I’m in a blogging mood. That hasn’t happened in a while, so I’ll make the most of it. Sometimes it takes effort to ponder and write, but as I’ll be wrapping up the journey in a week I may not blog much more in the future. We’ll see. Just a warning: this may be a little random, but I have a few thoughts about home and processing what just went on for the last 11 months of my life. It’s kind of a big deal.
Where to start? Let’s start with home, I’m not ready to tackle me yet. Home. I haven’t been there for 327 days and a few things are different than when I left. When we pulled out of the driveway on July 10, 2011, there was construction going on at my house. My parents added a sunroom where the deck used to be. It’s been finished for months now, complete with new furniture and pictures on the wall. We also have hardwood floors that have replaced the different carpets that were there for my entire 22 years of life. There’s a new patio and an email from my mom mentioned something about blueberry bushes? Mom also bought a new bedspread for my room. Now you can see how things will be a bit different than before.
Some things have changed among my family members as well. My younger brother spent a semester in Uganda gaining new experiences to process and good memories to hold onto. One of my older brothers is now engaged and planning a wedding! My other older brother also has a new girlfriend. I have yet to meet any of these incredible ladies, even though we’ve been able to talk a bit through the internet. I’d say I have some catching up to do in this department and I’m looking forward to it!
This is also the first time I’ll be home without going to school in the fall. It was an easy transition to go to the Race right after college without any job commitments or going out “into the real world.” Most of my friends have been working for the past year as “grown ups”.
I know that going home will be a sweet reunion. I also realize that things have changed. This is not bad, just different and I’m excited to see how this year has grown the folks back home. What will be new for me is old news to them. It seems like every time I Skype the questions always come back to how I’m doing. I’m certainly thankful for caring and inquisitive friends, but I’m ready to hear their stories. I know this year has changed them as well as me. I don’t know exactly how I’ve changed in every way, but I’m sure that my closest friends and family will let me know soon enough.
I laughed a little when I read someone’s previous blog comment. A friend said that I sounded like Sam in the last Lord of the Rings movie about to head back home to the Shire after all his crazy adventures. That’s a stinkin’ awesome analogy: 1. Because I love LOTR and Samwise Gamgee (he’s the real hero of the film); and 2. Because now that I think about it, it’s true. Once when my team was having a not so great meal we were laughing and talking about all our favorite foods back home. I looked at Taryn and quoted LOTR: “Do you remember the taste of strawberries, Mr. Frodo?” I haven’t seen many strawberries on the Race and I look forward to covering either my Honey Nut Cheerios or an ice cream sundae with those tasty red fruits!
A teammate said something today about potato salad and I had an outburst right there at the table: “POTATO SALAD!?! I completely forgot that existed! Yea! I’m emailing my mom, hold on. Potato salad, haha. That’s great!” They know I’m loony! Before lunch today Ben asked Stephanie and me what our favorite t-shirts were back home. I remembered one navy blue one from a Campus Crusade Barn Party a few years back, but I can’t tell you what’s in my closet anymore. I know I have clothes and jewelry and shoes that I left behind – good grief I’ve only been carrying a backpack for the year – but for the life of me I can’t remember what they look like! Once, I looked at my previous facebook albums just to see what I dressed like in “real life” pre-Race.
There are certainly lots of other changes apart from the physical. By living in community I’ve come to learn many things about myself. I’ve grown to love living, eating and working with others; I’ve also noticed the immense need for alone time and intentional time spent between only the Lord and myself. I have learned to share my burdens and my celebrations with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I’ve met so many new family members over this year; many who don’t look like me, talk like me, dress like me, or even worship like me, but they know my Father and that makes us kin.
I have come to find freedom in singing to the Lord, in dancing before Him and worshipping with my whole heart. I have grown to love His Word and find joy in reading and searching through its pages. I have learned to pray in the moment and trust that my God will come through. I have seen the sweet result of staying faithful in the midst of struggles.
I have also found difficulty in communicating as many English words simply elude my mind anymore. When I come home, if I go into town I’m sure I’ll be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the day as usual, but this hustle and bustle will be in English. That’s gonna be weird. For the past year I have simply tuned out the background noise and trained myself to listen closely when there is English translation in order to hear properly. At each church or organization we’ve been to the team has been welcomed up on stage to introduce ourselves and speak to the crowd. As much as I anticipate seeing my church family, part of me wants to climb up the back stairs to the balcony and just soak in the Lord’s presence, unnoticed and alone. I don’t want to be center stage with the spotlight; I want to melt into the congregation and worship the One whose house we’re meeting in.
Here’s the thing though, I’ve come to realize that there will be a spotlight pointing straight at me. It’s inevitable because people love adventure and stories and excitement. I can’t blame you, I’m the same way. My life has been a bit adventurous and exciting, and I’d say I have a few stories to tell. Still, I know that how I respond to all the attention back home will show how much I’ve truly grown. From now on I’m going to be “the girl who traveled to 11 countries in 11 months”. While I may not be excited about all the gusto (I’m excited for some gusto) that comes with my homecoming, I am elated to have the platform and opportunity to share about the real Adventure and to be honored to turn the spotlight off of myself and onto His beautiful face.
