16 Days 13 Hours 24 Minutes 42 Seconds…. Atleast that’s what my “Countdown” app on my phone is currently reading as I write this blog.
Launch is coming like a storm. A storm of new opportunities, Chances, adventures, new people, life changing moments, all bundled together by emotions that I cant even begin to put into words.. It’s strange when you know your life’s about to change drastically and your just counting down the minutes on some app on your phone. I don’t know if I would rather it happen unexpectedly or have the time to prepare yet deal with the struggle of not letting the time inbetween eat you alive. Although I’m excited more then anything and just ready for this journey to begin I still find myself trying to slow the days down. Enjoying the moments with my family and friends, the moments of just sitting down and relaxing because I know God will keep me plenty busy once this mission truly begins. Trying to make every expiernce an enjoyable one because I realize it may be the last time I see any of these people for at least a year.
Yet there’s something about change that truly excites me, and its coming in the most drastic way I could imagine right now. Let’s just start off with the simple fact of weather, yesterday it was -4° in my hometown of Sanford ME and it will be on avg 90° at our first stop in Abidjan Côte d’Ivoire in Africa. Food will go from my American privileged option of eating whatever I want whenever I want, to a much more simple modest eating style of truly appreciating what food we receive and eating it without judgement or complaints. My living quarters will go from having my own room, comfy bed, personal space, and privacy to a group style of living working with whatever space me and my 5 other teammates receive for that month With no true feeling of settling in knowing we will have to repack our lives in a month and find a new home. Even things like never really understanding the native language or how much my money is really worth. And although these things may all sound like bad changes they are simple things you must deal with to see the beautiful change too. The change of scenary and all its vast natural different beauty across the world. The connections made with a variety of people from across all Gods nations and the precious smiles of the children who we will spend our days with. My daily drive will change from filling my bank account to filling the needs of those who constantly go without. That much needed change in my life of serving rather then being served and the truly amazing feeling that comes with that. The crazy change of foods, music, clothing and just all around cultures. Needless to say giving up some things like a comfy bed or the idea an actual homestead isn’t something I think I will regret. I feel as if I’m truly ready to embrace this change. I’m ready for this storm to hit.
Oh and its now officially 16 Days 11 Hours 36 Minutes 3 Seconds until I launch but hey whose counting…
