there’s a first time for everything

 

Here is a list of firsts:

First time to:

·         New York

·         Ireland

·         Romania

·         Serbia

·         Macedonia

·         Albania

·         Greece

·         Turkey

·         Israel

·         Kenya

·         Uganda

First time I’ve traveled by:

·         International flight

·         Train

·         Ferry

·         Public transportation

·         TukTuk

·         Cable car

·         American Embassy car

·         Taxi

·         African bus

·         Matatu

First time I lost my passport

Followed closely by my first trip to an American embassy

First time I truly valued my ipod

First rip in my big pack

First freckle on my shoulder

First time to be on the wrong side of the rode

First time I had meat in 3 years (and the last for years to come haha)

First time I killed a computer. Solo.

First time to keep a journal everyday keeping track of my prayers and praises

First pair of tire sandals

First African wrap skirt

First time I sang four different languages in a Christmas choir (Turkish, Italian, French, and English)

First time make serious friendships with people I did not know before the race.

First time to see the African sky

First time I’ve ever moved ( at the end of every month. Uprooting…continuing the journey)

First time to be homesick

First time to be sick with who knows what in a foreign country

First time to pray for restoration for Garrett’s hearing truly praying in faith

First time to skype my grandma

First time to cry when I leave a country (Romania…certainly not the last)

First time to not be home for thanksgiving, Christmas, major birthdays and the rest of the special days I’m missing

First time to live away from home

First time to breath in freedom that only God can offer

First time to worship without any inhibitions… Full of dancing and singing loud and clapping lots of clapping

First time to pray for someone and see healing happen

First time to live in a tent for a month

First time to sleep without the sound of rain and or thunderstorm (oh the comforts of home and a good sound machine)

First Donald miller book read. A thousand miles in a million years….highly recommended

First sunrise over the Negev dessert

First wild zebra spotted on a bus ride

First time I listened to Mat Kearny, Coffey Anderson, and Phil Wickem

First time I’ve had to calculate currency exchange rates

First chapatti eaten

First time I rode in a legit strangers car, went to her house made chocolate cookies and had homemade hummus…Mon and I returned home safely

First time to see a 7^th wonder of the world (Hagia Sophia)

First time I’ve retrieved water from a well

First flag football game played

First time I stayed up and watched home alone on Christmas Eve night

First time in my life that I feel fully supported by those of you in my life that are praying and thinking of me

First 16+ hour bus ride

First time I feel that I know God’s calling for me

First time to the Dead Sea

First time I truly valued a good ol’ electric toothbrush

First jack fruit to be had

First time to fall in love with a family and fall hard (Kitale)

First promise ring (it’s a good promise trust me)

First letter from my sister complete with ridiculous picture of me age 3 or 4 at Christmas time

First time in my life my mom is not readily available for any question or concern or whim more so first time I am not available

First time I washed my pillow in 7 months….the water was nearly mud….SICK

First time I can honestly say I like change

First missionary to set foot in Kitale Growth Church

First time on the radio may I add 7.2 mil heard my voice?

First time I reevaluated what music was on my ipod

First time I pack at 2 a.m. the night before international travel. Packing becomes less of a thing over time

First apple picked off a tree and eaten

First time I know what to say

First time I am undeniably blessed

First time I was homeless (slept in a park)

First time I enjoyed hand washing my clothes

First time I realized who I am

First time I am silly, crazy, annoyed, frustrated, real, and loved with no inhibitions

First time I milked a cow

First time I had communion on New Year’s Eve (with my amazing squad in Nairobi)

First time I skipped snowy and icy weather

First time I slept under the stars on top of a roof…in Uganda.