I’m back. Back in
my homeland. Back in America. I didn’t know how I would feel, and I
certainly didn’t expect to get tears in my eyes just from seeing San Francisco
out the window as my plane kept going towards LA. The emotions I felt when our plane touched
the ground, not just any ground but AMERICAN soil, were more than I
expected.
2 days later I’m sitting at the airport waiting on my first
domestic flight in about 11 months to begin boarding. I got Starbucks this morning on my way to my
gate. My white chocolate mocha is
delicious as ever and making me feel very American. I found a seat near the windows, not that
there’s much of a view, but it’s what I prefer.
My excitement and anticipation have been getting stronger since I arrived
back at the airport this morning after spending two nights in LA. Last night was my first night alone in 11 months. I had a room completely to myself with no one
to knock on my door or share a bed with me.
I may have jumped on my bed while reveling in this sweet moment.
But here I sit.
Alone. In America. As I was sitting here sipping my Starbucks
and checking my email and Facebook I looked over and saw some very familiar
things being sold. A mere 20 feet away I
can see Sour Patch Kids, Tampax tampons and Premium saltine crackers! I could go right over there and buy them with
no trouble at all! Why does this make my
eyes well up with tears?
My eyes are also being overwhelmed…with white people,
especially the men. Please don’t judge
me. You can laugh if you want, but I
know if you’ve ever been in Africa or SE Asia for an extended amount of time
you’ll get what I’m talking about. I’ve
come to be able to spot a white guy out of a sea of Asians of Africans in a hot
second. To top it if off, my friends and
I usually kind of awkwardly stare and wonder whether or not he’s really attractive or if we just
have our “World Race gogglesâ€� on – AKA he’s the only white guy we’ve seen in
weeks so therefore he’s attractive. Well
let me tell you America, you are lookin’ good!
In other good news, there are traffic laws here.
I can flush my toilet paper no problem.
Guess what. I plugged in my
computer without using an adapter yesterday!
I can’t tell you how good/unusual that felt. I took a HOT shower last night. There was an actual shower curtain around it
and not just a removable hose with a shower head beside the toilet and
sink. It’s the little things that make
all the difference. If nothing else I’m coming home
feeling so much more thankful than I ever have been before. Jesus has blessed us America. We have the world at our fingertips. I am honored to call myself American.
Here are some things I’ve having to remind myself of now. This past year actually happened. Jesus actually took me on this whirlwind
adventure around the world, and I’ve literally almost come full circle. Yes, this chapter is finished, but it just
means that a new one is beginning. I
have to believe that my Father didn’t show me these things and take me this far
to abandon me now. He has good plans; He
has GREAT plans. The things I’ve seen
and the people I’ve met are forever etched on my heart and in my mind. I will not forget. I will not step back or even stand still, but
I pray that I will continue to move forward and towards His Kingdom.
Jesus is good. Life is good. 🙂
“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to
the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with
thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD
is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the
deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea
is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let
us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”
Psalm 95:1-6
