Our time in Eastern Europe has come to an end. It is truly unbelievable that this part of the journey is complete. I have loved getting to immerse myself in these cultures and get a deeper understanding of their way of life. Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria are all three beautiful countries with a rich history. They obviously have their differences, but they also offered many of the same things as well. To name a few: They make sure you know that you are welcomed, hospitality is second nature, they have a lot of pride in their countries, and family is important. Being able to serve them was a pleasure, and blessed me in ways I will never forget. I am not sure if I will ever have the opportunity to come back to this part of the world, but I am beyond thankful I got the opportunity to experience it.
On the other hand, we are headed to Asia, into the unknown. Wonder and imagination fill my mind when I think of what it will be like. I never dreamed I would go to Asia, let alone going to four countries in 3 months. Excited is really the only word I have to describe the anticipation at the moment.
Excited and sad. Anxious, but praying that time would slow down. Making sure you’re not leaving anything and wondering if you have everything you need before arrival. My thoughts and emotions are running wild in the midst of this transition. Wondering and reflecting at the same time contributes to all of this.
At the end of the day, I am thankful for both. This is beauty of the experience: Being thankful for what God has done, is doing, and will do. After experiencing how fast our time in Europe slipped away, Asia will soon takes its place and Africa will be on the horizon.
The reality that time is not on our side is a good reminder of sense of urgency we have during each month. Like my squad mentor shared with me during a hike in Romania: Our lives are like a bolt of lighting. We’re just a flash on this earth, but that doesn’t take away from the impact we can have. I see these 11 months from that same perspective. Our presence is like 11 bolts of lighting, and we get to decide the impact it has.
So here is one picture from each country that best describes what the month looked like.
Serbia:
Romania:
Bulgaria:
See you soon, Asia!
