Journal Entry: June 23, 2009 Tuesday Day 170 9:42AM
Someone said yesterday that there’s approximately 150 days left on the Race. Over halfway. It’s strange because looking back, the Dominican Republic (month 1) seems so long ago, but looking forward, November seems so close. I think that part of it is because we know that Europe’s going to fly by, and we’re a day and a half from ending our first month of ministry in Africa.
We’re on the downhill now. We’re getting to know people better, we’re dreading saying goodbye, and we’re comfortable with our jokes. The back half of this thing is gonna FLY. We no longer have time to get homesick. But we still do. However, I’ve found that I’m only homesick when I’m not thinking about where we are and what we’re doing. We’ll have the rest of our live to be “home”. We only have 5 months left to be here, in God’s will, with these 51 other brothers and sisters we have come to love.
One bitter truth about friendship is that it’s usually temporary. As much as we love them, friends come and friends go. And although I’m sure there will be many reunions after the Race and dozens of friendships that will persist beyond 11 months, these are most likely the last 5 months we will all be together. So you see, we don’t have time to be homesick.
And on the same token, after we get home, God will be busy in each of our lives, leading us to our next call of ministry. And in due time, we will be squad-sick. But once again, there’s no time to wish we were back on the Race. God is moving us on to bigger and better things.
In summary, life is too short to wish you were somewhere else. Like a youth wishing for adulthood and an adult wishing for youth. Enjoy where God has you, because soon enough, you will miss that, too. “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.” -Ecclesiastes 3:1
