When I come back and visit the States, I feel most at home in Atlanta. My closest friends, past co-workers, spiritual support, and church family are here. And in God's graciousness, I have been able serve, spend time, and talk to supporters about my transition to a new ministry and also spend time with family in Florida and South Georgia as well.
And at the same time that I enjoy the company of these people who love me so much, I recognize the change, the different culture, and even the sin the looks different here than in the Dominican.
I am grateful for having these two months to clear my mind a bit for the first time since leaving the States. I am excited to share how my plans are changing as I follow God on this new journey to work with Makarios. I am grateful to be able to step away from the Dominican for a moment and assess the last 2 years, the transition, and what God is doing in me. I am also grateful to have some time apart to pray about next steps and long-term vision in regards to a sustainable relationship with Mirqueya and Emanuel House.
I've forgotten.
On the way to a local church to talk about possible future trips to the Dominican with Makarios, I found myself stopped at a stoplight.
Looking ahead after coming off the highway, I feel like I'm in the wrong place. Oncoming traffic is facing me but cars are being directed to their left once they go through the light. Cars are passing by on the right. A backwards "no u-turn" sign is to my right.
And I question for a split second what is going on. Am I about to have a wreck? Did I do something wrong? Something is different here… When did this happen?
And fortunately, I snap out of it and follow signs to eventually arrive at the church. Once there, I am told that the new interchange is one of four in the United States that is following a European model.
And I wonder, "How long have I been gone?"
Just two years… I've left just two years ago and yet, major changes have happened to a road pretty familiar to a mall and restaurant I used to frequent often when I lived in the States. And driving home in silence as I often do, I realize that the little bit of discomfort that I had just experienced was a perfect analogy to how I feel when I come back to the United States and even sometimes while in the Dominican.
I don't quite fit... Yet I can adjust pretty seamlessly (even though the tears of being overwhelmed do come out from time to time).
There are subtle changes… I missed the transition in between… and yet again, I can adjust.
People ask me all the time when I come back to the US and then go back to the Dominican if I have culture shock. I would say, mostly in the way described above. I seem to have gotten used to the fact that everything here is bigger and faster and quieter. People have moved, gotten married and had children. Their children are bigger than they seem like they should be since I've missed the "in between"… I don't understand the lingo, the songs are foreign, and the style of clothes has changed just a bit.
As I begin writing the blog, it's 10:00 on a Monday morning, I find myself on a plane in the United States after having been in the US now for over three weeks. After having spent two weeks babysitting my friend's baby boy, encouraging my support team to continue in partnership as I transition, and after having spent a week with my family in Florida, I am both relieved and excited about this next step. For the next month, I will be spending time outside of Colorado Springs at Missions Training Institute with previous missionaries as our leaders and current missionaries who are headed out to minister all around the world through various missionary organizations. Please come alongside me to pray for next steps, for clarity, and for rejuvenation.
Once I return to Atlanta on the 17th of October, my plan is to head to the Dominican 3 days later. Thus far, efforts in sharing about Makarios have been very encouraging and I think confirming of God's hand in this decision to step out on faith even though I can't see the end…
Please partener with me through Makarios by clicking here. (All donations are tax deductible.) To be able to leave on October 20, I must have my support pledged or donated before then.
Want to know what I've been up to? Read below:
- shared with a Wesleyan Spanish class about ministry in the Dominican Republic.
- traveled to Florida to speak to church family at Providence Church about the transition and thanked them for the provision of a water system for a whole community in Quisqueya. Then, visited with close friends and family in Florida.
- helped a friend with her baby for two weeks after her hip surgery.
- hosted dinners with supporters, spent quality time with my church family, closest friends and their children.
- helped share about the importance of reading to children with some teenage moms through a local YoungLife program called YoungLives.
- assisted in getting the materials up on a new Etsy site with the help of a close friend, Ellie. The e jewelry and other hand-crafted items were made by some of my Bible study ladies / Emanuel House moms. Support some of my closest friends in Quisqueya by buying one of their products and pray that others will support as well. More items will be uploaded from time to time.
My prayer for you who are reading this and my prayer for myself is that we would follow the advice of the psalmist in Psalm 37:3-7a. Even though we live in a world where we may not always understand God's plans, where as believers we don't completely fit in, and where it may even seem for a moment like traffic is coming straight at us, may we commit our everything to Him by trusting and obeying.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart's desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn.
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for Him to act.
