I have been home for fifty seven days.
Fifty-seven days of wonder, questions, reflection and satisfaction for what this last year was to me. I will not lie it’s been difficult. Some days I feel completely content and others I feel like I am in a dream.
Some days I can vividly remember all the places I visited and some days it feels like a very distant memory. It’s weird.
I, for my 25th year of life, got to travel to 11 different countries to share and participate in a force of love that I believe to be true.
In Haiti, I spent time with kids at an orphanage and worked on a farm. In Bolivia, I helped create a cobblestone path. In Peru, I preached at churches and taught English. In Ecuador, I worked at a day camp for kids and adults with special needs. In Malawi, I wandered the red dirt roads sharing with people why I was there. In Zambia, I worked in a 3rd grade classroom as a Teacher’s Assistant. In Zimbabwe, my team and I repainted the dormitories of a camp. In Malaysia, I helped a non-profit set up a fundraising event. In Thailand, I tried to find more partners for the World Race and at night I spent my time telling the girls how loved they were at the bars. In Cambodia, I taught a public speaking class to some of the most eager students I have ever met. And in Vietnam, we painted houses and a school that needed a fix up. It was a great year. A year that I grew and changed a lot from my community. A year that I had times of hopelessness and times of great joy.
I have an amazing support system that sent me. That believed in me. That supported me. And I am honestly forever grateful for opportunity that you gave me by investing and trusting that this was something I needed to do. I really can’t thank you all enough.
I have been doing missions work for the past four years. It has been amazing. I have met so many amazing people and most hold a special place in my heart. Every single person I met, every single trip I took has shaped me in who I am. And in no way would I ever want to diminish that. It’s been the hardest most rewarding years of my life.
I have raised a lot of support money over the last few years and it wouldn’t have been possible with out all of you. From my first trip to Uganda where I lived for five months with my brother. To my third trip to Uganda where I had my mom accompany me. To now this last year on the World Race. I have been a part of a lot of amazing things God did.
Uganda 2011-2012.
Uganda 2013.
Favorite Month: Ecuador. World Race 2014-2015
Since being home I realized something. I am really privileged. I sit here reflecting on this last year and looking at my 26th birthday coming up thinking wow, this is really not what I thought I would be doing at 26. Honestly, I thought I would have a big girl job and at least be in a serious relationship, if not married. Instead, I have traveled to almost 20 countries and although I wouldn’t trade any of these experiences for the world it’s not the typical lifestyle.
Through all of this I have found my passion, I have found myself, and I have found what I need. My passion is not to make a ton of money for myself but to make a difference in peoples lives. My passion is for people in the truest sense to know that they are loved and cared for not only by the Creator but also by me. And everything that I do and will continue to do will be fueled by that passion.
Thankfully I had all these experiences to make me realize that this life wasn’t meant to be about me and my success but that my life was supposed to be about serving others and that’s what I plan to do.
All this to say, I have chosen for the next few years to be about me chasing down my dreams in a more practical way. I have gotten enough inspiration, gifts, and visions to last me a lifetime. It’s time for me to really invest in a path, to really plant myself in the place where God wants me to serve full time. I don’t really know what that means or what that looks like but this past year made me realize that I can chase all these experiences and moments but my work is not really starting until I stop.
My next adventure is heading down to Albuquerque, New Mexico to be a nanny. You might not understand that or you might think, “you are always moving, always going.” But I truly believe my time in Southern Nevada is done for a while and in order for me to find out where is next I got to go try out some places. Although I am excited for this new adventure I am sad to leave my friends and family here. You guys truly have been my support system these past few years and have made all of these things I have done possible.
But for now I am focusing on my home country and what it has to offer me. Thank you to everyone who has supported me thus far and has made it possible for me to get where I have. I am eternally grateful for all of you. Whether you prayed, bought a shirt, bought a bracelet, came to a fundraiser, put money in a growler, gave a donation, sent me an encouraging message, or bought an Ugandan craft. You made these last four years possible and I am so so grateful for that.
THANK YOU.
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