A lot can happen in a year.
One can go from being a normal girl- next- door to a pastor- preaching, AIDS- baby- holding, widow- hugging, prostitute- loving, backpack- wearing missionary girl… and can even make it back in time for Thanksgiving to tell the tale.
In party pants.
Thanksgiving, 2011
SO embarrassing.
But what happens after a life-changing year like that? After all, adrenaline can only last so long, eventually one must go back to “being normal,” right?
Perhaps.
Over this past year, I have:
- Enrolled in two universities and had four majors (currently: nursing)
- Started regularly meeting with a friend just to pray
- Donated 12" of hair
- Spent time in (at least) nine states
-
Been in three weddings
The new Mrs. Mikella Van Dyke (I didn't catch that bouquet)
- Applied for (and was rejected by) jobs in six different countries
- Started a blog
- Spent one on one time with at least thirty teenage girls
-
Run a marathon (a real one)
Run 26.2 miles and can't even walk to the metro…
- Made more plans that I’m ready to admit and…
- Seen very little fruit from all of my activity
Meanwhile, my awesome squadmates:
- KK is squadleading L squad somewhere in South America
- Kelly just got back from Thailand with SHE
- Lauren is in Kenya with Cure
- Sheila is starting a house of prayer in GA
- Anne is in Mozambique at Iris
- Emily is in CA at Bethel
- Allison just got back from G42 in Spain
- John got back from preaching (or something) in India
- Andrea is in the Philippines with Wipe Every Tear
- Rachael is in Cambodia
And those are only the out- of- the- American- ordinary. We have 4 squad mates married, a bunch working at AIM, multiple studying to become nurses or other big deal things.
The T ladies get together to pray over the new Mrs. April Clark
What am I learning (or, more accurately) relearning now?
Comparison is the thief of all joy.
The reality is that right now is not my time to be off “having the great adventures.” You know, the ones that you can take pictures of and write up epic blog posts for the thousands of adoring fans to drool over back home.
On the flip side, this means it is my time so stay up late with my parents, or take my brother out for froyo, or wake up ridiculously early for a spin class.
I couldn’t do those things in Africa, but I can most certainly do them now.
Simultaneously, right now is my time to spend serious hours on my face before the Lord. I confess, I have been really slacking in that department lately, preferring to cry out to the heavens, begging for a change of scenery, as my sweet Savior laughs at me and says, “You can barely handle this easy life you have right now! How would you possibly handle crying orphans day after day, or hundreds of prostitutes pressing up against you? Grow where you’re planted so that when the timing is right you’re ready to roll.”
Alright, missionary girl. Time to get your butt back in action, to seek the Lord earnestly- not because He has a plane ticket, but because He is the end all. Time to intercede on behalf of the ones currently on the front lines and prepare myself- mind, body and soul- to join them.
I’ve been home for a year, and it’s been a good one.
But I’m ready to get back out there and do big things.
Homeless shelter life…. coming soon to a missionary near you 🙂
QUESTIONS:
What has your last year been like? Any major events / lessons / breakthroughs?
Want to be accountable with me in prayer?
Know of any cool organizations in need of one slightly-dramatic twenty-something?
