In 45 Days….

…and listening to ENGLISH being spoken around me.

Discovering the new music and movies I have missed in 2011.

Learning to play the guitar.

Getting a job at a random coffee shop.

Eating things other than rice for every meal. Like sandwiches.

Drinking coffee all the time.

The number of mosquitos being slim to none in my sleeping quarters.

Having electricity for 24-7.

Grocery shopping and finding everything I want.

Drinking all the raw milk I want.

Going to church and understanding the language and singing songs I know.

Having a fridge to put things like leftovers and raw meat in.

Driving where I want to go.

Hugging my siblings.

Fitting in… not being asked for my autograph or a “photo with my child…”

Not having to travel 2 hours to get internet.

Getting lost and asking for directions and understanding.

Fitting all the quotes and new words I’ve learned from Ruth into real life. ie: putting t’s in random words like mornting or dinter.

Getting a haircut and a pedicure. You have no idea what the past few months of flip flops have done to my feet.

Eating chocolate chips. They are the number 2 thing that the whole world needs (obviously #1 is Jesus).

Cooking or baking something. With all the ingredients I need, using all the right utensils and bowls, with a real, working oven.

Cleaning out my closet. A tip I’ve learned from the Race: If you don’t love it enough to carry it on your back, get rid of it.

My first trip to Target. Magical, just magical.

Using my film cameras.

Driving my car. Oh hey, 6th gear, I’ve missed you.

Traveling. I will go wherever I want. I will take a real suitcase with wheels. I will not have to pack a first aid kit or a tent.

Using USD.

Not having to be constantly aware of the location of my passport.

Going out to eat. Chik-fil-A, Taco Bell, Firehouse Subs, La Caretta, Starbucks (technically to drink, not eat. whatever), Ruby Tuesdays (for the salad bar), Cracker Barrel, Colonial, Puckette’s, Westside Deli, Big Lick, Chipotle, Mulans, Panera, Pueblo Viejo, Domino’s, Neighbors Place, Robin Alexanders, Market on Main, etc. Don’t worry, I’m not going to try to cram this all in one week. I realize this kind of undertaking takes time. And exercise.

Appreciating changes in me and others

Doing things I’ve discovered I have a passion for.

Starting the next stage of my life.

Things I am going to miss as I return home in 45 days:

Being complimented on how nice you look after a shower.

Getting out of going to jail by offering a keychain to the cops. I don’t think it’ll fly.

Constant intense community that calls out anything that is not Christ-like in my life.

Learning random phrases in different languages just to get around.

Riding on top of vehicles with the locals.

Meeting mamas and papas in every country.

Buying iced coffee for 50 cents.

Bartering things down… I don’t think Target will appreciate me halfing the price.

Asking “is this water sanitary” and “can i flush the toilet paper.”

Joining a new culture and family every 4 weeks.

Staying in janky hostels with my best friends.

Eating 40 cent street food.

Playing doctor and attempting to diagnose diseases that are really dehydration.

Eating with chopsticks.

People around me constantly picking me up and pushing me along.

Sightseeing by existing.

Sleeping anywhere and it being normal.

Wearing anything and it being rad.

Blaring Ipod worship and people joining in without a word.

Working with the craziest of the crazy for the Lord.

The constant atmosphere of begging the Lord to move.

Going to bed when the sun goes down.

Packing everything I own into a tiny backpack.

Wearing the same thing for 5 days straight and it being normal.

Smelling bad and it being alright… because “everyone does”

It being completely acceptable to spend a day off journaling for 6 hours in a coffee shop.

Doing life with my best friends 24-7.

Laughing hysterically over something dumb we did that day during team time.

My closest friends all living in the same house as me.

As we’ve started being able to say that we’re going home next month this list has gotten a lot more bittersweet to write. Life as I know it is running out and it’ll be hard to say goodbye. The stuff that keeps me going is getting to see you guys again and relying on God to direct me in the next season of my life. Having a trip like this come to a close makes it seem like the next stage of my life is required to be epic. It gets a little panic inducing until I realize that God just wants me to walk out every day seeking Him and His will. He’ll provide where He guides.

Peace, love and bacon! See you all soon!