I wouldn’t say I’m a home body, but 11 months away from home is a long time. I knew when signing up for this trip and leaving home for a year, that I would be missing a lot of events happening at home. I had already made a list in my head of the things that I would have to prepare to be away from this year, I had gone over that list a million times, but a little over a week ago, I learned that just knowing you’re going to miss that event, doesn’t mean you’re prepared emotionally to not be there.
A little over a week ago, on August 12, 2017, one of my closest friends got married to the love of her life. This dear friend asked me to be a bridesmaid, even knowing I wasn’t going to be there in person, which meant so much to me. It didn’t matter if I was going to be there, I was still included in that big day! Thankfully, God blessed me with Wifi in our little apartment this month so, I was able to facetime the bride the morning of her wedding, as well as I was able to watch the ceremony! How cool is it, that being over 5,000 miles away, I was able to be apart of this big day! I was not only there in spirit, but in technology as well! It was such a blessing to be able to watch such a beautiful moment of two becoming one.
As I lay on the floor of our sunroom, at midnight my time, trying to be quite to not wake up my team, watching the wedding, I cried. I had tears of joy because of course, this is such a happy moment, but it was partially tears of sadness that I was not actually there in person. I just did not realize that it would hurt so much to not be there, because I had thought that I was prepared for it, and I knew I wasn’t going to be there. I became homesick, because I was able to talk to so many of my friends, seeing how their summer went and if they are ready to begin school again. Luckily, Casey (the bride) was extremely diligent in reminding me just how proud and happy she was that I decided to obey the Lord and go on this journey. She knew that this journey was God’s calling, and that this journey is the opportunity of a lifetime, that many only dream of. She was just so grateful I was able to be there via facetime, which honestly that meant more than she could ever know.
This week has been even harder with the solar eclipse that everyone was talking about at home. It passed right though South Carolina and everyone was raving about it. It was such a huge event, but of course it happens the one time I am out of the country! On top of that, my brother, and two of my best friends all started their first day of teaching on Tuesday. So I woke up and texted each of them, telling them how proud I was of them. They all gave me the same response with “Thank you! I am so nervous, but I love you” I know that even if I was home, it’s not like I could go into their classroom and experience their first day with them, but it’s still different to be half the world away than if I was at least in the same state as them.
Lastly, Winthrop started back this week, so that realization of actually being a graduate, and not going back to the place I have called home for the past 4 years was a little shocking. So needless to say, this week was hard for me. I cried more this week than I have since I left, but I know, this too shall pass. (Huge shoutout to my mom for always being by my side and letting me cry to her, even when we aren’t even on the same continent and with a 6 hour time difference!)
I also just remind myself, how many people can say they have played soccer with a bunch of kids in Albania, or get to spend their birthday in Thailand, or even leave the county? This year is only starting, but it is going to go by so fast. I only have 1 week left here, in Albania.
They say home is where the heart is, and I believe that only being in Albania for 2.5 weeks, this place will have a piece of my heart forever. I think that every place I go this year will have a little piece of my heart. So every month, I will create a new home.
Lastly, Congratulations to Casey and John! #TheBrideAndCroom
Prayer Request:
- That my team will create that unity we all long for and need.
- As we travel to Serbia for our debriefing in a week
- The kids in our community, as we are in a poor part of Tirana, Albania
- VBS next week
- As I miss more events in the future
- My parents and family (I choose to come on this journey, and they were forced on to this journey with me, I can’t even imagine how it feels to have a child half way around the world)
- All my first year teacher friends
Thank you so much to all my supporters and subscribers!
