MIAMI – our layover location on our way to Guatemala! or missing in action… I promise to be evermore present in my blogging! 🙂
Well, it’s been a while – a long while! :/ Things have been absolutely crazy since training camp. The 45 days between training camp and launch couldn’t have gone any faster! I have probably been to REI enough times that I could easily get a job there. And I have driven myself crazy with the 30 different past world racer packing lists. Everything seemed like a must have, which leads to the packing process…
Ohh packing, how you made my life so fun… or not! Aside from goodbyes, my last week at home was filled with packing… how do you pack for 11 months in one bag when you are use to a dresser, a closet, another closet (my sister’s which I conveniently made my 2nd closet after she moved to Denver)? As I mentioned in my last blog, I learned a 6-step process to really live a life following Jesus Christ – the first step being abandonment. Packing was a huge abandonment process for me. I absolutely love to shop! When I am happy I shop, when I am sad I shop, I go shopping with my best friends, I shop online, I simply LOVE to shop. Anytime I had to go to the store or the mall became a task. Looking at all the clothes knowing that it wasn’t practical or logical to buy made me sad. Going to REI to buy dissolving laundry detergent and a leatherman was not as satisfying as going to Nordstrom or Target to peruse the new fall fashion looks to find that new cute blazer or pair of shoes. I hold on to other things that I will need to abandon, but truly living a life where I am not going to define myself by the clothes that I am wearing, is something that I am now kind of excited for! On the bright side – the less clothes I have the less I have to hand wash 🙂
The last few weeks being at home were an emotional rollercoaster to say the least. One minute I couldn’t have been more excited about leaving but the next I’d be crying about it. I continually had to remind myself of the things I was going to be doing for the people of the countries I am going to serve opposed to the thoughts of the things I am going to miss. My best friends are getting married, my cousin is graduating high school, my goddaughter is going to be born, and all the small things. I am still sad that I am going to be missing out on life at home but I truly know that the days in-between would be stagnant compared to the life that is ahead of me beginning today!
In Him,
Kaitlyn
