Here I sit, in the Charlotte airport, surrounded by chaos. I have a feeling this is what the next year will be like. Surrounded by people, moving by me. Some I may meet, some I may learn to love, and some I may never know.
It still hasn't really hit me that I'm leaving everything I know in just over a week. I've already said my Beaufort goodbyes, but I think it will hit me sometime soon that I actually won't see them until a year from now. That's a pretty crazy thought.
I'm sad about leaving the people, but it's also hard to leave the comfortable things. I said a very sad goodbye to my incredibly comfortable tempur-pedic bed. I said goodbye to my jewelry and my makeup. I said goodbye to most of my clothes. Next week I'll say goodbye to any guarantee of hot water, guaranteed air conditioning, water I can drink, money I'm comfortable with using, a CVS on every corner advertising for my every "need." And we ALL know how heart wrenching it will be to leave my iPhone, 3G, and WiFi.
But I signed up for this. And I'm REALLY ready. I'm ready to be in a new country, a new culture. I'm ready to try new things. I'm ready to not live my life by a schedule. I'm ready to be dropped into service, not knowing what it will look like.
Speaking of that, I have been getting lots of questions. Questions, questions, questions. Where are you living? What will you be doing? Is the water safe to drink? Will you be teaching every day? Does your host mother have children? What are the church services like? Will you have running water? How often will you have internet?
Let me sum it up for you..... I don't know! I'll be able to answer most of those questions for you in about a month, but for now, I don't know. I don't really even think it's my job to know. It's my job to GO. It's my job to have faith that God has worked out the details. It's my job to remember that there is absolutely NO way I would be here without a God that has been following my every footstep since far before I realized He was even with me. I know that this is my mission. I know that I'm supposed to do this. I know that it's going to be hard. But I also KNOW for sure...that it is going to be worth it.
Approximately 87(ish) people lately have told me that I'm crazy. I've been called bold, adventurous, brave, ballsy, fearless, etc. Yes, moving to a remote mountain village in the Philippines to be a missionary to people who speak a language I've never heard takes some courage. But the adjective I'd rather people refer to me as is faithful. Or obedient. My lack of fear, my boldness, etc... that all stems from my faith. I could never do this without God by my side 24/7. I am just following where He leads me. And so far... it's been a crazy awesome ride.
I can't thank y'all all enough for your love, prayer, support, and kind words over the last few weeks. I am feeling especially blessed in knowing that so many people will be thinking of me as I'm gone! Like I said, I don't know how often I will have internet. But I'll be posting to my blog as often as possible, so please enter your email on the right side of the page where it says follow my blog by email so that you'll be notified when there's a new post! Otherwise, add sweet Amy on facebook- she'll be updating when she's heard from me! :)
Until next time...
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
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| Mabinay, Negros Oriental, Philippines |
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