As soon as I got the e-mail I sat there feeling very strange, very excited, but sad all at the same time. Many times on The Race we remark to ourselves "this is our life" it feels very surreal and this moment was no different bringing with it a barrage of emotions of all shapes, sizes, and colors.
We REALLY are going HOME in 3 months? Like they REALLY booked our tickets and now we KNOW when we're REALLY going to actually step foot on American soil again?
July 30, 2011
JFK
8:45pm
Wow, it feels so crazy to actually think about being home, back in America, back in the familiar, back with family and friends I've known for years, back with food I recognize and choose
Will everyone see me as different? Will everything about my community have changed while I was gone? Will they understand my deep rooted desires to share my story with the world and my passion to empower the youth of America in issues of international social justice, my crazy faith in seeing God move in the miraculous, my new desire to pray over everything and everyone, my ability to feedback and live in constant intimate community, where honesty really is the best policy, will it fit in? Will they hate my nose ring?
All of these thoughts and more instantly swirled in around in my mind
As I researched flights for my return home I found myself getting more and more excited. A few minutes later I decided to get on skype with one of my best friends Mallorie Miller. Talking with her for the next hour helped ease all my fears and questions, I have confidence that the change that God has done in me will continue even when I am living in America, the community that I left loves me and will welcome me with open arms, my God delights in the ways my faith and prayer life have grown, though it may be a transition back into American society I know that the good works that the Lord has begun in me this year He will continue until completion. I cannot wait to see everyone back home!
Okay with that all said and processed through, the Lord has been speaking a lot to my heart about truly living in the present moment during these last few months on the field. I dont want to miss a single moment of what God has in store in these last 3 countries. I know He wants just as much love and joy to pour from me in Ukraine (Mo.11) as He did in the Philippines (Mo.1). My prayer is that I'm able to find a balance between being excited to go home and still pour myself out completely into the rest of The Race.
Really this lesson is good for all of us to learn whether you're on a mission trip or working in America, learning to live each day in the moment and appreciate all the blessings and the trials that we go through with our Savior who is with us every step of the way.
So even though we wrapped our heads and looked ridiculous all day….I still got lice, pray that I can get it taken care of and not be too uncomfortable this month.
My plan for going home is to stay in NY with my amazing mentor Juleen for a week and then fly home to Columbus on August 4th. I found a relatively cheap ticket home for $164.70 but really do not have the personal finances to pay for the the ticket, if you know anyone willing to donate towards my ticket home it would be a HUGE help!
Thanks everyone who continues to encourage and support me in so many ways, your prayers are truly making a difference!
