About to board my last flight home and experiencing a wide range of emotions- the first of which is excitement. I can’t wait to hug my dad!
I’ve never felt a more perplexing bittersweet feeling in my life. I know my heart would be heavier if I wasn’t going to reunite with much of my squad in approximately 3 weeks for Project Searchlight at the AIM base in Gainesville, which will help us with the transition home. When I hugged most of my friends goodbye, it felt pretty normal. We’re used to that classic “see you in a month” line. However, after getting our packs off the conveyer belt at baggage claim and circling around for one last prayer as a squad really got to me. It was a prayer of gratitude for the journey He took us on this year. We’re all better because of it.
A group of us stayed in San Francisco for a couple nights to rest after our 65 hours of travel from Indonesia to America. This morning, checking into my flight alone was extremely weird. The fact that there was no one to watch my bag while I ran to the bathroom was odd. And sitting in between 2 strangers on the plane was pretty weird. I didn’t think either of them would take it well if I decided to sleep on their shoulder, so I stayed awake. It’s also a little odd that ‘travel day’ is actually going to fit into a day’s time instead of 3. That 4 hour drive from Kansas to Oklahoma will feel like nothing. Which by the way, I’m flying into Kansas City, not Oklahoma City. Precisely for the reason of easing back into things. If you don’t hear from me right away, it’s not because I’m not excited to see you! I’m over the moon to be back! It’s just gonna take a little bit of time to adjust.
What I spent on my lunch today in the airport could have fed a family of 12 in Asia. It’s hard to wrap my mind around things like that. And I’m sure it’s only the beginning as far as culture shock. They said the hardest culture shock for us would be re-entry into our own country.
I probably won’t make my way to Oklahoma until after the 4th of July. But my plan is to hopefully start a position as a case manager in OKC come August. My parents will be moving to OKC as well so that’s happy! I’m excited for this next chapter, but that doesn’t come without grieving the end of this one. I’m incredibly thankful for the beautiful ways I’ve seen God at work this year and it fills my heart with joy knowing I’m only catching glimpses of how beautiful and intentionally interwoven that plan is.
Thanks for following along this year! It’s meant a lot to me to read your responses and it’s a joy to share the ways I’ve seen the Lord show himself faithful. I’ll probably post a couple more blogs on here before I officially sign off, but wanted to post an update as I make my way home!
Love y’all and can’t wait to give you a huge hug!
Here are a few pictures from our final dinner as a squad in Bali:
