They’re Gone. I’m Not.
One week ago today, I launched my first squad.
[Well, technically, I didn’t because I accidentally slept through their departure time. Oops! In my defense, it was at 1:45 am.]
Regardless, my people left the country. They got on a plane to fly to Boston, and then to Miami, and then, finally, to Santiago, Chile. From there, most of them boarded buses to ride for another 10-25 hours.
And I’m still here.
For the first time in almost three years, I did not board a plane or a bus or a train…I’m starting to sound like a Dr. Suess book!
The point is, my life has changed. For the first time in three years, I’ve been in the same country for longer than six weeks and it’s weird! I miss landing in a city and having to figure out where to go next because that’s as far as we’d planned. I miss arriving at a bus station and sitting there for an hour or two because your ride is running on ‘local’ time. I miss eating street food that I may or may not even like. I miss the experiences, the excitement.
I miss a lot things, but I’m also enjoying hopping into my borrowed truck and going to a familiar friend’s house (as opposed to the house of a friend I just met three days – or three hours – ago) to just chill, or running to the grocery store to get whatever I want or visiting with friends I haven’t been able to see for two years.
Pros and Cons. There’s always both. Seasons come and go and, with each one, there’s a sweet newness. New lessons, new growth, new dependence, new opportunities.
God, let me, with Paul, always say in whatever situation I’m in, I am content…but never so content that I stop pursuing the desires you’ve given me.
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On September 1, I get to travel to the field to spend time with my squad in Chile and Peru and I cannot wait!
**I am still fundraising. I am $120 short in monthly donations to maintain my deadlines throughout the year. I am also still raising to cover some previous time on the field, so if you feel led, hit that ‘Donate’ button. Thank you for your support!**
