Month 12, yep, that is where I stand. My race is finished and I am back ‘home’. The labels of my months will return to the month and year.
Wow, what a trip. Seriously, that was something pretty crazy. Well let me catch you up a bit. We finished our month in Argentina. It was one of my hardest months yet as my team and I were preparing mentally to go home. We were in my favorite city Buenos Aires (which is STILL my favorite city) and the ministry was working with a local church. We helped out with their clothing donation center, there meal outreach program, and spent time with the youth. It was a slower pace month which gave us the time and space to work through things before coming home. The Lord so honored this time by allowing issues to be worked through. It was really hard and many days I woke up asking the Lord to give me what I needed that day and it was just enough to get me through. Then the Lord started showing me little glimpses of breakthroughs in my team. I am so incredibly proud of my team as they continued to come ready to talk and deal with things. They didn’t have to. It was Month 12. We were going home in a matter of weeks, yet they were still willing to talk through things and take the time to understand what they were feeling. Anyways, enough about my team… Oh wait how about some photos, because they are pretty cute.
So home… home is weird. It is very normal and strange at the same time. For example when I sit around the table with my family I think, I’ve been doing this with my family for over 20+ years, but it is not my team mates. I have a bed!! Which should be normal, but when you have been sleeping on a plastic mat most of your race is pretty incredible. Also, pillows are SO FLUFFY. Everything here is so soft! Wow, now that you have heard about my minor obsession with soft things to more poignant questions.
How is readjusting… it’s okay. It’s very much a roller coaster. There are days which are great and days that are sad or hard or confusing. Simple tasks can take way more time then needed due to not having all the information I need, like getting a prescription. Two trips to the pharmacy and a couple calls later I got it. Having a functional phone is odd and generally it is on silent because the alerts and rings are a bit overwhelming.
What’s hard… I still live out of a suitcase and I move places about every 3-5 days. It’s been good to see so many people and be able to just go, but I do dream of a day where my clothes go into a drawer and I pull out my coffee cup out of the cupboard. I also haven’t been back to the church I was going to before I left. New year’s resolution! ??
Anything we can do to help… so I am the epitome of socially awkward. I have been trying to fit into cultures from all over the world. So over the last 11 months I have greeted people with weird handshakes, hugs, kisses, bowing, etc. You catch my drift. So now awkwardly standing across from people with no contact is kinda of strange, lol. Also, my response time is a little slow. I’m computing what words to say and sometimes the words are in Spanish, because the last 5 months we where in Spanish speaking countries. So if it comes out strange know that my head is just and little jumbled. Questions are GREAT! That’s what I am use to, so if you hit one of those awkward pauses because I’m not socially not up to par try What was your favorite month? or What was the strangest thing you ate while traveling? Both of those are great go to questions. ??
What’s been good… it has been so wonderful to talk to people who have been following my journey, especially people that I have never meet. I went to church with the Wyss family to find a wall of my stories. I was so touched. I have loved sharing my stories and appreciate those who have listened.
My favorite question, how is your puppy…He is so wonderful and currently snuggling next to me. The Wyss family took incredible care of him and if you live in the Miamisburg area and need a pet sitter check out Spoiler Alert (you can find them on FB).
What’s next… Right now getting my feet back under me. Spending time with friends and family and catching up. Starting in January I will be looking for a J-O-B. Fun times.
Would you do it again… This is a question I did not expect, but I have gotten many times. I am so glad I did the race, so glad. It was not what I expected, but exactly what I need. If I had the opportunity to go on the 11 month adventure again (not an option), I would probably say no. Once was hard enough. Would I be shocked if I went back in field sometime in the future, nope.
Any prayer requests… Why yes! I LOVE when people pray for me:) Prayer for peace in the job search. Also, enjoying the in-between. It’s easy for me to get wrapped up in step 27, before I complete step 1. So, being present and enjoying the moments I have now.
If you are still reading, thank you! Thank you for following my adventure, thank you for your support, your love, and your prayers. This certainly been a crazy ride and I’m glad to have you join me in it.
Also if you have any questions about my trip, would like to know more about my journey please do not hesitate to reach out to me via the comment section.
