Remember that time I’ve been going nonstop for the past 3 years?
I never thought I’d say this but…
I’m kind of ready for my passport to collect a little dust instead of stamps.
Don’t get me wrong, my heart still races when I see a picture of my little orphans
and I still long to hear the mumble of unknown languages and
smell strange smells as I walk down busy foreign streets…
But for now, my heart has been wooed into a season of rest.
I’ve traveled hundreds of thousands of miles…
and eaten the strangest things…
and loved on the lowest of the low…
and I’m tired.
My heart is so full when I reminisce….
but it’s time to take a chill pill.
I bumped around the world in 2011.
India, Nepal, Romania, Moldova, Swaziland, Mozambique, South Africa, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia and Malaysia…
(And other random countries for the day or layovers, etc)
And I will never be the same.
It rocked me.
Returning home in 2012 I continued my whirlwind.
Working at a local nonprofit…
and hitting up Haiti.
In 2013, I moved to Georgia and worked for Adventures
in the Marketing Department…
Spending my summer leading a group on a trip to Swaziland, Africa…
Returning back to the States to continue writing and living in Gainesville.
For three years straight my heart was run off of curiosity and passion.
Wanderlust and my obsession with coffee filled my veins.
I have seen things that are indescribable.
I have heard stories of things that have happened to my babies that make me want to decapitate a select few.
I have stared into the eyes of women who have been stolen and sold for sex.
I have urgently been told to leave a village or else there would be consequences.
I have plotted stealing orphans.
I have seen sides of the Lord’s face that are so flawless that I can’t even grasp them.
I have thrown chunks of my heart all over this planet and I have only bits and pieces of it left.
It has been one hell of a season of nonstop out pour and travel and craziness…
and I’m tired.
It’s been beautiful… but I have little left to give.
No human being is made to constantly be changing geographic locations
Don’t get me wrong…
I love the pieces of my heart that are nomadic…
But nomads need to breathe too.
So.
Here I am.
Packing my stuff and driving my car back across the country.
Setting up camp in Houston, TX.
I am entering a season of rest.
Of writing.
Of drinking coffee.
And making coffee.
Cheers to being the newest barista at Starbucks.
I’ll be living at home for a little to save money…
(Starving missionary problems)
And seeing a counselor…
(Let’s be real, everyone needs a counselor)
And making coffee and loving people with every ounce of my being.
I’m certainly not done with the world…
But if I try to continue dumping my soul out,
I’ll shrivel up and die.
And that would be pointless to the Kingdom.
I’ll be finding a church around here…
that is thoroughly spirit filled and Kingdom minded.
I’ll be getting involved in a local addicted kids ministry.
I’ll still be insane
But it’ll just be in a more rooted fashion.
And if I’m honest…
The peace I feel about this season is overwhelming.
For the first time in my life, there is a rest coming over me
that is filling me to the brim.
Soon enough I feel like the Lord will send me back out overseas
to do something big or small…
But for this season…
He’s showing me His rest.
And how to live mission minded in my own hometown.
Cheers.
And YOLO stateside.
I’m pumped to see what this season looks like.