Can you believe it? Because I sure can’t! I’m halfway home!!!!! Month 6 of the race is coming to a close and month 7 is on the horizon. Anybody know what that means??? I’m going to ASIA!
I’d first like to apologize for the lack of posts this month. And by lack I mean none haha… but this one is sure to make up for it because you don’t have many other options haha. (Thank you all for putting up with me (: )
This past month I’ve been in Jeffreysbay South Africa! My team and I are working with Global Leadership Academy, GLA, an organization a lot like Adventures. They send out missionaries once a year to travel the world and share the gospel. They also have several other branches in their organization like a school they built from the ground up. We’ve primarily been doing manual labor at the school in the mornings and children’s outreach in the afternoons. If I’m being completely honest this month has been really amazing but not because of the ministry. I can do manual labor and I love playing with kids as much as the next person(probably more if we’re being honest), but this month in Jbay has really come alive for me because of the community.
Jbay has been for me the closest thing to American culture I’ve encountered on the race. And I didn’t know until I got here that it’s exactly what I needed to be able to finish the rest of the race in stride. Since day one here in Jbay my team and I have been constantly pursued by the GLA and Jbay community, being invited to Braai’s(cookouts), home churches, weekly dinners, etc. I’ve felt for the first time in 6 months here in Jbay like I have a community outside of the 18 girls I’m traveling the world with. It’s taken me until now to realize how much I cherish and miss my community from home. How much I miss feeling pursued and loved from those around me(outside of my 18 sisters on C squad). Moving from country to country so quickly has really limited my ability to seek a community outside of the one I’m traveling with and it’s really affected my ability to feel any sense of normality. I mean with my surroundings, people, and ministry always changing it’s hard to feel grounded sometimes. But this month has given me a sweet taste of what I have to look forward to when I return home. And it’s given me the drive to finish the next 5 months in stride.
Which brings me to my next point…. 5 MONTHS!!! Can you believe that?? Didn’t we all just say goodbye? Wasn’t I just in Guatemala? How can I already be headed to Asia? How can I possibly get to see all my friends, family, church family, community and my dog!! in 5 months?? That seems impossible!
But somehow it is! The race is flying by but it’s been an experience I’ll never want to take back. I’m looking forward to seeing all of you so soon but I’m also looking so forward to the next 5 months and all they hold for me.
I love you all!! I miss you all. And I’ll be seeing you all sooner than you think.
Stay Blessed,
With all my love Marah
