Back In America!

Re-Entry.

Bittersweet.

If you asked me all race if I was ready to go home, my answer up until our last travel day was “no”. Homesick? Nope! That wasn’t the story for everyone on my squad. Around month 7 or 8 it can start to get hard. Some desire the pleasures of home. People plateau. They stop giving 100%. They stop choosing in at times. 11 months is hard. I truly believe it was the prayers of people back home, being in the word constantly, praying for strength and endurance, and keeping a song on my tongue that enabled me to thrive the entire time. I’m not saying there weren’t hard moments, or hard days, or even hard weeks, but I LOVED my race and would do it again in a heartbeat…or maybe go back to a country I loved 😉

On November 22^nd, I was finally ready to come home. The transition hasn’t been awful, but not a breeze either. Thankfully we transitioned from Africa to Europe Month 10, so that started the cultural shift back to more advanced technology and the consumption attitude of our society today. Also, the “white person” fame wasn’t there. People dropping whatever they were doing to help—not as prominent in Europe or America.

Some things that have been rejuvenating:

Sleeping in the same bed for a week and putting my clothes away because I know I won’t have to pack up again in a few short days.

Being around my family and being embraced in their hugs and love.

Meeting my cousin George for the first time since he was born last February, and my cousin’s fiancé.

Messages welcoming me home.

Sitting in the tree stand, watching the sun rise, getting the thrill of seeing a deer, and being out in nature just talking things over with God.

Spending time in the word each morning and having my mom doing the same thing in the room next to me.

Some things that have been challenging:

Sleep patterns. I would start crashing around 7pm, I think after a week I’m finally back on schedule!

Not having words at times to describe the past 11 months.

Entering into the grieving process again for my grandma as I’ve been going through her things that were left to me.

Wanting to talk and keep in touch with all my friends I’ve met around the world to make sure they know that I don’t want our friendships to end.

Not being in my S Squad community (miss you all!) and especially our worship.

Integrating back into my community here at home. 

So yes, I am excited to be home but I see things differently now. I see an ad on the TV for a $700 dollar fur jacket… that could rebuild my friend’s mom’s house in Kenya.

Thanksgiving meal… people are starving and meat is a rare item in some places. We have an abundance of everything.

Volunteer opportunity, Bible study, or extra church service. Sign me up. I want to GROW in my faith and not be lukewarm.

Black Friday Shopping. Why am I even out here? Looking at these rows and rows of clothing, toys, food…why do we need all this “extra” stuff? I saw kids who were playing with MARBLES who were content beyond belief.

I have seen incredible things this year. If you see me, ask me a question about a certain month, a memory, or ministry. Give me a minute to think and I’ll answer 😉 Thanks again for your love and support! If you want to catch up and hear about my trip, reach out! I’ll probably be taking most of this week to process being home since last week was go, go, go; but I look forward to meeting up in the weeks to come!