My reentry was a little bit later than the rest of my squad. A friend met me in Chile for a few days and we roamed about. However, that was difficult at times given the blocked metros, daily riots and constant lingering tear gas. Please be in prayer for Chile and moat of South America as their people fight for change. But inspite of it all I learned alot aboiy what it will be like to go home to my previous people, some thought processes I need to readjust and how much I really wanted to go home. I can’t describe to you how difficult it was to wrap my head around the fact that I was heading home, especially when I was still with my race family. I surprised myself by tearing up when the stewardess welcomed me to the flight in perfect English. Excitement began to build as I watched the plane get closer and closer to Atlanta on the map and no shame saying I cried as we prepared to land.
I did want to give you all a quick update of what my next steps are in being home. Just another testament of the fact that the Lord does things in His time and is not worried about my plans. My schedule for December was packed by October. I was excited to visit friends and supporters, easy back into being in the classroom by volunteering with my friends, and give myself time to adapt to life back home. However, the Lord had other plans. Beginning a teaching job, especially for a testing grade never sounded appealing to me. I told my roommate/previous coworker this and haphazardly included that I wouldn’t do it unless our school (the school I left to go on the race) offered me a job. One day I will learn to stop loosing ideas into the atmosphere because the moment I went to sign up for a race reunion week in January, I received a message asking me if I wanted a job at the only school I would have said yes too. So naturally my reaction was… absolutely not! But even in our unwillingness, the Lord gives us peace to say yes. If there’s anything I’ve learned this year, it’s to suck it up when what I want doesn’t happen and just say Yes. So I did. Through gritted teeth and a heap of nerves, I accepted a full time 5th grade teaching position. 5th grade was one I never wanted and I will be waiting to see why this was the Lord’s plan, but He has also spoken so much life over this next season and over these kids. Excitement and anticipation builds as the days get closer.
My biggest dream has always been to be a missionary overseas and He did that. I realize now that our dreams can take so many forms. In the wise words of Flynn Rider (Tangled): “Well,that’s the good part I guess. You get to go find a new dream.” So my search has begun, my search for a new dream. But fortunately I get to dream with a Father who says that all of His promises are Yes and Amen. Whether my dreams keep coming true or I live a life searching for the next one, I get to walk with the greatest Dreamer of them all.
I cannot begin to thank you all for your messages, texts, emails, blog comments, birthday cards and prayer support. They meant the world to me and got me through alot of days of homesickness and questioning why the Lord brought me there. You were also bathed in prayer and loved from all over the World! So here’s to my last blog of this incredible journey and here’s to the next adventure.
My incredible mentor Megan!
My family for the year at our final squad dinner
