When people ask how it is to be back in America I use the same answer as when they ask "How was your trip?": Hard but good. I'll be honest and confess that being in NYC was very overwhelming. I was telling myself I wasn't going to struggle all that much because I thought it would be a nice slick ride back into America. But it hasn't been all that easy. I though I was entering into the life I was living with a job, money, car, etc. While in reality I have none of those things. I'll share with you a few transition stories. Some are funny and some are incredible.
-At first realizing that everyone speaks English here, I automatically thought everyone was talking to me. Whether I knew them or not.
-Walking into the grocery store and there being 20 kinds of soy milk to choose from was a bit much. I just starred and starred. "How can there be so many choices?" Im thinking. I eventually just picked one, got what I needed and hurried out.
-I asked my family to get all of my things out of the garage and put them in my room for my return. And by things I mainly mean clothes. I was in shock of how many clothes I had. I thought I would come home and want to go shopping immediatly!! But to my surprise, Im a bit disgusted with how many things I have. Why do I have 3 of the same shirt in different colors? I wasn't nearly as excited about my closet as I thought I would be.
– In following along, I find myself wearing the same few shirts and shorts around. Haha, of course they are not dirty! I haven't walked down a dirt African road, sweat all day long, or gotten baby pee on it. Its fine to wear!
-I forgot pots had handles!! I got really excited while cooking the other day (popcorn of course) and I didn't have to find a random towel or shirt to hold the pot.
-I keep trying to throw my toilet paper away
-My bed seems abnormally large. There is so.much.space.
Now for the good part:
During the race, about month 4, while in Malaysia God had asked me to give away my savings at home. I was mad, as some of you may remember because that was my money. But I gave it away anyway, trust that He would return me with something greater. At that time, the greater thing he returned me with was His love. And it was amazing. I was no longer filling holes in my heart with money or other idols but Him. I honestly forgot all about the money and went on.
I went to visit my grandparents yesterday who are always our biggest fans 😉 . My grandma handed me some cards she saved from my birthday and Christmas. There were a few finacial gifts in there but nothing abnormal. And then she begins to tell me a story. Before I had even left for the race God had told her to save the exact same amount of money that I had given away and to save it for me for when I got home. She didn't really know why but she did it anyways. She handed me a check for the same amount! Then, surprisingly she had money left over every month from what she normally budgets. So she saved that too and it added to double the first amount! God repayed me DOUBLE of what I had given, and then some! Who said that He will give you back more than you give away wasn't true? Because here it is in the flesh people.
God just hasn't stopped since coming to America. He's still right there and it's so great to see. Look what happens when we follow his words!! Crazy things. I've also received numerous gift cards and blessings since being home. He always provides!!
