Adjusting to a new normal
Currently it is 12:18 at night and I cannot sleep. I just got done doing financial records for my team of 6 and getting henna drawn all over me. I will wake up at the crack of dawn tomorrow to watch the sunrise for the last time before heading to our official ministry location later that day.
I am stressed.
I am overwhelmed.
But most of all I am over joyed.
It truly doesn’t feel real that I am sitting in India right now surrounded by peers who have become my true family. We eat together, laugh together, worship together, travel together, cry together, sleep together, breath together, live together, and exist together. We all have gotten to that awkward stage where you can help hold someones hair as they attempt to shower with a bucket, feed them food with your bare hands, share constipation medicine, and share a sleeping bag when its just too dang cold. I love these men and women of God and I am over joyed to say I get to live with them, quite literally, for 9 whole months. WHOOOO.
It truly doesn’t feel real that I am living out my biggest dream. Long term missions work has always been on my heart and traveling has always been on my heart. I am currently sitting in India and after this month I will go to Nepal. Unlike my other missions trips to the Dominican, I don’t go home after a short 10 days… I live and breath missions work for almost a whole year. That is something that already I have found to be harder than I originally anticipated. Missions work is not easy. It is emotionally, physically, and spiritually draining. But along with the pain and heartache comes redemption and joy. I am so excited to jump into ministry soon and love on all the people of the world. Quite literally.
It truly doesn’t seem real that I am quite literally living out of a backpack. It is hard. It is tiring. It is weird. It is gross at times. it is crazy. And it is cool.
Being able to share things with others and live minimally is quite freeing. I have loved being able to only have 4 outfits to choose from. I have loved being able to carry a bed and pillow and blanket with me everywhere I go. I have loved sharing with others. I have loved not having to worry about having a ton of things to keep track of. I have loved it. Its weird but super cool at the same time.
It truly doesn’t seem real that I am not living in comfort anymore. By saying YES to this journey I also said GOODBYE to myself. Where I am staying currently in India we dont have toilet paper so we have to get creative, we use bucket showers, its friggen fire hot, and the food is SO HARD TO EAT. This also isn’t even the worst of it. Its going to majorly get worse very very soon. For most people the thought of giving up their American comfort for almost a year would never even enter their mind. This is hard and I won’t pretend its super easy. I am learning to get used to it but I also am learning to love embracing new cultures. I am learning that by embracing new cultures you also learn how to love them more.
I could go on and on and on.
This is a crazy journey but I am so excited to be on it.
i can’t wait to start blogging about the ministry we are doing and sharing the crazy things God is doing.
I love you all. So much. Like a lot.
PRAYER REQUESTS
~That travel goes well tomorrow
~That our hearts will be prepared for the ministry we will start soon
~That God will continue to be faithful in keeping us all safe and healthy!!
