So in my last blog you read about my long travel home, here I want to tell you all why I went home and what it was like to be home.
My reason for going home was because one of my best friends, V & her fiancé, were getting married! Between training camp and launch she got engaged and asked if I would be a bridesmaid in the wedding. I contacted AIM and asked if it was possible to go home and they gave me the ok! In Nepal I was finally able to purchase my plane tickets to head back. That’s another story you can read in this blog post.
I had no idea what to expect when I went home. I knew one of two things would come out of it: I would either really love home and want to stay or I would really miss India and would be itching to get back. I ended up feeling the former.
Before I left for home, I felt like I had gotten into a rut. I had been really homesick between all the holidays and emotionally I was going in circles. All the advice I had been given seemed to be the same over and over and I don’t think it was working anymore. To be honest, I don’t think I was working anymore. I was worn out, tired, and ready to go home. Going home could not have come at a better time and God knew it.
I got home the night of January 23 and left the night of the 27th. So I was home for approximately 4ish days. That did not include the 5ish days of travel. My days at home were very brief so I tried to make the most of my time.
During the four days I was home, I got the chance to rest, celebrate holidays, eat good food, sleep, spend alone time with the Lord & process, watch my friends get married, and spend some time with my family. My family made my coming home for those few days so special. They left the Christmas tree up and celebrated holidays with me. They made delicious meals for me and got the items to make chocolate chip cookies. My grandparents had me over for dinner and lit the fireplace and we all sat around and talked (well, I kind of slept and talked, but not at once). Just being able to sit with everyone at night and talk and waking up in my own bed felt so comforting.
I learned there are so many things I took for granted at home. Tall trees, a coffee maker, hot showers, clean floors to lay on, a car to drive, a pillow bigger than the palm of my hand, and a dog that isn’t mangy and dirty and skittish. All these are more or less comforts that I didn’t realize I missed. They made me feel safe, comforted, and at home.
Now that I’m back on the field, I have been struggling a lot with homesickness. My team specifically has been hit really hard with homesickness. Please pray for my team during the next 4 months we have left. I know we all want to continue to be present and focused with why we are here and not wishing for something else. With that being said, I have also come back refreshed and ready to go. I have one more month in India and then it’s off the Guatemala.
Thank you all for your prayers and support, if you have anymore questions about me being home feel free to reach out to me. I would be happy to talk!
– Jo
