This is just a short blog to say thank you for all your support over the past 11 months!
I’ve been home for a little over a month now, and it’s all the feelings. I wanted to write this blog my first week home, but I didn’t know how. Then, in the middle of July I went to a World Race Alumni conference for people who just got off the race. I got reunited with my J squad family, and I wanted to write it then, but again, I just didn’t know how. It’s hard to find words for adjusting, it’s hard to find words to express what being home is like. Home is fun, hard, exciting, complicated, restful, and restless. It’s strange adjusting from the past year of really living like a disciple of Christ in other countries, to figuring out how to live like that kind of disciple in my own country. It’s exciting to be able to have running (hot) water, and a bed, yet at times I miss my roach infested home, bucket showers, and bench beds. It’s confusing being away from the people that I just spent 24/7 with, it’s confusing that people don’t understand my world race lingo, and it’s hard to remember when I didn’t use the word feedback in my everyday conversations.
Adjusting is hard and I know it will still take time to really be able to communicate all that I learned this year, and all that I want to incorporate into my life from this past year. But, I love being home. It’s a beautiful complicated mess, and I know that God has, and will be nothing but faithful through it all. As I reflect on this year, I remember God’s faithfulness to the Australian couple who runs a street kids ministry that teaches kids they have a purpose, I remember the care points in Swaziland that help not only feed the children physically but spiritually. I remember the two ladies who run a baby home for abandon children who shine the love of God on those around them, I remember the pastors I met in Vietnam who are continuing to preach the name of Jesus regardless of the persecution. I remember my Cambodian pastor who trusts God with all that he has regardless of circumstance, I remember the Thai women who had never heard the name of Jesus and encountered his love, I remember the kids in Nicaragua who just needed to be prayed for, I remember the man in Costa Rica who just needed a sign to turn his life around. I remember the woman in Jamaica who was resting on God’s truth and asked for healing, I remember the witch doctors in Haiti and the freedom that was granted and the freedom that still needs to happen. And, I remember the small kid in the Dominican Republic who just wanted someone to love him. I thank God I was able to be a small part in what He did around the world this past year because for me, it was life changing.
So thank you for being apart of it, thank you for being a great community at home that’s supported me, prayed for me, and loved me! I appreciate you all!
Love,
Jillian
