Month 10, Rwanda
This month looks like home away from home.
The last few months I’ve walked through a lot of hard things like feelings of inadequacy as I stepped into a team leader role and felt unqualified to do the job. I’ve received feedback from my teammates about things that I thought that I had already worked on. I experienced anxiety yet again about things I had little control over. I’ve felt unsafe and uncared for by the world and had moments that felt unbearable.
My hardest struggle the last few months is missing home.
Many days I long for my family. I miss Monday morning breakfast with my grandpa. I miss Saturday night sunsets with my sister. I miss spontaneous trips to door county and back with my best friend. I miss long drives with my mom and I desperately long for the convenience of seeing my family and friends when I want to.
Though homesickness has been no easy mountain to climb, the Lord has provided for my desires and longings for fellowship and relief.
I’ve found family in my squad like i’ve never experienced. Brothers and sisters who love me through it all, people who know me better than anyone i’ve ever known.
This month, we are staying with a pastor and his wife in their home with 6 of their 8 children. They are a privilege. We’ve known them two days and they already feel like family. Pastor introduces us to others as his daughters and their oldest daughter calls me sister.
Though leaving my family for a year has been incredibly difficult, the Lord has given me family around the U.S. and the world that I will cherish forever.
‘And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.’ -Matthew 19:29
