I am almost done with month 10!? How did that even happen? There are so many questions that run through my head as I process this year and also realizing this year and the World Race is coming to an end.
A few questions I believe people will ask us when we get back:
What is your favorite country?
I have unexpectedly loved Southeast Asia.
What was your favorite ministry?
A children’s group home and getting to know my squad on a personal level.
What was the world race like?
…um… hard, difficult, fun, different than what i thought, fruitful, slow paced, freeing, becoming more normal.
Do you feel called to overseas missions long-term?
not at this moment, ( we still have one more country after Thailand) , the more we are in different countries, our hearts are more for our people, our culture and our language.
Are you and Austin moving back to Charleston, SC?
When we applied for the World Race, we felt like our season in Charleston was coming to an end. We do not know a specific city where we are going to be rooted. We are asking the Lord to provide a place in His timing.
As I prepare to go back, there are a few things that are certain:
1.We are changed from this year.
2.The people we will be coming home to have changed too.
Seasons, life events, careers, community they all shift. Change is good, but it also brings a loss. A loss of something good or bad. Change can be easy but it is usually hard. We as humans like routine and a steady life consistencies. When something shifts or when life moves into a new season, it might be exciting but there is a loss. Our change will be the race is coming to an end and we will be back to living in America. That change is also a loss. A loss of community I have been apart of and a different way of living. ( I am actually really excited not to pack up every month and live out of my backpack.)
Austin and I want to be aware just as much as we have changed, we also realize so has everyone else. We can pick up where we left off, but we also realize there is a sweetness to growth and moving not backwards but continually moving to where we need to be. We are excited to still pursue the relationships when we head back home, but it will and should look different. Austin and I have grown and still are growing. We don’t know all the where’s and what’s after this year, but we are trusting God will show us.
To give you a little update on what Thailand has looked like for me. This month is MANistry month, which means all the guys from our squad are doing ministry together. Austin and I are in two different towns this month, is hasn’t been as difficult and has gone by a lot faster than I anticipated. I believe Austin is busier than I am this month. It has been really good though. I am in the wonderful town of Chiang Mai and love it. It is touristy but it is such a fun place to live. We are working with a longterm team from Adventures in Missions who is planning on buying a building to run as a guesthouse/hostel. Things run a little bit slower and differently than in the States, so there is still no building, but we have been working on a lot of small details to help them get to where they want to be. Ministry has looked very different this month, many different coffee shops, different meetings, prayer and worship sessions and just hanging out with the girls and the people who happen to stay at the same hostel as us. I am here with a total of sixteen girls from four different teams, so having that many people around can be fun, but I have been finding time to get away to rest.
Also we got to go to an elephant sanctuary this past weekend and there was a 5 month old baby there. One of the cutest things I have ever seen and it played soccer with me! One of the perks of being in Thailand.
