September 11, 2015
I thought today would be a good day to write my second blog. Today is our 14 year anniversary with tragedy as we remember many who were lost and loved ones in the four deadly crashes that attacked our beautiful homeland. The largest terrorist attack that has ever hit the US only to introduce our launch of The War on Terror. Many things escalated due to the wretched events of that day; airlines security regulations changed drastically, billions of dollars went to rebuilding the Pentagon as well as the Trade Center and memorials. Many people lost family and friends but through trials comes perseverance, character and hope.
I can still remember where I was sitting when I realized something terrible had happened. Isn’t that crazy?! It’s been 14 years! I was nine and can still remember everything about that terrible day.
(I was so young and LITTLE!!!)
I was sitting in one of my favorite teachers room, Mr. Rork my third grade teacher, at Hunt Meadows Elementary. We had been moved around oddly that morning. Instead of rotating to the next class we remained in our homeroom with no idea why or what was going on. I remember seeing my science teacher crying in the hallway, parents picking students up early and teachers hinting school may be let out early for the day.
As a kid I only paid attention to the idea of getting out of school early for the day. Really? Thats all I seemed to care about! For crying out loud I was nine. But beside the point, I went home early with still no idea what was going on.
The bus dropped my sister and I home for the day still clueless to the events of the World Trade Center. I remember sitting on my mom and dads bed flipping on the television to see the events of that day I was so confused about.
I stared at the television for hours watching the number of causalities continue to increase. Listening to the theories of who and why someone would do this.
I was so confused, this was my first time feeling scared to live in the United States. Of course I was only nine and had little knowledge of the world. I hate seeing people hurt or in pain because I instantly sympathize for them and this was very scary for me.
14 years later and I can see the world a little more clearly now. I am so very blessed with the life I have been given. I live in a wonderful country and have an amazing family and lots of great friends!
So why leave everything for 11 months?!!
I have been trying to answer that to so many people the past few weeks!
Well I can also ask how does anyone choose the path they set upon? You choose your own path by what has been put in front of you and what your willing to strive towards. I believe God set this path in front of me to teach me to no longer be scared of who I can be in this great big world.
I have learned recently in my small group to become more self aware of who I am. Who I am as His daughter, as my parents daughter, as a friend, a coworker and as just another John Doe on the street. Another very important battle on my shoulders is from Perry Noble sermons on It’s Not About Me!!! This has been EXTREMELY hard for me. I like MY clothes, I like MY stuff, I like nice things, I like MYYYY food, I I I IIIIIIiiiiiii.
Do you see where I am going with this? I think it needs to not be about me and be about someone else.
So what does a 23 year old do with this kind of epiphany? Well she signs up for an 11 month long mission trip all around the globe. To me an experience like this of course can be scary. I had a difficult time understand everything I was giving up being away from my family, friends and Louie (my awesome cat the even Pastor Perry Noble would love). But it is so so so much more. It is a chance of a lifetime! A chance to spread my wings and see the world, help the helpless, care for the children, serve the least of these, love the lost and grow through the my experiences.
Can you tell yet that I’m super stoked!!! Because I can’t wait! I have finally realized I need to have faith in my Father and He will set me on the right path because I trust in HIM!
Keep me in your thoughts prayer warriors because I’m gonna need it!
