One week. In one week I will have gone through a day of training and preparation in Philadelphia and will be heading to JFK with a one way ticket to Africa (Eeee!). Madagascar will soon be the place I call home.
Part of the timing of my departure that has helped me is that in a way it feels like a natural change. Many of my friends have began their lives post college, many have gone back to school and I am still use to leaving family and friends in the fall since I have done that the past four years. That's not to say though that goodbyes aren't hard. And they usually don't hit me until later on when I have time to start thinking about all that is going to change. It's hard not knowing exactly what life will be like when I get back and what has changed while I am gone. However technology is awesome and so hopefully I will be able to stay in touch some.
I get asked if I am nervous all the time. I'm usually honest and say yes of course but then I quickly follow that I am even more excited. Ever since I've applied I have just had this great sense of peace where I know I am doing the right thing. Sometimes when your purpose and your passions line up things just fall into place. The future is always a little scary but I am so ready to become immersed in the Malagasy culture. There's just always so much to learn and grow from when you interact with people different from yourself. This is bound to be a life changing experience and I am beyond excited for this journey to begin!
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Monday, August 27, 2018
Roots Before Branches
I feel incredibly lucky with the timing of my departure to Madagascar. Leaving in September and graduating in May meant that I have had the whole summer to make countless journeys to spend time with the people I care most about in the world. This summer was packed with traveling which once again only reminded me that it is not where you go but rather the people that make traveling the adventure.
The challenge to myself this summer was to be super intentional with my time with people and make it a point to say yes to as much as possible. The summer was basically my last hurrah before leaving. The past couple months have been so good for my soul and I'm hoping that all the love I felt this summer stays present with me throughout my service.
My First Last Hurrah of the summer (I like oxymoron's- or maybe just the word oxymoron, who knows...): Mom, Dad, Chris, and I did a bus trip to a Cubs game as a late birthday gift for Chris along with the Kecks and Hoffars.
Last Hurrah 2: Dad and I drove out east for a week for a backpacking trip along the Appalachian and the Smokey's. It was some good quality time with my dad and what a better place than hiking in the great outdoors.
Last Hurrah 3: Drove up to Grand Rapids to celebrate with Jax at her bachelorette party and got to spend time with my college friends
Last Hurrah 4: Celebrated Clint and Claire at their rehearsal dinner where the whole "family" was together
Last Hurrah 5: Drove back up to GR for two beautiful weddings in one day (but unfortunately had to miss the Hoffar wedding which was the same day)
Last Hurrah 6: Spent a week up in Minneapolis with my mom and my aunts and cousins. It was so good to spend time with all of them and especially my little cousins whose first couple years of life I am going to miss which will be hard.
Last Hurrah 7: Back up to GR again for Jax and James' beautiful wedding then spent time on Lake Michigan with college friends. Weddings are always a blast because all of my soccer girls are there and we always have a good time together
Last Hurrah 8: Last trip up to GR for a while for Kelly and Garrett's wedding (noticing a theme yet about my summer? Hint: a lot of my friends got married)
Last Hurrah 9: Spent a week at Momentum Youth Conference with a group of students from Kendallville UMC and heard from so many amazing speakers all while getting to worship with around 3000 other believers
Last Hurrah 10: Flew to Seattle with a friend from high school to visit a friend from college and hiked at Mt. Rainier and traveled along the Washington coast through Olympic National Park. It was definitely one of the highlights of my summer. Washington is a beautiful state
Last Hurrah 11: For my last visit to GR I spent an afternoon with the Hall's and then in the evening caught up with Corrie and Tamryn and even got to play soccer for the first time since I retired in the fall (the final goodbyes are beginning so it was definitely a bittersweet trip. Lots of good conversations and quality time but knowing it would be the last time I see them all for a while was hard)
Last Hurrah 12: A long weekend trip to Virginia where I spent time with my other "brothers" rock climbing, playing ultimate Frisbee and doing my best not to get picked on too much. This was my last trip of the summer. Once I got back I subbed at the high school for one more week. My final week at home I spent packing and doing final preparations and have had a couple send offs with family and close friends.
As I reflect now on my summer, and well just my life thus far, the song Roots Before Branches comes to mind. I'm so incredibly grateful for all the people who are my roots; those who have taught me to be strong and have encouraged me to take chances so I can grow my branches. I wouldn't be who I am today without each and every person in my life.
https://youtu.be/4kQvCFTNpw4
Lyrics:
I gotta have
Roots before branches
To know who I am
Before I know
Who I wanna be
And faith
To take chances
To live like I see
A place in this world for me
The challenge to myself this summer was to be super intentional with my time with people and make it a point to say yes to as much as possible. The summer was basically my last hurrah before leaving. The past couple months have been so good for my soul and I'm hoping that all the love I felt this summer stays present with me throughout my service.
My First Last Hurrah of the summer (I like oxymoron's- or maybe just the word oxymoron, who knows...): Mom, Dad, Chris, and I did a bus trip to a Cubs game as a late birthday gift for Chris along with the Kecks and Hoffars.
Last Hurrah 2: Dad and I drove out east for a week for a backpacking trip along the Appalachian and the Smokey's. It was some good quality time with my dad and what a better place than hiking in the great outdoors.
Last Hurrah 3: Drove up to Grand Rapids to celebrate with Jax at her bachelorette party and got to spend time with my college friends
Last Hurrah 4: Celebrated Clint and Claire at their rehearsal dinner where the whole "family" was together
Last Hurrah 6: Spent a week up in Minneapolis with my mom and my aunts and cousins. It was so good to spend time with all of them and especially my little cousins whose first couple years of life I am going to miss which will be hard.
Last Hurrah 7: Back up to GR again for Jax and James' beautiful wedding then spent time on Lake Michigan with college friends. Weddings are always a blast because all of my soccer girls are there and we always have a good time together
Last Hurrah 8: Last trip up to GR for a while for Kelly and Garrett's wedding (noticing a theme yet about my summer? Hint: a lot of my friends got married)
Last Hurrah 9: Spent a week at Momentum Youth Conference with a group of students from Kendallville UMC and heard from so many amazing speakers all while getting to worship with around 3000 other believers
Last Hurrah 10: Flew to Seattle with a friend from high school to visit a friend from college and hiked at Mt. Rainier and traveled along the Washington coast through Olympic National Park. It was definitely one of the highlights of my summer. Washington is a beautiful state
Last Hurrah 11: For my last visit to GR I spent an afternoon with the Hall's and then in the evening caught up with Corrie and Tamryn and even got to play soccer for the first time since I retired in the fall (the final goodbyes are beginning so it was definitely a bittersweet trip. Lots of good conversations and quality time but knowing it would be the last time I see them all for a while was hard)
Last Hurrah 12: A long weekend trip to Virginia where I spent time with my other "brothers" rock climbing, playing ultimate Frisbee and doing my best not to get picked on too much. This was my last trip of the summer. Once I got back I subbed at the high school for one more week. My final week at home I spent packing and doing final preparations and have had a couple send offs with family and close friends.
As I reflect now on my summer, and well just my life thus far, the song Roots Before Branches comes to mind. I'm so incredibly grateful for all the people who are my roots; those who have taught me to be strong and have encouraged me to take chances so I can grow my branches. I wouldn't be who I am today without each and every person in my life.
https://youtu.be/4kQvCFTNpw4
Lyrics:
I gotta have
Roots before branches
To know who I am
Before I know
Who I wanna be
And faith
To take chances
To live like I see
A place in this world for me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)