It was hard for me to believe when the plane finally landed
in New York. I said my goodbyes and with some I cried while hugging them. It
was diffucult to let go of the close friendship we had over the last 11 months.
I rode the last plane while on the World Race with Ally, Shelley,
and Grayson. It was surreal what was happening. Before Ally, Shelley and I rode
the escalator in the Atlanta airport to see our friends and family, we hugged
each other for the last time and cried. We finally finished this hard, but
rich journey over the last year.
It’s hard to process something like this. You’ve seen so
much, met so many people, and changed so much. I never thought
my Race would be the way it was. I never thought I would see the things I saw.
I never imagined I would do the things I did. But it was all perfect, all in
God’s plan, all written in his book.
And when I saw my Mom, Dad, Grandparents, and Best Friends
at the top of the escalator waiting on me to cross the finish line, it was
over. I was home! I made it when I never thought I could.
I hit the ground running once I got there. I was in a
wedding and did so many things at home
around the house like unpacking and putting my room back together. I didn’t have much jet lag either, which was a great thing!
In the middle of it all, I was beginning to process and
realize what I had just finished in my life. I’d get sad thinking about how it
was all over and I’m not around my team anymore.
But sometimes I would feel so thankful to be home and realize how great
America is… I see all the signs in English and get so excited because I can
read everything here! I have car that I can drive anywhere by myself at any
time. I have indulged in American food because it’s the best and gotten free refills on soda with ice! I’ve spoken
to strangers because they understand me. I flush my toilet paper. I have worn
clothes I haven’t seen in the past year. I shower every day because I have good
water pressure, great shampoo, and I can!
I’ve become grateful for my parents and friends who love me.
I have talked with friends and family on the phone and do it often, because I can!
And God is still working in my life. I see the lessons I
learned on the Race and how I’m still learning them while I’m here, and having
to put all of them into practice.
And September begins what is next for me in going to CGA. I’ll
start back with Adventures in Missions and join their Center for Global Action
program in discipleship and apprenticeship in the office. God has been
preparing me for this since I started a year ago in 2012. So I’m excited to go
back and see how I’ve grown.
I know I’ve still got a lot of thinking, remembering and processing to do. So, I trust God in his timing and opportunities for me.
Thank you to everyone who has followed my blogs over this past year. I have loved sharing what I learned and experienced in each country with you. I would not have been able to make it without your prayers and support. I’ll still be blogging with CGA, so you’ll hear from me every now-and-then. Below is how you can help me with CGA.
If you haven’t
read my blog about what I’m doing after the Race, you might be interested. Click here to read about it: What I’m doing after the Race and Why I Choose CGA.
I need your help in raising $3,600 by September for my next adventure.
If you feel led to give financially…
- You
can give a one-time donation with your credit/debit card by going to my
‘Support Me CGA Here I Come’ link under my blog picture. - You
can give online monthly with your credit card going to my ‘Support Me CGA
Here I Come’ link under my blog picture. - You
can give automatic payments monthly through your checking account by going to: http://adventures.org/dynapay/ - Or
you can write at check and send it to PO Box 534470 Atlanta, GA 30353. Make the
check out to Adventures in Missions and put my name, Aubree Richardson, in the
memo line.
***All donations are tax-deductible
