In all honestly, there were many days I never thought I would ever make it to the fictitious place we all call home. After being stranded in Africa and unable to get out on time, I was convinced that I might die there. Ha. I know, I am so dramatic. However, it sure did seem like it in the moment. But sure enough, after indefinite delays and cancelled flights, I finally arrived back on US soil after nearly a year of being away.
The feeling of getting off that plane and walking through those glass doors is unexplainable. I could hear the screaming before I exited and my eyes began to fill with tears. My vision got blurry as I began to run into my family’s arms. There they were, with my very best friends, with signs to welcome me home! I am so beyond blessed to have such an amazing community to come back to. There really aren’t words to describe the moment, but I am sure this photo says it all.
I AM HOME.
I made it. I did it! Through the hard days and the days that came with ease. Through the moments that were painful and the times that filled my heart with joy. I felt like I had conquered the world when I walked off that plane. Most people will never really understand what we went through, but thankfully God saw it all and one day we will all FULLY see.
It’s really hard to put into words everything that I am feeling. I mean this wasn’t just a quick, short-term trip or mini vacation. It was a journey of finding myself, discovering God in a new light and sharing Him in new ways. It was an opportunity for growth in just about every single area of my life. It was both the most demanding struggle and the exceptional reward. It opened my eyes to things I was unwilling to see. It softened my heart in a way I cannot explain. It changed my life in the most painful, yet enriching ways.
It would take about 47 blogs to really sum up everything that happened in my life over the past 11 months, and I am sure I will be processing it for many years to come. However, one thing I know for sure is that I could not have completed this journey or God’s destiny for my life without the MANY incredible people He placed behind me and beside me.
I wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who got behind me financially, prayerfully, and all the other forms of encouragement and support throughout this year. You will really never know how much it meant to me to have so many wonderful people cheering me on and helping me to further the Kingdom. We all played a part in God’s remarkable story, and I couldn’t have made it without each of you. Thank you for investing in my life. God will truly bless you for it. People often have asked me how I did it and I tell them that I had the best support team keeping me going all 11 months long!
I love you all and appreciate all you have done. God is so faithful and has brought me safely home yet again. He commands my destiny; so stay tuned for what is next for this crazy little nomad.
