Back in the United States of America…alive, safe, and well!
As I walked out of the airport on July 24th, after going through customs and collecting my mucho amount of luggage, I was
greeted by the best Welcoming Committee ever!!
My parents were holding a large sign that said Welcome Back and had all of our names on it. My mom had made homemade cookies for all of
us and there was a finish line as we officially ended the race. Other friends and family had also come to
greet us and another larger sign was there as well. People were taking pictures as if we were
celebrities and there were hugs everywhere all the time. We prayed as a squad, as a team, and some left
that night. Those left went to a hotel
to enjoy a celebration of the finish with pizza, chips, pop, candy, and a cake
that my parents had brought. Some left
as early as 4:30 in the morning and by 9:30am, my parents and I were the only
ones left.
fast. Good-byes aren’t usually a hard thing
for me because it doesn’t hit me until later, after they’ve left. I am here in Florida with my parents for a few days
staying with my Aunt and Uncle. It has
been nice to have just a few people around that I know as I figure out how to
process and transition this year. I’ve
had nice walks and talks along the ocean with the calming waves coming in. God has blessed me in amazing ways with this
opportunity.
But it’s a weird
transition. Sunday morning I went to
church with my cousin. It’s a rather large church with the theater seating,
lights, band on stage…the whole bit.
When we started to sing the first song, I just started to cry and at
first I didn’t even know why. I
definitely never expected this reaction from myself. ‘I never cry.’ Well, many different thoughts and images
started to run through my head as I stood there. My first thought was that it was hard for me to stand in this
huge, air-conditioned building with tons of money put into everything there. I saw the many tiny church buildings flash
through my head; church communities with very little. It wasn’t that I thought it was wrong for
this church to enjoy the blessings God has given them. Who am I to judge that? I know that God uses everything, every church
in different ways to reach out and bless others. It wasn’t that I was bitter or angry. It was just hard to see the huge
difference. It did make me sad. I can’t even explain all I was feeling in that
moment.
Before I got back to the US, I had some fear
that I might forget the things I’ve seen and experienced, that I may get back
into my routine of life…and forget. And then, in that moment, in that church on
Sunday, the faces of many children I have met throughout the year, around the
world, started to go through my head.
The faces of orphans, friends, pastors, the faces of the families I met
in the dump and built relationships with…and I felt helpless again. I felt discouraged. I felt like something was missing. But God reminded me that He has me right where He wants me and this has been His perfect timing. And He is excited to show me what He has for me next!
My life the last 11 months
has been so different than my whole life before. It’s been a crazy adventure and the most
life-changing time of my life. As I’ve
been back in the US,
all my responses to people in normal conversation seem to refer back to my trip
this year. Everything that is said by my
parents or aunt and uncle gets a response from me, in one way or another, about
my trip this year. I do it without
thinking. The World Race has been my
life for the past year. And coming back
to the States (not even IN yet), so much seems the same as before. People live the way I did before. Priorities seem to be the same as before. How do I not live in this past year, but take
it with me into the now, into the future? It is a part of me for good. It’s not a trip I’ve gone on and now I leave
behind, it is a part of who I am. How do
I blend The World Race with my life here in the US? I feel it is a process and step by step, in
God’s perfect timing, He will show me what is next. He will prepare me for what is next and show
me clearly. He will help me take what
I’ve learned this past year into the here and now. He has been faithful every single moment of
my life for 25 years, He will not leave me hanging now as I move into the next
phase of life, taking everything I’ve learned with me!
…the journey is actually
just beginning. I get to do this the
rest of my life!!
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders
and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for
the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such
opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
–
Hebrews 12:1-3
“I
have fought the good fight. I have completed
the race. I have kept the faith.”
-2
Timothy 4:7
**My friend and brother
in Christ, Aaron, put some of my thoughts into words in a way I couldn’t
seem to on his blog.
