How does this month mark the last month on the Race? This time next month I’ll be back in America. I genuinely can’t believe it. Although the time has flown, it does feel like I’ve been gone forever. I can’t remember exactly what my stove looks like at home, Guatemala feels like 12 years ago, and I don’t even remember which clothes are in my closet.
Leaving the World Race is like leaving high school. On some level I’m ready to go home. I’ve learned SO so so so much and I’ve grown and changed in crazy ways. Despite the fact that the Race is opposite of comfortable, it has become normal. Like high school, I’m ready to go, but I’m also not ready to start a new life.
Going home is going to bring an onslaught of new challenges and adjustments. The weirdest and hardest things for me to adjust to are these:
- Kroger, Wal-Mart, and other giant grocery stores. Here in the 500-person village of Bokspits, there is one store that will always be stocked with bread flour, milk, and sugar, and it’s your lucky day if you walk in to find apples, peppers, or the occasional bag of chips. I can’t wait to get ice cream. I never realized how much I needed ice cream until I had no way of getting it.
- Flushing the toilet. Sorry in advance, family. When you live in the desert, flushing the toilet is a major misuse of precious water.
- Being alone. For the past nine months I’ve had “personal time,” but never alone time. Even as an introvert I’m not sure I’ll know what to do with myself the first time I’m alone for more than 5 minutes. And also saying goodbye to the people I’ve spent every second with for six months.
- Speaking real English again. Again, sorry family and future English professor. By the end of my three months in Guat I was dreaming in Spanish, and since then I’ve spoken dumbed down English so everyone who knows English as his or her second, third, or even fourth language can understand me. Really though, it’s a real problem. My English has gotten considerably worse.
- Cell Phone Usage. I haven’t consistently used my cell phone as more than a camera for about six months. When my team is bored we play cards or find some donkeys to chase. Coming home, I’m definitely going to try to use my phone less than I did before I left.
- Not using World Race/missionary jargon in everyday conversation. “In this season…” “I think that would be a good feedback…” “I’m just walking through some things…” “Press into the Lord…” “Could you explain the heart behind that?” “Are you being intentional?” “Let’s sit down and cast the vision…” “Maybe you should do some listening prayer over that…”
- Trying to cover my watch and Chaco tans while successfully trying to get rid of my watch and Chaco tans. And all the other modest missionary tan lines.
- Being able to choose what I eat and actually being able to eat healthy. I’m done with rice for a good long while.
- Being a daughter, sister, cousin, and niece again. That sounds weird, but every decision I’ve made while on the field has been completely my decision (especially as team leader) and has only affected my team and me. It’s going to be odd to have to ask permission again, to let other people in on my decisions, and have those decisions affect other people’s decisions and lives too.
- Going to school again. Plain and simple – having a year off paper writing and project presenting was fantastic. But I will be attending Taylor University this fall. Go Trojans! (It’s Trojans, right?)
So if you see me at any time in the first couple weeks, make sure to give me some grace. It will be a hard adjustment for sure, but I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with all who would like to hear. Don’t hesitate to ask me out to lunch or to ask hard questions if there’s anything you want to know! I love to share what the Lord has done in me and in the people I love around the world.
I don’t know if this will be my last blog update (wifi these days), but if it is, I would like to give a final thank you to everyone who financially and prayerfully supported me for this past year. I have truly had the best nine months of my life and I couldn’t have done it without you all. Thank you.
I’ll see you soon!
