There I was. Sitting on airplane about to touch down in Ft. Lauderdale in less than 10 mins. Honestly terrified of what comes next. I was going to be alone. I was about to say goodbye to all my brothers and sisters I just met 9 months ago in Georgia. A family that I was told I had 2 more months with. Then poof there I was giving last hugs and goodbyes knowing that I would never get to see some of them again. Knowing that this was about to be the end. I was about to get on my own plane back to Tampa. I wouldn’t have Matt or Maggie next to me. I wouldn’t hear Megan ask for help to put her bag up in the cubby. I wouldn’t be able to sneak off half way through and check up and talk to the other guys, I knew this was the end of the world race. It was terrifying, But I put my trust in God.
So I boarded my plane and headed off to Tampa where The man himself Frank Montoya was waiting to pick me up after I called him 2 hours before Surprising him by asking for a ride home from the airport because I had to leave my parents in Nicaragua the night before. He asked me so many questions about the race and about my new life, but he did it in such a relaxing way that I felt like this was going to be an easy transition back home, but after not being alone for the past 7 months I quickly came to grips with the truth when I entered my house. I was alone. I hadn’t been alone in 7 months at any time at all. Someone was always there in at least an earshot but not anymore the house was empty and I missed the sounds of community. Sounds of laughter, joy, bonding, and love. All I could hear was the sound of the Air conditioner, and a phone working with out wifi.
I was good for the first few days. Got the opportunity to have dinners with Frank and Rachel Montoya, got to run to church and see everyone there. And got to have stinking amazing naps. Like I might have been in a coma kind of naps. As the distractions of this world slowly crept back in and life in quarantine went from being centered on the light and words of Jesus to being centered on the light and words on a screen. A way to contact friends from the Race, a way to tell others I was home and make plans to call on zoom (because that’s all we could really do), and a way to distract myself from the pain I was going through. As time went on all I was focused on was getting back to Africa. I had a internship lined up in swazi being discipled by leaders in the community so I could disciple the squads coming in just like I had a few months ago, but plans change in a world with a pandemic and sadly aim had to pull the plug on the discipleship house because of the virus.
So there I was. Alone and lost not knowing where to go next. I missed my friends, I missed my relationship with the Lord, and I missed a country that took hold of my heart. Alone and scared of what to do next it took wise words from a man named Luis Lamb to get me to move again. Luis called me over the phone to just check up on me and tell me he loves me and so does the Lord and he ended up doing that and so much more. He ended up getting me motivated to find what’s next in my life. What was God wanting me to do next. So after talking too Luis I decided to ask God what he wants me to do next. And instantly God made my next steps clear.
So turns out this will have to have a part 3.
