It’s month 9 and I’m still struck by how many goodbyes happen on this 11 month adventure. We said goodbye to our friends and family. Goodbye to television, cell phones, and most American comforts. Every month we say good bye to slum children, contacts we stayed with, a chance meeting of someone on the street, and sometimes even teammates as we switch teams or teammates head home. Goodbye is a regular word in our vocabulary. While it’s tough at times to say goodbye to people or stuff…there are SOME goodbyes that feel really, really good. I was thinking of some things I wanted to share with my Squad at the end of the month and here are a few “good-bye’s” I was pumped to share.
On this trip I’ve said good bye to…
– 2 pairs of flip flops (they broke), and a pair of tennis shoes (they were so worn they became unwearable)
– Broken or Lost electronics
– Regular communication with loved ones/internet availability
– Lost underwear
– Personal privacy
– A lack of hugs or physical touch “intimacy” with people and with God
– Insecurity
– Lack of confidence in self and God
– To the belief that I was ugly or unwanted
– The feeling that I was undeserving of a Rockstar (as in Awesome godly man that God has planned for me) hubbster in the future
– Not trusting humans, God, and myself
– To hurts that kept me from wanting to worship God or lead others into His presence through playing worship music on my guitar
– Saying “I Can’t”…it’s just not true in Christ and now I actually believe it
– Believing God does not have my best interests at heart or that He won’t provide
– 2 Luggage Locks (getting sand in them but God reminding me I should trust people more and lead a life of an unlocked heart)
– A lot of wounds and hurt I had stored up for myself and not dealt with
– Almost 50 lbs
– Clothes that are too big
– Medical supplies by bandaging myself, teammates, and random strangers
– A little girl named Colleen and trusting God would allow me to adopt several children in His timing
– A bracelet for a woman that needed a bit of encouragement
– Nail polish for little fingers that needed some color
