I am officially NINETY DAYS away from finishing my race. That. Is. Bonkers.
Seriously, where did the time even go?!
In just 90 days, I’ll pack my 60-liter pack for the last time and board a plane to the U.S. And quite honestly, I don’t know if I’m ready. The last eight months have been the most life changing and humbling time I’ve ever experienced. I’ve grown more than I could’ve imagined, and I’m a little nervous to find my place back in the States.
But as people have started to ask what I’ll be doing after this, I’m excited to share that I’ll be doing life in the good ole USA for a while! I’ve spent so much time in prayer, fearful of slipping back into my comfortable pre-race life and assuming I’d go straight back onto the field. The Lord has confirmed my heart for international missions and while my time is not done on the field (hopefully), he has gently guided me back home for a season. Hellooooo Mexican food, all day errry day!
And as I prepare my heart for my next season, there are a few things I’m honestly so excited about:
The smell of clean laundry.
A washer and dryer. I’ll probably spend the better part of my first month doing laundry just because I can. No shame.
Being able to flush the toilet paper.
Honestly… being able to flush at all! Dependable electricity.
Microwaves.
Hot water.
Closets!
My very own bed that doesn’t even require air.
A real pillow.
Water that won’t traumatize you if you accidentally ingest it. See ya later, Delhi belly!
Water that isn’t brown.
Water that doesn’t cost my entire food budget.
Mosquitoes that don’t carry malaria or dengue or [insert weird virus here].
SHOWER CURTAINS!
Shades over lights. Seriously, the only time we haven’t had random exposed blinding bulbs were our super cool cowhide lamp shades in Ethiopia.
Driving?!
MEXICAN FOOD!!
More than two pairs of pants.
Not having to communicate via charades. Also, speaking English.
My people.
ICE!! Why doesn’t the world appreciate cold drinks?!
Paved roads and traffic lights!
Perfume and candles and allll the smell good things.
Mirrors.
Endless amounts of undies.
Honestly, alllll of the food.
Kickboxing.
Cell phones, sort of. Don’t hold it against me if I go back off the grid.
But there are so many things I’m not yet ready to give up either:
Daily market runs for veggies right out of the ground and chicken right out of the coop. Yikes.
The hospitality of strangers around the world. We’ve been cooked for, invited into homes and families, even weddings. People around the world are constantly trying to give us their very best.
Hosts. Doing life and serving with both locals and long term missionaries.
Random adventures like crocodile farms and climbing actual mountains.
Mass amounts of time in fellowship and prayer.
Two hour lunch breaks. Seriously why haven’t we adopted that at home?!
Tea time. Again, everyone else is doing it.
Community meals with my team. Doing life around the dinner table is just so sweet.
My squad. The 50 people who dropped their entire lives to do this crazy thing. You just can’t undo the bond of 60 hour travel days and weird foods and squatty potties.
My two pairs of pants. Will I even know how to dress myself?! And why do people wear anything without an elastic waist?! SOS somebody please take me shopping.
Scheduled adventure days every week. Another great addition to life in the US!
Preaching with a translator (for whatever reason it takes away all the scariness of public speaking)
The hundreds of hugs from total strangers.
Having entire towns wave as you walk by because you’re clearly not from around here.
I might even miss people touching my blond hair because it’s just so bizarre.
Getting excited about McDonald’s.
Getting excited about little finds like face wash and stick deodorant.
The feeling of finding a Buffalo Wild Wings in Vietnam.
Being pushed outside of my comfort zone constantly.
Learning about cultures around the world. Seriously, go out and meet the world!
Seeing a new part of the world every month!
And more than anything else, I’m going to miss the ease of doing life on mission with zero responsibilities other than sharing Jesus.
