I’m not extremely
worried about culture shock. I lived in Costa Rica long enough to know that
upon coming home the cereal aisle is overwhelming, not flushing toilet paper is
a hard habit to break, having everything at your fingertips makes you judge
America’s materialism, and everyone seems to be in fast forward while you
wonder why everyone is in such a hurry now. Maybe I’m undermining it, but when
I get home I expect to rub my feet in carpet for an unusually long time, sit on my toilet seat just for fun,
take a hot shower rejoicing, have a strict list at the grocery store so I don’t
wander down the aisles in shock, and show up at church on time only to be
disappointed that after just 1 hour everyone is off the Bible and onto what
they’re going to eat for lunch.
I’ve
thought through my first meals (Chipotle, Macaroni Grill, and LaRosa’s Pizza).
I’m excited about wearing clothes that aren’t rotting. I’ve envisioned my
dramatic re-entry into the Cincinnati airport. I’ve thought through how to
answer people when they ask me to summarize my trip and I learned from living
in CR that an answer longer than 1 minute = loss of interest. I’ve learned that no matter what, it’s always going to sound like I’m
trying to one-up everyone’s stories when I start with “well one time when I was
in the Philippine jungle…” I
know that words cannot explain what I’ve learned, what I’ve walked through or
how God has revealed Himself to me.
Yah, I
know that part won’t be easy, but what’s really throwing me is the anticipation
of community shock. I don’t think I’ll know how to function without these 33
amazing people in my life. I mean at any given time, I am surrounded by a least
5 close friends. I remember at the beginning of the race, I didn’t believe the
previous racers who didn’t want to separate and were going to live together,
thinking that maybe they didn’t know how to get back into reality. Now I’m
realizing that living in community is the reality that I want to live in. In
order to prepare those at home who find me rocking in a corner muttering under
my breath about missing community…I want to let you in on why this community
will be sorely missed and how I’ve been changed because of it…
Physical
proximity. Physical touch has gone from being one of my minor love languages to
my primary love language. The other day the whole squad was together in one
room and I realized at one point that I was touching at least 7 friends at the
same time. I also went from someone who didn’t like sharing a bed to always
volunteering to share (ie. single mattress with Sarah the whole month in
Nepal). Having my own room will be nice for like 2 days and I think I will
start creeping over to my sister’s room. I’m going to have to buy a puppy or
something.
Our
stories. We really can remind each other of the details we forgot to mention in
our testimonies because we’ve heard them all so many times. It’s crazy to think
that someone I’ve only known for 11 months knows me better than friends I’ve
had for years. We’ve walked each other to freedom from our pasts and spoken
life into our futures together.
Shared
experiences. We’ve shared 60 hour bus rides and dance-off’s; seen people healed
and cast out demons together; built churches, led people to salvation and held
orphans together; found freedom from eating disorders, addictions,
homosexuality, legalism, fear, abuse, and bitterness together; worshipped on a
roof and baptized one another; hitchhiked, had malaria, and bungee jumped
together; played worship in a bar and sang a solo at a Buddhist temple together;
waited and trudged together; laughed and cried together; encountered God
together and brought the kingdom to earth together. We’ve fought hard for one
another and we’ve become a pretty sweet family as a result.
Shared
passion. I love being around these people because they make things happen. They’ve
been called to greatness, and they put it into action. They get excited about
the things that excite me and they hunger for more of God. It’s been amazing to
be around 33 other spontaneous and crazy people who have passions for bringing
the kingdom of God. From going to serve the Natives in Canada to a community
house in Switzerland; cafes in Costa Rica to street ministry in Mexico; from
worship ministry in India to a safe house in Ohio, these people are returning
only to be used in even more incredible ways for the kingdom.
So yah,
maybe I’m getting a little sentimental during this last month of the race, but
I’m realizing just how blessed I have been to be surrounded by such a group of
legit people. We’ve lived out the Great Commission and had fun doing it (like
making sure to hit up the Bon Jovi concert in Bucharest last night and making
it on the news!!!) We’ve been through some tough stuff and I know more than
once I didn’t think I could lead this group of people, but so much has been
redeemed for me through them. Through the pranks in Cambodia to fireside talks
in Kenya, from the chaos in Rwanda to the many poems and raps, I am overwhelmed
with thankfulness for these people. It has been a privilege to lead this squad
and I have appreciated that support and encouragement they’ve poured out on me.
I will always treasure the family they have become and I’m expecting to have a
steady flow of ragamuffins sleeping on my couch in Costa Rica for years to
come. I love you guys and I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter squad.
