HOME.
It’s been officially a little over 4 weeks since I, along with T-Squad, stepped off the plane from Jamaica into Miami and went our separate ways to the places we call home.
It’s been 4 weeks of driving my own car, sleeping in my own bed, taking hot showers, eating delicious American food, not wearing the same outfit two days in a row, playing with my niece and nephew, and spending time and catching up with family and friends.
Home has felt, surprisingly, normal. I didn’t expect this. I expected some huge culture shock honestly. But that hasn’t been what it’s like for me.
I’m enjoying being able to drive by myself places, getting Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, being alone for long periods of time, seeing my family and friends, and all the other things that home brings.
Yet while home has not been as hard as I imagined it to be, it has been hard in subtle ways.
Subtle as in..
-While driving down the road I see a cat cross the street and wishing it was a goat or a cow because that’s what I’ve have been used to seeing so much in the past year.
-Watching my squadmate Julia’s video blogs about Haiti and not expecting it but starting to cry because I miss it so much and wish I could be there again even for a moment.
-Taking over 30 minutes to get one thing in Target because I’m taking in all of the choices and different varieties of products.
While these may sound strange to some of you, I’m realizing that for me it is part of the process of re-entry. And that it’s okay and it’s good.
The Lord has given me a heart and a calling for the nations. One that only started beating faster and intensified during my time on the World Race. And I know without a shadow of a doubt that He is calling me back to the nations in some shape or form in the future.
But I also know that until then and for now, I am here. In the United States of America. In the state of Tennessee. And in the city of Cleveland.
And I’m called to serve here. To serve my family and friends and the people I come in contact with everyday. And I’m excited about that!
One of the biggest things the Lord has taught me this month at home is about faithfulness. What He is teaching me is to
BE FAITHFUL WHERE YOU ARE.
Faithful in the day to day tasks of life. Faithful in the small things that seem insignificant. The Father is so pleased in the faithfulness of the little things.
We are called to invest in what we have in front of us at that given moment.
Not what is behind us or in the future. But right now.
While I was in the Dominican Republic in March during month 10, the Lord sweetly showed me Jeremiah 18 regarding my future.
“The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. Then the word of the LORD came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.” -Jeremiah 18:1-6
So with that, I know that I am in the palm of the hand of the Good Potter and that I am His clay. He knows what “seems good” for me and what He has planned for me since eternity past. So I’m trusting Him.
And I’m learning to be faithful where I am as I walk with Him day by day in this new season. Am I doing this perfectly? No way. But He is faithful and every day is making me (and you, Christian) more like Jesus as we walk with Him.
Christian, I hope this encourages you to seek the Lord to be faithful where you are and trust Him with the rest. He is pleased with your faithfulness in the small, good works of your daily lives.
To those of you who have been praying for me in this season of transition and anytime before this, thank you! I can feel them as they are working (James 5:16).
When the Lord gives me specific direction about what’s next, I’ll be sure to update you all!
I can’t say this enough but THANK YOU all for your support financially, prayerfully, emotionally, and spiritually this past year of my life as I’ve been on this journey. I am so grateful!
For Christ’s glory in the nations,
Karleigh
