Things seem to have fallen into place, as we knew they would.
While I was walking down the street one day in late April, I stopped to talk to an American woman I know who runs an NGO in Moshi that helps improve the working conditions of the porters who help people climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. She mentioned that she was looking for an education coordinator to help with classes that are held for the porters during the low season and asked if I would want to meet with her to talk about it. I said yes, and I’ll be starting at the beginning of July. (http://www.kiliporters.org/)
In the meantime, I had my last day at Amani. It makes me sad to think of the little things I’ll miss by not being there every day, like Salim waiting at the door to show me his latest math grade, or Rama asking me to take him to get a new toothbrush, or being there on the first day Joshua doesn’t get into a fistfight (which will surely happen sometime soon). I'll always love those little ones, and I’m thankful I’ll be closeby.
Then on June 7th, I was back in America!
It’s been wonderful to see my family and friends and to use the washing machine and to eat ice cream and to speak English.
In the past when I’ve come back for longer periods of time, it’s sometimes been a tough adjustment to fit back into American life. But I’ve found that during these shorter trips I can more easily sit back and enjoy the perks that the U.S.A. has to offer.
So I've been soaking up every moment of this month, from visits with best friends,
to visits with family,
and picnics in the park,
and Father's Day,
and baseball games,
and cirque de soleil,
and a foster baby,
and talking to friends on the phone, and going to get ice cream, and silly game nights with the family, and going to the swimming pool, and eating LOTS of yummy food.
And while I know in my heart that Tanzania is where I'm supposed to be right now, sometimes, I start to wonder.
Why does it have to be this way?
Why couldn't I just be content with a normal life? By now, most of my friends have jobs or are getting married or are having babies. Many of them are doing amazing, rewarding, and beautiful work right here in America. Why wasn't that the plan for me?
In many ways, this month back home has helped me understand. I am just so blessed.
With friends who take a whole week out of their summers to come hang out at my house in Franklin. With a cousin who buys a plane ticket to Nashville just for the weekend even though it costs a lot. With a sister who sleeps in my room every night and doesn't complain I make her look through every section in Target. With a mom and dad who still love me even when I tell them I'll be spending another year halfway across the world.
When you're given this much love, all you can do is try to pour it back out where you feel like God is telling you to do so. To those who don't have these kinds of moms, dads, sisters, cousins, or friends. And, for me, that's why it has to be this way. For now, at least :)
