So most recently, there have been a lot of hellos and goodbyes. And my heart is a little weary from them. Please don't get me wrong. I absolutely LOVE what I do. I love having people come here for cultural programs. I love having friends come to see me!!! But it has been harder than I thought. I am always sad to let them leave and go back home!
I have realized a few things about myself: I always need my Savior and for him to be first. I need my family. I need my friends. I need people. I am not as independent as I once thought I was. I has a friend who has been traveling all over China. And I thought, "That would be so fun to just go and travel all over the place for a year, meeting people, new things, new experiences." But then I thought, "I kinda am doing that except just in one place!" But I thought further and realized that I would only want to do what she was doing it if I shared that experience with someone or with a group of people. I don't like just hoping from one person to the next. I would want to keep every single person I meet close to me, but it is impossible. I would feel guilty about my short time with them. I like to make deep lasting friendships with people. It has been good to be here and see that I can't be friends with 15 million people. However, I can have my few that I love dearly and invest in- back home (or somewhere in the states to all yall other non-louisiananians!)
And thanks to my family! I love them so much. They have been a constant to me during this really busy time at work. I am so thankful for the many messages they leave me on skype even though they know I will not get it till later. The time difference is wearing on me a little bit, but I am so thankful to have friends back home who are willing to work with me.
So all that to say is that my heart is having to depend on someone greater(like always) to give me refreshing of my soul. I have one more friend coming through this next week and I am so excited. I have only received great encouragement from them!!!! Thank you so much friends. So August is my "Sorry but I will be gone from the big city a lot" month. And I am so excited.
Some things coming up:
1. Meleah coming.
2. Us going to English camp out at my friends Island with their neighbors. However, there will be lots of foreign language that I will be using. HUGE request.
3. Watching some of my worker friends kids for a few days and recooperating.
4. Going home with our neighbors downstairs. LOTS of language use too. I love their families though so it will be great!
5. Go out east with another friend here and meeting her in one city then traveling to her home town. Lots of new experiences!
6. coming home just in time for 2 groups in September!!!
A shout out to my most recent goodbye. Love you Kari!
She is probably the one who came a got the most time with my local friends here. It seems like almost every day we were with someone or two or a family. She was very patient when we didn't speak English all the time. And everyone here loved her. She was a huge blessing to me and such a great listener. Thanks so much Kari!
