Monday, April 15, 2013

Leaving in less than 5 weeks


I am unsure if I have ever--in my entire life--been as busy as I currently am. It is not a bad thing; however, as I have chosen to be this involved. I am learning how to say no to extra activities; but it is a slow process. Everyone knows I would much rather go outside and play than do any homework or mandatory activities. I am learning as the picture above states, to not necessarily be happy in the state I am in, but to be content. To be content during the journey, and content at whatever the state I arrive in. 
                       
I have been back from Vietnam for almost one month. The country was absolutely amazing. It surpassed my expectations and then made me feel silly for even believing that I could mildly predict what I would experience. It was an excellent lesson in traveling. I have so many stories from that trip that I cannot even begin to express. The people rode on mopeds--up to five people at once on a single moped. It was wonderful. When we visited Halong Bay, a friend and I had a conversation about how blessed we are. So many people are born into situations we can only imagine--like the fishing villages in the Bay. These people are born on boats in this village, grow up on the boat, get married and get a new boat. They do not usually leave the area; and here we are--over in the United States, with every opportunity to travel and to see the world. We receive the chance to see how the rest of the world operates--to see cultures that are so very different from our own. We have the opportunity to tell stories of what we see to those who are not as fortunate as us. We get to tell stories of the other cultures and to share how blessed we are in this country. We have the opportunity to become storytellers. 
Kenya will be a wonderful opportunity to grow in every sense of the word. I am blessed with the ability to become a storyteller once again. I am excited to explore a new sense of solidarity. There is a huge difference between going to another country expecting to "change" it--expecting to impact it for the best, and knowing that I am receiving the chance to simply live side by side with these people. I am not expected to change their lives in any way other than loving on them--which is what I do best. I am passionate about showering love on people. Solidarity for me means to love and to expect absolutely nothing in return--to not expect them to change the way they are living. I am excited to return to Kenya--where I feel the most at home--simply to love on more of our beautiful
world.