Sunday, July 10, 2011
Road Trip Reflection
The two weeks spent on the road were really lovely. It was a lot of time to myself, which I have learned is so important for my transition back to the states, especially this time with all the change that I have come home to. There was also a lot of time with people that I love. It was so special to get to catch up with people. To share stories of what my life has looked like the past four years. To hear stories of what God has done in the lives of others since we've been apart. The reverse culture shock was especially interesting this time because I was getting to see so many different parts of the U.S. from the Bible Belt to the Corn Husker State. In conclusion, America is a beautiful country full of beautiful people who are hurting and in need of freedom just as much as the poverty stricken people groups in third world cultures. My prayer for my time here in America is that I wouldn't lose sight of that, and that He would be able to use me here while I am here to be love to people around me.
The Mile High City!
The drive from Nebraska to Denver was pretty long. There's not a lot to see in between, so I was happy when I finally arrived in the Mile High City. Denver is one of my favorite places. It is so diverse and full of amazing places to eat and shop. The purpose of my visit, though, was to see Grandma Judy. The next day we went to breakfast and she took me shopping. It was a lovely day with my spoiling Grandma.
I also got to hang out with Alex, my sister Abby's fiance. He just recently moved to Colorado Springs for a PT job. Abby will be moving there after the wedding. We went and had some of the best Mexican food I've had since I've been home.
Worlds collided again when I got to have breakfast with Emily and Joel. I taught with the two of them in Indonesia. Joel is from Denver and Emily was there visiting him and his family. It was a great visit and nice to get to share some of the reverse culture shock experiences.
This was the last leg of my journey as I headed to Albuquerque, NM for the first sister wedding. The drive to Albuquerque was really long and not very pretty. I did get a chance to stop over at Focus on the Family as well as the city of Trinidad, CO which happens to be the sex change capital of America. (Never thought all of that would ever be in the same sentence)
I was so happy to make it to Albuquerque where I got to stay with more relatives: my dad's cousin Debbie Armerding and her husband Jonathan. It had been so long since the last time I saw them. We had a lovely Italian dinner and talked about our Asian travels. Their oldest son Cole was in China for the last year and they went to visit him in March. Emily arrived that night and so began the weddingness for the weekend.
I also got to hang out with Alex, my sister Abby's fiance. He just recently moved to Colorado Springs for a PT job. Abby will be moving there after the wedding. We went and had some of the best Mexican food I've had since I've been home.
Worlds collided again when I got to have breakfast with Emily and Joel. I taught with the two of them in Indonesia. Joel is from Denver and Emily was there visiting him and his family. It was a great visit and nice to get to share some of the reverse culture shock experiences.
This was the last leg of my journey as I headed to Albuquerque, NM for the first sister wedding. The drive to Albuquerque was really long and not very pretty. I did get a chance to stop over at Focus on the Family as well as the city of Trinidad, CO which happens to be the sex change capital of America. (Never thought all of that would ever be in the same sentence)
I was so happy to make it to Albuquerque where I got to stay with more relatives: my dad's cousin Debbie Armerding and her husband Jonathan. It had been so long since the last time I saw them. We had a lovely Italian dinner and talked about our Asian travels. Their oldest son Cole was in China for the last year and they went to visit him in March. Emily arrived that night and so began the weddingness for the weekend.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Prerequisite: Adventure
From Kansas City I was on my way to Broken Bow, Nebraska to see a bunch of family that I hadn't seen since I was a baby. The road trip had gone so smoothly so far; I should have known that I couldn't make it the whole way without some kind of Griswold adventure....
I had heard that I-29 was closed because of the Missouri River flooding, so when I plugged the address into the GPS I made sure that I wouldn't be taking I-29. Unfortunately, maps and directions aren't really my thing, so I didn't realize that I-435 and I-29 were the same thing. I found this out too late when I kept seeing the blinking road signs telling me that the interstate would close soon and I would need to take a detour. I assumed that taking their suggested detour would lead me to the right place, but it didn't. When I made it Maryville, I said a little prayer and plugged the address into the GPS again. It took me on a couple back roads and I was feeling good about it. That was until I came to another road closure. The country road I was on was closed due to a bridge being repaired. This was when I discovered the Detour button on the GPS. When I pressed it, it took me down a dirt road...that turned into a "dirt road" and then turned into something that I wasn't sure was even a road. In the middle of that thought I came upon a tractor that was making the dirt road I was on. At that point the adventure was still comical. Little did I know that it was only the beginning and that the detour button would end up being my best friend. A pretty good chunk of I-29 was closed which led to taking all kinds of backroads and me asking the question, "Where the heck am I?!" Finally, after about 2 hours of detours I finally made it to I-80 which would take me to Nebraska.
I was so happy to make it to Broken Bow safely and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. My mom had flown in the day before and we stayed in a Bed and Breakfast. It was a lovely place fit with themed bedrooms and lots of knick knacks. The room we stayed in was called the Angel Room. It was chock full o' angels including angel pull chains on the fan. The only channel available at the bed and breakfast was the Hallmark Channel so we enjoyed some Golden Girls and Frasier during our down time.
It was such a blessing to get to catch up with family. I am related to some pretty incredible people! The weekend was full of funny stories, good food and enjoying the great outdoors. It was also a relief to learn that my passion for coffee, introvertedness, and other quirks are genetic.
