Monday, December 7, 2009

reverse culture shock?

Well, I've been home for nearly 2 weeks now... so i figured its time I update those of you who read this on how I'm doing! I have been really encouraged lately by discovering how many people actually have been reading my blogs, pretty cool.

So, I gotta be honest, it's been really hard readjusting to being home and not being at Green Pastures or the Wash Basin... it's weird driving again, it's weird not being idependent anymore, having to worry about gas (petrol) money and Christmas presents all while not having a job or any real savings in my grasp. It's weird to be going back to huntington and working on papers in the library and going to professors homes for a worship service. It's nice to see people and do those things, its not all a bad weird, some of it is a really good weird, a comforting thing, like reminding me of my roots.

I've decided I'm ready and excited to go where somewhere new and find my nitch there. It's hard for me to keep in mind that I can still do things and be on fire for God even here at home, it's hard becaus I grew up here, and when I'm here I still feel like a little kid, and its not just in my house, its in my church(es) which is hard because I love the two churches I belong to very much, but I've discovered my place isn't there anymore. So I'm ready to move on, but its just not possible yet, which is hard... basically I am having a hard time with where I'm at, but I am embracing the positives and trusting that the rest will follow through, because Jesus said "seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will fall into place" so that's what my plan is... to seek the Kingdom of God first. Living for His Glory.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

the new adventure awaits.

So, I was trying to think of something profound from my trip home to be my title for this blog, saying something like "i'm home" was just to easy and would make reading the blog a little less exciting because you'd already know its about my being at home... haha so I decided to go with this thought of my new adventure awaits because it's been said to me a few times- in a couple different ways of course- in a letter from my dad before I left home he gave me the wise words of "don't think of it as going back home, think of it as starting the new adventure God has placed before you" and while I was trying really hard to look at it that way, it still felt hard to be leaving this last adventure I've been on because of the people that had become so so dear to my heart. Then when I was on the final plane from Washington D.C to Indy, the woman I was sitting beside and I had been talking about traveling and adventures. She used to live in Greece and she's traveled in different places all over the world and so I talked a little about Northern Ireland and how I was excited to go home and see my family, it was like I was being torn from a different family, she understood what I meant and it was nice to be able to talk a little with someone who has had some similar experiences. Well as the plane was nearing Indy and especially when it started its descent, it kind of really hit me that I wasn't in Northern Ireland any more and the tears just kind of flew from my eyes. When the plan was fully landed she looked back at me and said- "just think of all your new adventures awaiting you now... I'm jealous" So, that's my plan... new adventures await and are right in front of me. :)

*now for the actual blog post..* (written in Washington D.C)
December 1st, 2009
WoW. 6 months, over just like that. I can't believe I'm sitting in an airport again, on AMERICAN soil, waiting for my last flight home. The song "all this beauty" starts playin on my iPod, which is ironic because when I was waiting for my last flight from London to Belfast on June2nd, writing in my journal, this same song started playing and I was so excited to see all this beauty of this new place. Well its hard to agree with this song this time. I just left the most beautiful place I've ever known, including some of the greatest people... just thinking about it brings a tear to my eye. To be honest, I've cried a few times today (and this was written before the plane to Indy...) mainly on as the plane was getting closer to landing in D.C. because it was only starting to become real to me. You'd think going through customs and all the baggage stuff would help me realize I'm in America- nope. Instead it was a smell and a sign. As I was walking to my last gate, an old familiar smell almost made me sick (only because I'd been traveling), then to my surprise what do I see? A WENDY's!! Who'd have thought that seeing and smelling Wendy's fast food would strike the thought in me "Oh! I'm in America!" then I started hearing people around me talking- and they sounded funny, not at all like the people I've been around the past 6 months. And I'm sure none of you would be surprised to learn that my first purchase on American soil was at Starbucks :D

I'm trying to think of all the things that are different, well for one people walk on the right side of the paths to gates... and they look at you funny when you're on the left side. People are generally more private and keep to themselves, less willing to help someone having bag problems, as well as get annoyed if you're at all in their way, and blow off any offered apologies. But I'm going home, people at home aren't like that, there's something to be said about living in the light of the Lord, even if we don't always live out the Christian walk the way we should... there's something different about us, simply because we've allowed HIM into our hearts, and that is such a beautiful thing.

It's times like today- and probably many days in the future- that I am so so excited for eternity... when everyone I love the most will be in ONE place, the same place, and we will all be together once again- oh what a day that will be! :)

I'll stop there for now. Thank you to everyone in Northern Ireland, for taking me in, making me feel loved (and slaggin me) and for serving God the way you do. And thank you to everyone from Indiana, for sending me off with so much love and care, for holding me up in prayers, and for welcoming me back with open arms. We all serve a mighty God, lest we not forget His Awesomeness.