Where do I start? This past year I was on what most missionaries these days call a "furlough", but I prefer the term "home assignment". Don't get me wrong here, Africa will always be my home, America my birth place. But it's the assignment part that is so true. The whole year in the States is entirely devoted to visiting all of our supporting churches ( of which we have about 23) and all the supporting individuals (of which we have near a 100). Do you know how many beds I slept in, or how many miles my rear end was practically attached to the car? Yeah, I don't know either. There was a few moments of joy though, amidst all the discomfort.
But this past year in America has been wild! It was full of so many firsts. It was my first year that I can actually remember making friends. The last home assignment we took, I was heading into fifth grade and believe me, I was drama queen and I don't remember a thing. It was the first time I ever drove an automatic transmission. Talk about terrifying. I know it might be "easy" but let me tell you it was a step down from driving standard. It was my first time driving with rules that you are actually supposed to follow. Where I come from, we like to play bumper cars and straddle the white line. It was my first time applying for a permit. And I passed first try. It was my first time in my home church's Youth Group. It was my first time in the Emergency Room, first time in a hospital actually. My first time on Intravenous Drip Therapy. America was the first continent I lived in as a Type One Diabetic. It was the first time I had ever home schooled. Talk about interesting. It was my first time to go to a MercyMe concert, and mind you, I sat in the second row with my bestie. It was my first time doing college visits, I'm seriously considering pursuing a major in Elementary Education and a minor in French at Messiah College in PA. Pray about that.
But it was also a year of a few lasts. It was my last time as a high school student in America. When I come back, it'll be for college. It was my last time in my church's Youth Group. I'll be in College and Careers when I return. It was my last time living in my childhood home, the church's parsonage.
And in spite of all of these firsts and lasts, the Lord has never left me. I'm so grateful for his sovereignty in it all.