I am waiting at an airport. I think this will probably be a common occurrence for the next year. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions, visits, sessions and packing. I’ve had to say ‘see you later’ to all my people and welcome new people. I have limited my earthly possessions for this year and been overwhelmed with people’s generosity to meet my needs. My emotions have been ALL over the place, high one minute and low the next.
So as I wait, here is a list.
5 things to remember
- hugs from my favorite people – “See you later” s are hard. I know/plan to see my home people through video and hear them through calls but not being able to touch them or hug them will be tough. There is so much comfort in a hug. I wish I could hold on to those moments and repeat them whenever I need their comfort. I’m so thankful for my dear family who loves me so well.
i. A couple memorable ones: When I balanced a bowl of water as I caught Hannah in a off the ground bear hug!
ii. Feeling my dad trying to hold tears and then both mom and dad wrapping me in their arms together.
- Dance party to Trolls – When I’m with my sister, more times than not I join in her crazy! Lol I am going to miss those crazy, music filled moments with my sisters. I’m going to miss their singing when you say one word. I’m going to miss their ability to quote entire scenes of our favorite movies. I’m going to miss watching predictable Hallmark movies with them. But instead of focusing on all the things I will miss while I’m gone, I want to focus on the great memories: dancing with Monica and watching Chelsea with her foster son.
- Though we are in separate locations, we are all on our own adventure and mission field. – As I am getting ready to experience new people group and create new cultural norms with my team, I realize that this is just life. From training camp they drilled into us, “Life is ministry and ministry is life.” One thing I am eternally grateful for is that my family and I are living for one and the same purpose. Our purpose is to serve Jesus Christ and to make Him known. So as I follow Jesus to Belize, I remember that my family and church are doing the SAME thing in Kansas.
- Change is how we grow. – I am embracing a new season. This season is going to be full of changes – different cultures, living areas, clothes and people. It’s going to be a season of uncomfortable and stretching. Annie F Downs wrote, “ When your life season changes, so does every relationship, and this includes your relationship with God. So before I even knew the depth of the change that was about to happen in my life – leaving everything normal I listed above – I knew this time I was entering was something to savor, just me and God. If everything changes, how do He and I change?” My friend, if you are embracing a new season too, I invite you to ask Jesus this question.
- Kansas is my temporary home – As Carrie Underwood sings, “This is just a stop, on the way to where I’m going, I’m not afraid because I know this is my Temporary Home.” Though I adore Kansas and enthusiastically agree with Dorothy that there is NO place like home; it is fleeting. Yes, I am going to miss the comforts of home. Yes, I am going to miss my family. BUT the thing I have to remember and stand firm in is that my permanent home, the place I will always belong is in Jesus. Jesus is everything I need – wherever I am – Jesus will go before and behind me.
We arrived in Atlanta airport around 10:30AM on Tuesday and now it is almost 10 AM on Wednesday and we still have another flight and bus ride till our final destination. I should arrive in Belize this afternoon (YIKES I KNOW CRAZY comes to mind!)
So with all this time in the airport, I am learning that productivity in the airport is something to fight for – but also don’t miss opportunities in front of you. These traveling days have been spent reading Annie F Downs new book, chatting with my new friends, trying to sleep and finally finishing this post. But I also spent time in a conversation with one of Atlanta’s chaplains. A retired man who voluntarily comes into the airport to share the love of Jesus. All his stories and corny jokes were so uplifting because he is doing mission right where he is. So maybe mission requires us to be intentional – but I KNOW it is so worth it!
Until next time — Be bold in who God created you to be! Love you!
