Monday evening I will fly back to the States… 17 hours later I arrive in the States on Monday evening… strange. I will finish these 322 days a different person. I guess I’m mostly the same, but different and probably more changed by these 322 days than any other combined 322 days that have passed in my life.
I expected to change. I am not surprised, but I am still amazed. Amazed at what I have seen and experienced this past year. The world has shown me life, love, pain, suffering and immense hope and joy in it all. I have seen love and felt love on so many faces and my heart has gone out to more than I thought possible. The faces and places in my pictures and in my memories all have pieces of me scattered throughout; my heart, my tears, my hopes, my laughs and my dreams. These are a few of those pictures…
My year has been characterized by arriving somewhere new, falling in love with the Father in a new way-through new people and leaving. But, I’m learning that in leaving I haven’t really left. I am a part of every place I have been. We all are. Our lives and our spirits touch and become a part of every place we go and everyone we meet.
We were reminded the other day by Gary that we are now responsible for a lot more than when we started a year ago. We are responsible for what we saw, what we’ve learned and what God has put in our hearts and in our dreams. What will we do about it? This has only been a small part of our journey, a fragment of our lives that has been impacting, but I think most of us are realizing that this is only the beginning.
Thank you for following part of my journey this year, for being a part of my life even though I have traveled far and wide, and for listening to my stories and my heart. Thank you for your prayers, your comments and financial support that have made this year possible. I am excited to be home again and for where the journey will go from there (and hopefully cover myself in a little more oil!).
