Home. I’ve been thinking about home a lot recently, which ya’ll are all probably like, “duh. You’ll be here in a month, of course you are.” But let me tell you a story about “home”.
Tonight on our way to our final night of ministry in Moldova we were walking and ran into one of the women that works with our ministry, and she asked us to wait before we went to the office because things weren’t ready yet. We were honestly a little miffed, trying to figure out somewhere warm to be for another 45 minutes before we could go to the office. Its freezing outside, so time was moving even slower than normal because time itself was cold too. I heard him trying to breathe before I saw him, and when I turned around immediate joy set in. It was a kitten! Now everyone will tell you to never pick up a street cat because they’re dirty or they have fleas (all usually true), but that never stops me. He was super congested and couldn’t breathe well. I knelt down and held out my hand, waiting for him to choose to trust me. He looked at me for a bit, then came over. I pet him for a while and then we decided to walk up the street to a bench to sit down and wait. Little cat follows, and soon I’m sitting on a green bench on the side of the street with a sick kitten I named Cookies and Milk, purring contentedly in my lap. Now I know most people hate cats, and thats okay, but I love them. A cat named Brownie was my very first friend.
I know you’re wondering what that has to do with home, but I promise there is a correlation.
As I left Cookies and Milk tonight on the street in the cold because I had no other choice, I thought about where he lived. Where was his mom? Where was his home? Then I wished how bad I could bring him home with me tonight. Home with me. Smolean 86 in Balti, Moldova is not what I think of when I think of home usually, so why was that where I was thinking of when I said I wanted to bring that kitten home tonight?
That made me wonder how many houses, huts, tents, apartments, beach houses, shacks and churches I had called “home” this year. Even more than that, how many people, how many schools, how many stray cats and dogs, how many children, how many smiles have I called home this year?
So, if those things are all “home” to me now, where exactly am I going in a month? I’m going to America. I’m going to my momma and pops. I’m going to 1751 Arizona street in Florida. Ya’ll I’m going home.
But, something I realized tonight when I left that cat on the street, is that I’m leaving home too. Vince in the Philippines was home. Sokheng in Cambodia, Waliko in Malawi, Kistofo in Zimbabwe and every host I’ve had in every country, every team mate and member of the squad, THEY are home too.
It’s weird be so happy and so sad, so excited and so scared all at the same time. Its hard to believe this incredible journey is coming to an end. Thankfully, its only a very small part to a very big adventure God is taking me on. I’m thankful for this season and all of the incredible things God has taught me. I cannot wait to go out into the world and make many more “homes”.
