Last August I left Canada to embark on the trip of a lifetime. 11 countries. 11 months. 56 of the most amazing teammates that I will ever have the privilege of getting to know and live with. I saw, learned and experienced countless amazing new things, and I grew in ways I would have never dreamed. In that trip around the sun and journey around the planet, life as I knew it was forever changed.
Then one day it ended. I hopped a plane by myself and returned to all that I had temporarily left behind in Canada.
Coming home was far more challenging than expected. I spent 3 weeks crying. Wrecked and feeling horribly disoriented, I found myself doused in culture shock and torn between two seemingly irreconcilable lives… My previous, and now current life, in Canada, and my life spent travelling the world as a missionary. My mind battled and I wrestled to maintain my confidence under the pressures and uncertainty that met me upon my return home.
Then came July 24th. One year after training camp I returned to Gainesville, Georgia for one bonus week with the people that I now consider to be “my people”.
PRAISE THE LORD I decided to attend this sweet reunion. PSL was 5 of the richest days of my World Race experience.
One month after “goodbye” hugs with the people that I have grown to so deeply love and trust, I got to have the sweetest of “hello” hugs!
Strangely enough, after just one month away from the best friends I have ever made, I had actually begun to wonder whether or not our friendships would survive… our reunion at PSL snapped me back to reality. There is no way these women are getting rid of me!
The week was packed with joyful worship sessions that felt like a victory cry and left my soul feeling replenished.
Teachings about re-entry, living for Christ in a self gratifying culture, how to deal with family, and how to bring the new me into an old life brought much needed encouragement and a change of perspective. Hope began to rise back up in my weary post-race heart and mind.
Each night I got to eat dinner with my mentor and a few of my favourite squad mates. We mulled over questions and challenges. We prayed together and encouraged each other. We picked each other up and reminded one another of what the Lord has done and is continuing to do even though our vision might get hazy.
Also, I was introduced to a bunch of new opportunities to carry on in missional living!… more to come on this in the near future 😉
Yes, it was a week to relive world race inconveniences. We spent it sleeping on a church floor, enduring the thick Georgia heat and embracing the ever unpleasant outhouses. Yes, there were over 100 of us ladies sharing 3 showers and and one bedroom door that seemed to be always opening and closing. But it also came along with the same old perks of world race community! We got to laugh together every day! We ate meals together, carpooled and sang to the radio together. We went to the movies and we went to Dairy Queen for late night ice cream together. Probably most valuable was the fact that we got to just talk about it all and remember what an amazing journey we’ve been on, how good God has been, and what invaluable bonds we have together.
To be completely honest, my initial return home was pretty much a train wreck. But you know what, this past week has allowed me to realize that that’s ok! I’ve been reminded of where I have been and who I have become. I’ve remembered the feeling of joy and the depth of hope that I hold in Christ. I’ve been reassured that “it’s ok to not be ok”. And I have grown even closer to the friends that have become my family.
If you are a racer returning home, do yourself a favour and go to PSL. You need it more than you know.
If you are a supporter of mine reading this, I freaking love you and I’m so glad to have you on my side.
Tomorrow I return home for the second time, and I know this time will be great. Life is a beautiful journey and mine is really just beginning. Thank you for standing with me and fighting for me. If I haven’t had the chance to meet up with you or talk with you since I got home, I would love to, so hit me up.
So much love to all of you
Thanks for reading!!
