Debrief is over… My squad and I are on a bus heading to the Costa Rica airport. I was exhausted as I had chosen not to sleep, instead I chose to pack and spend dear time with my best friend Katie,Emily, and Isaac, since this was our last night together on the race. I was nervous about how I would feel when having to say goodbye to everyone, I had pictured being an emotional wreck
Oddly this is not how it went at all. Saying goodbye was a bit awkward, but not sad at all. It didn't seem like I was saying goodbye for a long period of time. I was used to not seeing most of my squad for a month or two, and this didn't seem any different from that. I said my goodbyes with dry cheeks, and even a smile.
Amy Dylman, Vanessa Morga and I made our way to the Fort Lauderdale airport quickly, got some delicious Chilis after we hauled our huge bags all over the airport. We made our way to a wonderful meal with a sweet and nice waitress, who loved hearing about our trip and was hungry for her own experience of God.
Vanessa and I then had to say a couple more goodbyes before we got to our terminal checked in and waited to board our final plane to Arizona. But as soon as I landed in Arizona my heart starting rushing, and my emotions started going. I felt the smallest glimpse of what a soldier felt when returning home from being deployed. The excitement of getting to see family after such a long time. As my friend Vanessa and I walked from the gate to baggage claim we stopped and prayed for each other as we knew this is may be the last time we see each other and have the ability to pray hand in hand. As we rushed to our families I got to hug my dad first and tears just came pouring out,as his arms wrapped around me. It was a beautiful moment I will never forget and am so thankful I have gotten to experience. The same happened when hugging my best friend Lindsay and my second mom Kelly.
How content I felt to be home with them. How excited I was to see family and friends I hadn't in such a long time.
The first day I was " home" I woke up around 8 ish and came into the front room and hung out with my dad and Kelly, we made a delicious breakfast and watched tv. It was perfect we had no agenda nowhere to be and went with the flow.
I was able to get a phone an I phone at the and for free heck yes. It may not be the newest version but it was perfect for me. We then headed to wings with some of my aunts and uncles as they longed to hear about my trip!
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>> Before coming home I had a little anxiety about what I was going to share with my family. i began to question if I had truly learned anything, if God really use me this past 11 months. Could this have been a waste of their money? I didn't have to suffer the way I thought I would, I was never underfed, ironically I was over fed , and ended up gaining about 11 pounds, I always had a place to stay, showers to use, a regular bathroom, and kitchen most months. Did I truly go on a missions trip or was this a vacation? Did I impact the kingdom? If, so how in the world would I share all these stories with my friends and family at home. Would they even care to hear?
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>> It was then that a soft and quiet voice had come in and said stop worrying, I will guide you with what to say and when to tell each story I have given you. Yes, you have impacted my kingdom, you chose to sacrifice your life and I chose for you to gain it. You were put out of your comfort zone in a way you had not intended. I know what you needed and I know what the people you are going to see at home need to hear.
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>> Thankfully, being home has been exactly that. Meeting with different family members in groups, and one on one, having no idea what I am going to say and waiting eagerly for the Holy Spirit to speak through me, and each time he came through. I had deeper conversations with people than I have ever had, and they were not forced or planned, they were genuine moving and full of excitement.
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>> I went home to coffee, lunch, dinner and in between plans, but was filled up with each conversation I had had. It was a beautiful thing to come home to. I was able to fall more in love with Christ then when I had first entered America.
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>> It doesn't matter what country I am in or what people I am around Christ still woos me in so many different ways.
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>> I was then able to go to Colorado to see my grandma and more aunts and uncles. I have a huge family so the aunts uncles and cousins are endless.
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>> Being in Colorado for about a week was also amazing. It was full of rest, laughter, cooking, rain, good conversations, old traditions, games,and lots of food.
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>> The last night, we drove back to Arizona and we watched tv relaxed, ate Pei Wei and my cousin Chelby came over and we shared stories and laughed. This is when it began to set in, I am actually done with the world race. The stories I had been sharing were real, but now in the past. The children I was entrusted with each month I may never see again. The way they touched my heart was starting to sink in again and my heart started to ache for them for the first time, since I had been home.
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>> Chelby and I said our goodbyes and the pain in my heart only increased as my time in Arizona was quickly coming to an end. My last day in Arizona was filled with an amazing breakfast and amazing conversations with my dad about the past eleven months and what we both desire for the future.
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>> When talking and writing this, my eyes tear up as the love my father has for me has been overwhelming and my love for him has grown more and more as well. Leaving him has always been so hard. I thought as I grew up it would get easier, I would become stronger and it wouldn't be as hard. Well big surprise I was wrong, it seems it has gotten harder for me. Every moment I had thought about having to leave my dad my eyes would fill with tears and when it came time for us to say goodbye we quickly gave our hugs and left. I hurried to the nearest bathroom in hopes to contain my loud sobs and running mascara.
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>> And now I am on a plane back to Indiana anticipating seeing my mom for the first time in 11 months, anticipating this next season in life as it is going to be completely different from my previous season of life. It's going to be busy with school, a job, hopefully living on my own, and hopefully a little bit of travel. But what I desire most out of all those is a continual growth in my understanding of Christs love for me and a continual growth in my love and satisfaction in him :)!
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>> Being home is life in a different country with different people, but with the same purpose. To love Jesus and to love His people :)!!
XOXOXOXOXOXO,
Amie Gallegos
