It has been over a month since I landed back in the United States. Traveling back was like a dream. As I climbed on the plane I reminded myself that this plane was not taking me to another country, one with new foods, languages, culture, smells, sounds, and so much more. That this plane was taking me to the U.S. it was going to take me “home to family”. Home, what did this word even mean to me. This word was no longer just this place in Oklahoma but many places all around the world. Looking out the window of the plane I watched the clouds go past. As I thought of this all I looked around me and I saw these people that had been with me for the past nine months. These people I once thought of as strangers but now saw them as family. This brought my eyes to water a little. Looking at my family on the plane reality hit me hard. It was not just another travel day, it was the last travel day on the World Race Gap Year. It was the day, we would all go back to where we came from.
Reflecting on what just happened in my life during the past nine months one night in India came to mind. Sitting in my hammock I was talking to the Lord about so many things when He asked me “what is the World Race to you?” Nothing like I thought it would be was my first thought. Applying for the race I thought of it as nine months of helping others in any way they needed it. The Lord had me sit and reflect on what had happened so far on the trip when it hit me that this trip was more then I knew it to be. It was not nine months of what I could do to help others but nine months of God using me, using others, teaching me, teaching others, and teaching me through others. He was teaching me and I needed to start seeing it. He was using different people, events, and so much more to get to the core of my being. The Lord used this trip to show me that I am loved, I am outgoing, free, loving, joyful, weird (in the best way), a leader, listener, teacher, gentle hearted, passionate, and so many other things. The World Race Gap year was nine months of the Lord teaching me, letting me learn hands on, and so much more.
Coming back, I have cried more than I did than when I was gone. There were the tears about bacon, smell of clean clothes tears, to many options tears, so much real ice cream tears, and the day I realized there are not mosquitoes in the house or lizards there were also tears. Although there are tough days there are also good days, ones that I feel blessed to be here for. Going to the lake with family, getting coffee with a sister, buying a fish late at night with the other sister, going on road trips, having a job again (Thank the Lord), finding joy in the simple things in life with my niece, or talking with someone close to my heart. As I remember these moments I have had being back I also remember the moments I had when I was gone. They are all so dear to my heart with good lessons behind them.
What is next or where is next is a question I am often asked. Coming back I told people I was spending the rest of the year with family, working, growing, being involved, and getting tools for life in different ways. That in January we would see where the Lord leads me. I have a heart for languages, other cultures, serving people, loving people, and living uncomfortably for the Lord. It’s not my life it’s His and I’m just waiting for Him to tell me what to do with it.
If you have been following me on this journey and if you have supported me in any way I thank you. I thank you for not seeing this as just another trip. For sharing my post, reposting my pictures, commenting, reading my blogs, praying for me (and my teams), financially supporting me, laughing, crying, and everything else with me. The Lord has really used you to bless me in many ways. It has been a long journey but I know I haven’t been alone once during it. You all were there supporting me throughout it.
If you have questions or want to just sit and chat about life, this journey, or anything let me know. You can email me at [email protected] or Facebook message me with when might work best for you. I would love to grab a bite or a cup of coffee with you and chat. I am an open book with lots of stories and I am willing to share. Even if you want to just tell me about your life I also love to listen and would love to hear what is going on.
I hope your day is amazing and that you can see all the little exciting blessings of life!
Until next time
~Amber
