29 weeks.
29 weeks of building community
Community {ke`myoonite} *a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common*
—This has looked like 40 people 18-22 years old coming together for one purpose- to bring God’s kingdom to earth.
—Community has looked like giving each other feedback every single day. We give positive feedback to affirm people’s gifts God has given them. Constructive feedback is given to bring people to the higher place God has desired for them.
—Besides the community we have in our squad of 40 people, we also have a community that is our team of 6 people. These are the 6 people you can’t escape from- many laughs, tears & great memories have been had with my team(s) in the past 29 weeks.
29 weeks of learning who God says I am in Him
—30 weeks ago I had no clue what my identity was. I knew about God but I didn’t truly know Him or have a relationship with Him like I thought I did.
—Within these past 29 weeks I’ve discovered my boldness, my confidence, my voice. My true identity.
29 weeks of ministry
—Ministry for me was mainly teaching English in Guatemala and Thailand. Along with teaching English I’ve painted a school, done construction, built a mud hut, worked in 2 orphanages & went to a village. My prayer for this trip was that ministry wouldn’t just become a routine for me but something I looked forward to everyday.
29 weeks of building relationships
—Ministry wasn’t just limited to what I listed above. One thing I loved was continuously going back to the same coffee shop & getting to know the workers there and building relationships with them. I learned ministry doesn’t have to be planned out “activities”, it can happen naturally in everyday life!
29 weeks away from home
29 weeks of vulnerable
challenging
life-changing
real life.
7 weeks.
7 weeks left of little kids running up to us yelling “muzungu”
—One thing similar in every country is the kids have been overly excited to see us. Whether they are yelling “gringos” in Guatemala or “falangs” in Thailand- they all have an excitement to see us & love seeing who can get the closest to us white people. I will miss the joy these kids bring.
7 weeks left of having to go to a coffee shop to get wifi
—I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that in just 7 weeks my phone will work 24/7, not just when I’m at a café. I can receive texts while lying in bed WHAT? I will miss having no choice but to be unplugged from electronics.
7 weeks left of getting to join another nation in their walk with God
—Getting to come alongside brothers and sisters of different languages & nations to encourage each other
—Getting to minister to people in other nations… There’s just nothing like it. I will miss all my family from these nations.
7 weeks left of living on $4.50 a day for food
—Our meals aren’t always gourmet, but I will miss this simple way of living. (P.S you can’t even buy half a Chipotle burrito with this kind of money)
7 weeks left of the never ending African sky, the beautiful sunset & the stars.
7 weeks left of being able to say “I swear if I find one more spider/ant/cockroach/fly on me”
—Yeah actually never mind can’t say I’ll miss this one too much.
With 29 weeks down and only 7 left to go I can’t stop thinking about home. An air conditioned house with furniture, a microwave, oven, fridge & televisions?? A washing machine and dryer? A dishwasher? Soon an actual house will replace my tent. A comfy bed will replace my [flat, uncomfy] sleeping pad. I’d be lying if I told you I haven’t been dreaming about what my life will be like back in the States and what food I’m going to eat.
And as short as 7 weeks is in comparison to this 36 week adventure- I don’t want these weeks to fly by. I’m having the same feelings that I had when I left on this trip 7 months ago.
Fear
Excitement
Nervousness
Happiness
Such a mix of emotions is going through my head as we finish this last leg of the trip! These final 7 weeks in Africa are not ones that I want to be wishing away. I want these to be as productive and passion-filled as my first 7 weeks in Guatemala. Giving it my all. Diving deep. Growing in new areas. As excited as I am to get back to Minnesooooda, I am so much more excited to soak in every last minute here.
