. I will say there have been many nights where I have missed my bedroom and comfy bed, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. Each host we have been paired with has been giving to us in so many ways. I have felt loved, seen, and valued, during the majority of my time abroad and will continue to update you guys in the months to come.
XOXOX,
Katherine
Thank you for sharing the wonderful places you’ve been. It’s obvious they all hold special meanings & memories! Godspeed as you continue your journey & make a difference with each place you go & each person you meet. ??????
Love the update and how you can see the beauty and good and the positives in each and every situation.
Thanks for the photo and housing walk-through! Super cool!
Love reading about your journey. Please be safe and I pray the Lords blessings upon your group.
Wow. This is one of those blogs that reminds me how much comfort and predictability you all have abandoned to do the Race. So thankful for you guys, and for your amazing energy and attitude through it all.