I’ve already been asked several times, “What are your expectations for the trip?” I, however, keep thinking, “Is it even realistic to have expectations for an adventure like this?” I mean, I just don’t know what to say. I feel like it’ll be 11 months full of unexpected happenings, struggles, surprises, changes, challenges, provision, etc. It would be sorely disappointing to go into this with a plethora of expectations and miss out on learning from something not expected. Therefore, my hope is to continually expect the unexpected and take it as it comes.
However, I will not be sticking to a zero expectation policy or anything, as that would also be unrealistic given standard things that are normal and/or good to expect.
My ‘expectations’ are as follows:
- Living out of a backpack. It’s expected. I’ve already had several people tell me that they are just too ‘high maintenance’ for this type of living. I think we all are unless we make ourselves otherwise. But it will happen, it will have to do, and I hope to learn from it. I believe that it will be a good lesson on living more simply, force more community (since possessions will be less of a distraction), and a fun challenge against materialism! Or something of the sort…
*sidenote* Last year I was reading this blog called the “100 thing challenge” (100ThingChallenge.com) where people whittle their possessions down to 100 personal items. I’ve thought it would be neat, and then began to realize that I’m too sentimental to simply get rid of things that have no use anymore or are simply excessive. For this journey though, I can’t imagine I’ll have much more than 100 things anyway, so challenge accepted! For at least 11 months. Then we’ll see.
- Change. A lot of it. Life is a process of continual change in oneself and I’m sure that this experience won’t be the exception. I don’t know what this will look like, but it’s bound to happen.
- Jesus. He’ll be there, don’t worry. So will his counterparts. (God, Jesus, the whole trinity thing happens…) I’m excited to learn, be taught, experience things, etc.
- Community. I’ll be living and working on a team and inevitably will build some tight friendships throughout the 11 months. I’M STOKED FOR THIS!
- Serving others. And if I’m honest I’m sure there will also be times that require others serving me. Not in a self-centered type of way, but I’m not naive and thinking that I don’t need other people because life clearly requires each of us to receive from others and there are times that we need help ourselves. It’s kind of how relationships work. You give some, you take some.
- Learning. From the people we visit and the people who will be on my team and God and anyone else who wants to teach me things in life. I want to be open to this.
Well, I suppose that about wraps up that. Until next time! Feel free to leave comments and thoughts below! And if there are things you would like me to write about or questions that you have, I’m definitely open to that!
