I am going to be talking about courage. Courage is a word that I’ve heard just thrown around, so I decided to look up the word.
Courtesy of the one and only, Google, the definition of courage is “the ability to do something that frightens one.”
Let me tell you about a couple of people who are courageous. My parents. My dad, Geoff (pronounced Jeff).
My father is one of my favorite people ever. He is hilarious, has a dry sense of humor, which I love, and he is one of the most kind and humble people I know. As his only daughter, my dad was nervous for me to go on this trip. He did not tell me at first when I was accepted, but once he realized that I was going to go through with it, he confessed that he was scared that I was going to places where his students came from
My dad is a science teacher, but not only is he a teacher, he teaches students who have come from countries that are torn apart by war and conflict. Dude, he loves his students so much. Anyway, he is courageous to me because he has been willing to give up the security of me being less than an hour away from him. He is so willing and encouraging to go weeks without talking to me or knowing where I am.
Dad, if you’re reading this, I love you. I am so glad that I have such an intelligent, compassionate, and considerate person as one of my biggest role models. I’m sorry for scaring you when I said that I would be leaving for 11 months and that I would be going to China. I’m not dead and I am even more in love with the people around the world. I am so glad that I get to talk to you sometimes and I love getting to hear about your concerts with Uncle John and all of your classes and the movies you get to see. I love you bunches. I can’t wait to waltz with you again and to meet you at the airport when I come back to the states.
Next is my mom, Beth.
My mother is a freaking boss guys. She is so amazing, excited about the weird and crazy things I have the opportunity to do. My mom is one of the most compassionate people I know. She has pushed me to help my community and give back to the people around me. My mom is so smart, has a heart for her students as she is a teacher too, and she is so willing to follow what God has for her.
My mom is a math teacher, and she teaches some high school hoodlums. She is so in love with her career and I could not be more happy for her to influence the lives of the people in Canyon.
The other day, my mom sent me this video, and in all the glory that are time zones, I was asleep when I received it. When I finally got to watch it, it was my mom telling her testimony to the whole church. My mouth was hanging open and I was tearing up that she had the guts to go up there and share her life with people who may or may not accept her for who she is. Her story is powerful and you should ask her about it sometime.
Mom, if you’re reading this, thank you. You have been nothing but supportive of who I have become. You’ve seen me through the hair color changes, the hair cuts that I sometimes did on my own, the dreadlocks a few times, and the breakdowns I’ve had. Thank you for loving me through the times where I was angry at the world and when I said that I wanted to leave the panhandle for a year to be with a group of people I didn’t know just to share the love and joy of Christ that I had. You have been such an impressive role model and I love your heart for others. I have learned so much from you. I love you so much. I’ll for sure cry like a baby when I get back to the states and see you for the first time.
For the rest of you, thank you for supporting me on this journey. Also, courage has been a big part of this trip. I push aside my fears of not being accepted to meet new people almost daily. I don’t like change, but I embrace the new countries with the thoughts of meeting new people who I will get to love for however long I am able to.
Courage is something we each have to choose into. We have to pick uncomfortable situations because that’s the way that we grow. I encourage each of you to choose to do something uncomfortable. I implore you to lean into what God wants to grow you in.
I’m only in Kyrgyzstan for two more weeks, so please pray that I remain focused on my teaching and connections with students. Sidenote, who knew that I would become a teacher this month and love it?
Yeet.
-Jo
