It's been a little over a week since I've been back in the United States, and the same since I've been home. Man that's weird. But let me tell you the tale of how I came home and surprised everyone in the process!
Let's take it back a ways. March 2012 to be exact. The time our squad found out where we would be landing and when we would be coming home. We would be coming home to JFK Airport in New York City on June 26th. I was excited, because I had never seen New York City before! My cousin is also getting married in Michigan on July 14th, and our squad has Project Searchlight in Georgia from July 19th to the 23rd.
So, in my brain, I thought. Well, flying all the way to Arizona from New York and all the way back to Michigan and Georgia is going to be expensive. Those flights are usually around $270 to $300 one way. Put those two together and we're looking at $600 easily, not including my final flight home, which would be another $250. After a while I decided that I would stay on the east coast for the month, visit some friends before and after my cousin's wedding, then fly west to Arizona after Project Searchlight.
Sounded pretty good to me.
Then I started thinking about my family. And friends. And church. And how much I really did long to see them. I thought about my younger brother, who was currently deployed in the Philippines, and how he was scheduled to come back to the states around the end of June, and by the end of July he would most likely be back at his base, and not at home in Arizona. I thought about living out of a backpack with the same clothes…in the USA for one more month.
And I prayed. A lot. I looked at flights. A lot. The prices were still the same, and the odds of me going home before the wedding just seemed impossible.
Then, one day in April, while I was in Ukraine, I found a ticket from New York City to Arizona for $150. Seriously, God, $150?? It stayed at that price for two days. The second day, I booked it. After that I saw the prices shoot back up to their normal $230 to $270 price tag. But I had my ticket home.
And I didn't tell anyone at home…I decided I was going to surprise everyone.
So this led to much plotting and planning. Including telling my parents and friends I would still be home at the end of July as I had planned before. I found some “fake” flights and emailed them the numbers, all including me traveling on the east coast. I gave them the play by play of my time out east before I would make the final trek westward to my desert abode.
Time was coming to a close on the World Race, and I could not wait to get home and surprise my family! I also found a ticket from Tucson back to Michigan for the wedding for $130, which is also amazing! God is so good and has provided at every turn.
I told my brother about when I would be returning home, and let him in on the secret. He said that his leave would be until July 9th, which was perfect for me being able to see him. I asked if he would be the one to pick me up from the airport, and he agreed.
Beyond my World Race family and my brother, no one knew that I would be back in Arizona early. We landed in NYC on June 26. We were greeted by quite a few squadmates parents, which made me bawl my eyes out. Having them welcome us home with hugs and love was just such a blessing to my heart, and made me weep like a child. I knew the waterworks were going to come!
Side note- strangest thing upon returning to the United States…understanding what everyone around me was saying. And that they could understand me. Also, being able to flush toilet paper! It's still my instinct to reach for the trash can.
Anyways, after a night in the NYC airport, I board my plane (almost missed it because they changed the gate and didn't announce it) to head home! I had a 5 hour layover in Dallas, and was able to go to a delicious lunch of Mexican food with Erin Miller and her parents, which was also a great blessing to me. I got back to the airport and headed to Tucson.
Seeing my home town from the plane, the mountains, my beloved mountains, the dusty ground speckled with cacti and mesquite and palo verde trees was such a welcome sight. There was even a monsoon storm moving through. My favorite time of year in the desert…monsoon season! My brother was there to greet me, and we headed off to surprise my mom.
I had told him to invite my mom out to dinner, so we headed to the restaurant. I waited anxiously in the chair, my heart thudding so fast, waiting for her arrival. She finally came, and she walked around the restaurant, looking for my brother. I stood up, her eyes passed over me for a second. Then suddenly she realized who I was and the surprise was out. We were reunited at last again! It was a sweet time of reunion and catching up over dinner.
After dinner I had my brother drive me to my dads new house. We passed it in the dark on accident, turned around and came back. I got out of the car before my brother pulled all the way into the driveway behind the house. I waited for a few minutes after he had gone in the back door before I made my entrance. Again, my heart was pounding with excitement and anticipation. I LOVE surprises, and surprising people above all. After those seemingly long few minutes, I made my way to that back sliding door and slipped in. I walked around the corner and again, I always get that look of confusion at first before the realization hits and my dad's up and I'm able to hug him again after 11 long months.
I also surprised my best friend, Sarah, the next day with the help of her mom. She told Sarah that she would be coming over, so to be ready at a certain time. When I arrived at Sarah's house, I called her mom and her mom then texted Sarah to come open the door for her, that she had a big surprise for her. Low and behold, Sarah opened the door and there I was instead. We were able to catch up for a few hours, have one of our traditional favorites, Taco Bell, and I got to see her baby boy again!
My last surprise was a big one that I was so excited for. My home church, Hope Community Church. My mentor of 5 years, Gina, would be there, along with most families and friends that I knew. No one there knew of my return to Tucson, and I had to keep it quiet from Wednesday to Sunday. I almost blew my cover when I called Gina from my layover in Dallas, and she asked if I was in an airport (I was supposed to be out in New York City enjoying the town, according to everyone at home). But I managed to keep it quiet. The morning of church I felt like a kid at Christmas. I could not wait to be reunited with my church body. The time finally came and I drove out there, and walked right on in. I was greeted by my pastor, and a few others. I asked where Gina was, and was told she was in a Sunday school class. I walked to her classroom and tried to open the door, but it was locked. Gina was there teaching and looked up, motioning to wait a minute, but then looked and realized who I was and came running to the door. Oh it was so great!
The whole morning was priceless and a blessing to my heart as I went up to individuals that have meant so much to me in my life, putting a hand on their shoulder and surprising them, hearing my name being shouted out as someone new realizes that I'm home. The endless hugs and countless times myself and others teared up during the reunions. The blessing of being able to worship with my church, singing songs of praise fully in English with a church body for the first time in 11 months. Hearing Pastor Randy speak his sermon without a translator.
Oh, happy day!
My process coming home was long and tiring, but completely worth it. Completely.
Operation surprise….Nailed it!!
