Spending time in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and a bit in Singapore- I am reminded of the busyness of life that home has. Being here has been a whirlwind, especially coming from Africa. The culture is radically different and the pace of life equally as different. I keep comparing where we are staying (Bukit Bintang, if you want to look it up) to Times Square when people ask me- there are huge screens everywhere and I walk past Cartier, Gucci, and Versace store (to name just a few..) to get to a grocery store nearby. There is EVERYTHING you could imagine right at my fingertips, which reminds me of the US. The only things missing are MY normals, MY friends, MY family members (dogs too), and the things that make home, home.
So I have been thinking about home a bit more lately than usual. I am so thankful that I can say that this list doesn’t even come CLOSE to all the things I miss. I am constantly in absolute awe of the blessings that I have back in the states. I am LOVING life abroad, with constant changes and newness around every corner- but these are the things I am most excited to return home to, so I thought they would be fun to share!
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MOM AND DAD. Hello, if you know me then just yes. This is a “duh,” if you will. My teammates joke and tell me that I talk about them too much, but I really believe they deserve all the attention in the world. I am SO excited that I will get to see them before I see home- in less than a month actually! But I had to list them as my #1 (the rest are not listed in any particular order, just the order in which they jump to my brain)
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Ross & Allen, and no, I am not just saying them because I just listed my parents (surprise). But I really do miss the mess out of these two. I miss Allen telling me that I am weird but still obliging to all of my random requests and spontaneous ventures. I miss Ross and him telling me I only talk to him to get Sadie but knowing that’s a lie. I miss the comradery that we share and the mentality we share of “only I can say that about them YOU cannot!” in reference to one another. I miss the laughter we all share and their presences even more.
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The normality of owning dogs as pets and having them inside the home with you. I miss being able to snuggle up to a pup (Sadie) and having a constant companion ready to play or lay around with you.
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Having a car and the freedom to go wherever I want to go, whenever I want to go. I miss driving and listening to music or laughing with friends in the car with me. I miss the drive from Starkville, MS to Lake Village, AR where I occasionally make a pit stop in Greenwood for lunch with Mary Holly or Jane.
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DOES EAT PLACE. I never dreamed I would talk about my favorite foods at home so much while on the race, but it is surprisingly a very common question that new people ask- and I reply every. single. time. with Does. You just can’t beat it. Everything about it is the best.
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Being able to go ANYWHERE in town and running into someone you know. This is sooooo true of Starkville, Greenville, and Lake Village. The sense of community when you live in a small town is unbeatable. Also noteworthy to be mentioned- going somewhere, knowing people there, and understanding what everyone around you is saying- that is something I miss.
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MY SWEET FRIENDS. Ugh, this one gets me. Another thing I probably annoy my teammates with talking about so much. I am reminded of them constantly in little things I see and experience. Things like, “Wait for me I have to take a picture of this to send to Julia,” or “Okay Jane would be OBSESSED WITH THIS,” or “This reminds me of that one time in the 413 with my roommates and Henry….” (lol classic) or “have I told yall about my friend Waller…” or “one time, Kendall and I….” or “this song reminds me of my friend Tousley,” constantly fall out of my mouth. The list goes on and on and on. (there are loads of people/phrases that fall out of my mouth that I could sit here and type out but let’s be honest- we don’t have time for that). I have and will miss weddings, engagements, and monumental moments for my friends- and that is one of the hardest parts of being on the race. I realized here that the people in my life back home- they really are my forever friends. Changing locations constantly is tough when it comes to hellos/goodbyes/building relationships. My teammates are my saving grace and they love me really well through all of the change, and they are also some sweet sweet friends- but nothing will ever replace the people I have back home who root for me from afar.
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LAVENDER COLD BREW/LAVENDER LATTES from 929 and just spending time in 929 to be honest. It’s just the best, and one of those places I mentioned in 5- I love running into people who hang there. Especially when it’s my Aunt June, Darby Martin, Kristina Brown, Jera Brand, the list goes ON AND ON. Let’s just go ahead and say it- I miss Starkville and the people in it!
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Saying Starkville reminds me of football, and man did I miss football season this past year. The Junction is a special place, and if you’ve been- you know exactly what I mean. GO DAWGS.
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Coffee in the morning with my mama on the porch looking out on the lake and a beer in the evening with my dad in Buckshot Sports Palace.
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YOUNG LIFE. Wow. I miss everything about this ministry in Starkville, MS. The people, the atmosphere, the goofiness, the simplicity of sharing the gospel, all of it.
There are a MILLION things I could list- and I should really rephrase that to there are a MILLION PEOPLE that I miss. I am so thankful that I get to have so many things to miss, and I am counting down the days until I can hug all of you wonderful people- if you’re reading this then you are definitely included in that. But, I am also so thankful for the fact that I have 4 and a half months left of this life. This life of adventure, perusal, of seeking more of the Father’s heart and finding it, of constant surprises, of realizing that Yahweh has way more to offer than I could ever imagine, I like to say He is infinitely knowable- and this is so true, of seeing things I could never imagine to be real, of sitting in coffee shops with my teammates singing “Angel” by Akon when it comes on the coffee shop’s playlist (my current reality), of all of the things that the race is. I will miss it when the time comes to return to all of the listed things above- and I know that. So I am trying to cherish every little bit, while also remembering and being thankful for the many things I have to miss back home
Xoxo
Abigail
