So what’s it like going back to a place you went on the World Race?
There are risks: How would finances work? Was all that travel time really worth it to go for just 11 days? Is this really wise to go in the middle of the education God has called me to? What if I want to just stay forever?! What if I really do kidnap about 10 of the kids and bring them back with me? To name a few…
It’s Challenging: Being in a place the second time around is way different. You see all the things you loved the first time around. But you also see the ways things have changed… and it’s tough to not wish it back the way it was. It’s hard to pop in and out of a place and be able to really understand what’s happening and all the reasons behind it. It’s hard to be humble and let God take control of MY plans for this place and let Him use me as a tiny piece of HIS plan. I think the more someplace feels like home the more entitled we feel to having opinions about how it should be.
It’s also more challenging to leave. Between ManMan asking if I would be back in 3 days and Benjii serenading me as I walked out the door with “Leaving on a Jetplane”… everything in me wanted to stay. As I was laying in bed the last night wide awake with a sore throat (which stayed with me for 2 weeks… hence the delay in writing this!), I was praying “OK God, If you want me to get on that plane tomorrow… please help me feel well enough to move… if you want me to stay (wink wink) make me sick enough that I can’t fly!”
It’s Fun: I mean, really what could be more fun than: seeing old friends, spending time with World Race family, tucking beautiful children into bed, drinking coffee, seeing waterfalls, hanging out in the nursery, spending time with in the Special Education classroom, sleeping on a trundle bed in Christie’s room, visiting families in the community… and having enough travel time each way to read an entire novel?!
It’s Inspiring: I LOVED seeing the vision of Kid’s International Ministries unfolding day by day. God’s provision and blessing of the vision he has given the Long family is remarkable. God says “go” and Jeff and the crew take off full speed ahead.
I got to meet a variety of people who are ministering to the people of Manila in AMAZING ways. Every few days I was blown away by the ministries I was hearing about (more to come about those).
I actually returned to St Louis so excited to be back in school. As I saw kids out in the community I realized that I know a lot more than I used to about what’s going on with them… now I just need to know what to do about it! I am so honored to be back in school this year to learn how to actually be an Occupational Therapist. I’m refreshed, refocused, and excited for the future.
