Friends

I'm sorry I haven't been great about keeping up with blogging or sending out prayer letters since I arrived back in the US in January. Part of the reason, I think, is that I am still processing. When I sit down to write something to share with all the people who are praying for me, I end up staring at a blank screen or writing something and then deleting it. My journal is filled with raw thoughts and prayers, but putting something coherent together has been a struggle.

I decided to just share some thoughts about the last few weeks with all of you.

Over the last few weeks I have been reunited with several friends and teammates who know me well. It is amazing thing to have friends that that can almost fill in the blanks for me as I ramble through unprocessed thoughts about the my time in Sudan and transitioning to life in the US.

Being back in Richmond has been more of a blessing than I anticipated. I have been able to sit and talk with friends and even step back into the same Bible study I was a part of over two years ago. All I can say that I am so thankful for all of the people who have been loving me well and pouring into me. Dear friends have welcomed me into their home and a family has even provided me with a car while I am in Richmond. I have been overwhelmed by the hospitality and generosity of friends! God is providing for me and caring for me through this time of transition in beautiful ways that I didn't expect. Tomorrow starts my time at WEPC as a missionary in residence. I don't know what exactly this will look like, but I am excited to find out what God has planned.

I wish I could say I have mastered the art of packing and living out of a suitcase after two years overseas. This morning when I arrived at the Seattle airport getting ready to catch a flight back to Richmond I couldn't find my drivers license. After a bit of searching I realized I also didn't have the keys to the car I am using while I Richmond. Not good.... It was EARLY in the morning, but I decided to call my teammates that were still sleeping back in the hotel room we were sharing and ask them to look around. They very graciously searched the room. My drivers license wasn't there, but they found my keys, and thankfully were able to send hem on the hotel shuttle to the airport for me. The only picture id I had with me was my Penn State student id. Why I still have my student id in my wallet, I'm not sure, but after some extra security screening I made it to my flight just in time. When I arrived in Richmond and started unpacking, I found my drivers license. It was in my makeup bag of all places! Seriously, I have no idea what I was thinking when I put it in there... or more likely I just wasn't thinking. I had torn apart my purse and luggage at the airport looking for it, but never thought to check in my makeup bag.

I traveled to Seattle to attend the wedding of Kim and James. It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding that gave glory to God for what He has done in the lives of the bride and the groom. I cried several times throughout the ceremony. The wedding also provided an opportunity to spend some good quality time with people who have served in East Africa with Kim in Uganda and Sudan. We had a great time laughing, talking, and exploring Seattle together.



Since I was already going to be on the west coast for Kim's wedding, I decided to spend a few days in San Francisco before the wedding with several fellow Penn State Chemical Engineers. We reminisced about our years together in Happy Valley and spent time catching up on each others lives. We also got to go on a free tour of a chocolate factory!


The best thing about being back in the US has been spending time with friends and family in person and even just being able to talk on a phone with no delay or dropped calls. It has encouraged my heart and brought me so much joy. I know I won't be able to see everyone that I love and that has had an impact on my life over the last twenty six years, but I am thankful for all the opportunities I have had and will still have to hug my friends before I head back to Sudan.