halfway happy,

chile. argentina. bolivia. cambodia. thailand.

// s e r b i a

romania. bulgaria. ethiopia. rwanda. uganda.

 

it’s the half way mark of the race

(5.5 months down, 5.5 to go – )

( and i don’t know how we got here )

how did i make it here?

(and how can i ever come back?)

i r i d e s c e n t,

From jaclynmcalester.theworldrace.org

God, who are You?

//faithful, gentle, peaceful

(You are not angry)

loving?

From jaclynmcalester.theworldrace.org

 

 

 

 

an offering of g r a c e

-serbia

in the wash of red & green mountains

sitting on a rock and singing with a

little yellow ladybug on Christmas eve

– bolivia

From jaclynmcalester.theworldrace.org

dancing & singing in the rain

reflections glowing in the asphalt,

– thailand

 

communion:

in jewish tradition a man draws a line in the sand

offers the woman a cup of wine and if she accepts

she c r o s s e s

(i accept).

– chile.

 

From jaclynmcalester.theworldrace.org

 

hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream & chocolate cake

a very chocolate (un)birthday

– argentina

w a y f a r e r ,

cutting dirty finger nails

and washing hair full of lice

these children You know to be Your own

– cambodia

 

that three hour zumba class m a r a t h o n

– chile.

 p o w e r l e s s n e s s

 

From jaclynmcalester.theworldrace.org

 

 

 

tasting s a l t in the flats

& panic attacks

– bolivia

wind riding in the back of a truck

sailing under the sea of stars

letting them p o u r in

-thailand

gathering of old ladies

-cambodia

 

From jaclynmcalester.theworldrace.org

joshua 1:3 //

when we forgot the words to the song

in front of an entire church

stumbling, but they stood

clapped their hands

and joined us.

-argentina

standing in fields of skeleton bones

(but i don’t see ghosts, i see p e o p l e )

searching

-cambodia

i n the g a t e ,

 

bonfires & marshmallows

the grit with which old women p r a y ,

– bolivia

 

anibal. oscar. vanessa. siadah. lucia. josephine. vuthy. chanta. nai.

samboon. aon. nui. s n u f f l e s.

 

From jaclynmcalester.theworldrace.org

questioning the darkness in me

and a hippie man (or an angel)

gave me a crystal clear quartz stone

“for my heart.”

-chile

come as you are baptisms,

swimming.

-thailand

// exodus 14:2

we put mud on her eyes.

(and she smiled).

-cambodia

 

From jaclynmcalester.theworldrace.org

 

 

 

 

an encounter with peace

– argentina

 

under the blankets, snow filtered windows

tear stained sheets and meeting Jesus

while tori watches C.K lewis laughing hysterically

one bed over

– serbia.

h o s e a 2:20

e l e p h a n t s –

we’re not so different after all

when you cut down to the bone

– thailand.

at 16 crying & wondering if there would

ever be more than this: 

You promised me: much more than this

provincial life.

//fulfilled.

(My sheep know My voice – 

 i know Your voice).

 

From jaclynmcalester.theworldrace.org

 

—but oh, how i’m still learning how to love.

 

&  &  & “the road is ahead of us, so let’s start out today.

just, one more thing – the people & friends that we have lost,

(or the dreams that have faded )

– never forget them.”

–ffx.