Montezuma's Revenge

Two days ago, the team and us (Katie and Hieu) parted ways. They are in Thailand now while we're still in Vietnam, exploring and experiencing the city. Parting ways has been harder than I imagined it would be.

I was showing beginning signs of "Montezuma's Revenge" (google that if you don't know what I'm talking about) the day the team left. I felt so wonderful physically in Malaysia and the first few days of Vietnam that I dropped my guard. I started drinking tea with ice, putting vegetables in my soups and eating everything put in front of me. I figured that since we're in District 1 (the touristy district of Vietnam) that pretty much all food is safe.

Its been a few days now since my friend Montezuma joined me, and I'm wiped. I have waves of gurgles in my tummy that keep me in fear, a headache that wont go away, and total exhaustion. I'm trying to drink more water to stay hydrated, but its hard to feel thirsty in such a humid environment.

Right now I'm feeling down. It feels like once we parted ways with the rest of the SEAM team, we lost purpose and intentionality. We no longer have a schedule, we aren't meeting up with any brothers and sisters and we haven't even continued the devotionals. This is me just being authentic right now. I'm frustrated at myself because I feel like we could be doing SO MUCH MORE- visiting the tunnels, the Mekong delta, the countryside, if I had more stamina. We could be having more intentional conversations with people. I viewed this part of the trip being the "vision" part- where I get to really experience and absorb Vietnam, but my brain feels fuzzy and detached.

Despite all this, I am really enjoying Vietnam, believe it or not. Though I'm discouraged a bit, I'm thrilled to be here. I just wish my body could be as thrilled as my mind. Not to mention, Hieu has been incredibly understanding and gracious with me not feeling up to speed.

So I'm asking you all for prayer. Please please pray that I'll get back to feeling 100%. Please pray that though we aren't "doing missions" that we can still be intentional in how we interact with each others and the locals. And of course, please continue to lift up the rest of the team in Thailand. Pray that they will continue to love each other and be unified, that they will encourage the Thai brothers and sisters, that they will also be intentional in all they say and do.

Love you all, and thanks for your prayers!

-Katie


(Waving goodbye to the SEAM Team)