Where to start? Let’s start with home, I’m not ready to tackle me yet. Home. I haven’t been there for 327 days and a few things are different than when I left. When we pulled out of the driveway on July 10, 2011, there was construction going on at my house. My parents added a sunroom where the deck used to be. It’s been finished for months now, complete with new furniture and pictures on the wall. We also have hardwood floors that have replaced the different carpets that were there for my entire 22 years of life. There’s a new patio and an email from my mom mentioned something about blueberry bushes? Mom also bought a new bedspread for my room. Now you can see how things will be a bit different than before.
Some things have changed among my family members as well. My younger brother spent a semester in Uganda gaining new experiences to process and good memories to hold onto. One of my older brothers is now engaged and planning a wedding! My other older brother also has a new girlfriend. I have yet to meet any of these incredible ladies, even though we’ve been able to talk a bit through the internet. I’d say I have some catching up to do in this department and I’m looking forward to it!
This is also the first time I’ll be home without going to school in the fall. It was an easy transition to go to the Race right after college without any job commitments or going out “into the real world.” Most of my friends have been working for the past year as “grown ups”.
I know that going home will be a sweet reunion. I also realize that things have changed. This is not bad, just different and I’m excited to see how this year has grown the folks back home. What will be new for me is old news to them. It seems like every time I Skype the questions always come back to how I’m doing. I’m certainly thankful for caring and inquisitive friends, but I’m ready to hear their stories. I know this year has changed them as well as me. I don’t know exactly how I’ve changed in every way, but I’m sure that my closest friends and family will let me know soon enough.
I laughed a little when I read someone’s previous blog comment. A friend said that I sounded like Sam in the last Lord of the Rings movie about to head back home to the Shire after all his crazy adventures. That’s a stinkin’ awesome analogy: 1. Because I love LOTR and Samwise Gamgee (he’s the real hero of the film); and 2. Because now that I think about it, it’s true. Once when my team was having a not so great meal we were laughing and talking about all our favorite foods back home. I looked at Taryn and quoted LOTR: “Do you remember the taste of strawberries, Mr. Frodo?” I haven’t seen many strawberries on the Race and I look forward to covering either my Honey Nut Cheerios or an ice cream sundae with those tasty red fruits!
A teammate said something today about potato salad and I had an outburst right there at the table: “POTATO SALAD!?! I completely forgot that existed! Yea! I’m emailing my mom, hold on. Potato salad, haha. That’s great!” They know I’m loony! Before lunch today Ben asked Stephanie and me what our favorite t-shirts were back home. I remembered one navy blue one from a Campus Crusade Barn Party a few years back, but I can’t tell you what’s in my closet anymore. I know I have clothes and jewelry and shoes that I left behind – good grief I’ve only been carrying a backpack for the year – but for the life of me I can’t remember what they look like! Once, I looked at my previous facebook albums just to see what I dressed like in “real life” pre-Race.
There are certainly lots of other changes apart from the physical. By living in community I’ve come to learn many things about myself. I’ve grown to love living, eating and working with others; I’ve also noticed the immense need for alone time and intentional time spent between only the Lord and myself. I have learned to share my burdens and my celebrations with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I’ve met so many new family members over this year; many who don’t look like me, talk like me, dress like me, or even worship like me, but they know my Father and that makes us kin.
I have come to find freedom in singing to the Lord, in dancing before Him and worshipping with my whole heart. I have grown to love His Word and find joy in reading and searching through its pages. I have learned to pray in the moment and trust that my God will come through. I have seen the sweet result of staying faithful in the midst of struggles.
I have also found difficulty in communicating as many English words simply elude my mind anymore. When I come home, if I go into town I’m sure I’ll be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the day as usual, but this hustle and bustle will be in English. That’s gonna be weird. For the past year I have simply tuned out the background noise and trained myself to listen closely when there is English translation in order to hear properly. At each church or organization we’ve been to the team has been welcomed up on stage to introduce ourselves and speak to the crowd. As much as I anticipate seeing my church family, part of me wants to climb up the back stairs to the balcony and just soak in the Lord’s presence, unnoticed and alone. I don’t want to be center stage with the spotlight; I want to melt into the congregation and worship the One whose house we’re meeting in.
Here’s the thing though, I’ve come to realize that there will be a spotlight pointing straight at me. It’s inevitable because people love adventure and stories and excitement. I can’t blame you, I’m the same way. My life has been a bit adventurous and exciting, and I’d say I have a few stories to tell. Still, I know that how I respond to all the attention back home will show how much I’ve truly grown. From now on I’m going to be “the girl who traveled to 11 countries in 11 months”. While I may not be excited about all the gusto (I’m excited for some gusto) that comes with my homecoming, I am elated to have the platform and opportunity to share about the real Adventure and to be honored to turn the spotlight off of myself and onto His beautiful face.