I hope that I get up to Nebraska again in the near future. Family is such a special thing. Despite some of the drama that comes with it, there's so much room for grace and unconditional love. I am truly blessed.
I had heard that I-29 was closed because of the Missouri River flooding, so when I plugged the address into the GPS I made sure that I wouldn't be taking I-29. Unfortunately, maps and directions aren't really my thing, so I didn't realize that I-435 and I-29 were the same thing. I found this out too late when I kept seeing the blinking road signs telling me that the interstate would close soon and I would need to take a detour. I assumed that taking their suggested detour would lead me to the right place, but it didn't. When I made it Maryville, I said a little prayer and plugged the address into the GPS again. It took me on a couple back roads and I was feeling good about it. That was until I came to another road closure. The country road I was on was closed due to a bridge being repaired. This was when I discovered the Detour button on the GPS. When I pressed it, it took me down a dirt road...that turned into a "dirt road" and then turned into something that I wasn't sure was even a road. In the middle of that thought I came upon a tractor that was making the dirt road I was on. At that point the adventure was still comical. Little did I know that it was only the beginning and that the detour button would end up being my best friend. A pretty good chunk of I-29 was closed which led to taking all kinds of backroads and me asking the question, "Where the heck am I?!" Finally, after about 2 hours of detours I finally made it to I-80 which would take me to Nebraska.
I was so happy to make it to Broken Bow safely and thoroughly enjoyed the weekend. My mom had flown in the day before and we stayed in a Bed and Breakfast. It was a lovely place fit with themed bedrooms and lots of knick knacks. The room we stayed in was called the Angel Room. It was chock full o' angels including angel pull chains on the fan. The only channel available at the bed and breakfast was the Hallmark Channel so we enjoyed some Golden Girls and Frasier during our down time.
It was such a blessing to get to catch up with family. I am related to some pretty incredible people! The weekend was full of funny stories, good food and enjoying the great outdoors. It was also a relief to learn that my passion for coffee, introvertedness, and other quirks are genetic.
I hope that I get up to Nebraska again in the near future. Family is such a special thing. Despite some of the drama that comes with it, there's so much room for grace and unconditional love. I am truly blessed.
Good Ol' Missoura
The next leg of my journey took me to the great state of Missouri. First stop...St. Louis to see Sierra, my closest friend from Cottey College. She's doing some summer missions work with a church in St. Louis. It was a short visit, but, like always, we picked up right where we left off. We drove to the tiny town of Vandalia where I stayed that night. The last time I was in Vandalia was for Easter my second year at Cottey. Talk about a walk down memory lane. It was such a blessing to be able to reflect with Sierra about where the Lord has brought us. Neither of us are where we thought we'd be, but He has certainly done more than we could have imagined. Throughout my travels it's been incredible to recognize His provision of brothers and sisters in Christ who are a huge part of my support system.
The next day I drove to the other tiny town of Huntsville, Missouri to see my friend Aaron and his family. Aaron and I went to Indonesia at the same time. For three years, I heard all kinds of stories about this little town and its quirks, so it was so fun to get to see it all. His family is amazing and made me feel like part of the family immediately. There just aren't words to describe what it's like to meet someone from my Indonesia Life in America. Once again, though, it was as if no time had passed at all.
Memory lane continued when I headed to Kansas City to see a dear friend from my Cottey years. Kali and I were R.A.'s together, Spanish speakers and coffee lovers. She is married now with a cute one year old and another on the way. So, a lot has changed, but I thoroughly enjoyed sharing stories of God's provision and orchestration of where we are today. That night I stayed with her inlaws...one of the more random accomodations of my trip, but it turned out to be a divine appointment when I got to meet Kali's sister in law. She just got engaged, so we got to talk about wedding craziness and everything that comes with committing to someone and their family. I was able to be an encouragement to her and made a new friend in the process.
Going back to the places where I've been was a weird feeling. I couldn't help but think of that song by Sara Groves, "Painting Pictures of Egypt."
The places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I've learned
My time in Missouri while I was going to Cottey was only the beginning of God preparing me for something big. I love looking back and seeing how He's continued to write my story further shaping my life into someone that portrays who He is.
The next day I drove to the other tiny town of Huntsville, Missouri to see my friend Aaron and his family. Aaron and I went to Indonesia at the same time. For three years, I heard all kinds of stories about this little town and its quirks, so it was so fun to get to see it all. His family is amazing and made me feel like part of the family immediately. There just aren't words to describe what it's like to meet someone from my Indonesia Life in America. Once again, though, it was as if no time had passed at all.
Memory lane continued when I headed to Kansas City to see a dear friend from my Cottey years. Kali and I were R.A.'s together, Spanish speakers and coffee lovers. She is married now with a cute one year old and another on the way. So, a lot has changed, but I thoroughly enjoyed sharing stories of God's provision and orchestration of where we are today. That night I stayed with her inlaws...one of the more random accomodations of my trip, but it turned out to be a divine appointment when I got to meet Kali's sister in law. She just got engaged, so we got to talk about wedding craziness and everything that comes with committing to someone and their family. I was able to be an encouragement to her and made a new friend in the process.
Going back to the places where I've been was a weird feeling. I couldn't help but think of that song by Sara Groves, "Painting Pictures of Egypt."
The places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I've learned
My time in Missouri while I was going to Cottey was only the beginning of God preparing me for something big. I love looking back and seeing how He's continued to write my story further shaping my life into someone that portrays who He is.
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