For Christmas, my parents bought me a beautiful suitcase for my upcoming travels. It’s magenta and has spinney wheels and I was so excited to break it in. However, that’s not the best part. What I love about that suitcase is the quote that my dad wrote on the inside, which says, “The earth is the LORD’s… travel it.” My parents are so supportive of everything I do, including my desire to live abroad and explore the world. They know that I am in good hands (in my Father’s Heavenly hands) and encourage me to chase my dreams. They push me to live outside of my comfort zone and then welcome me back with warm, open arms to fill my cup again. Oh, how I love them and am so thankful for them!
On that note, it’s been about 2 weeks since I’ve been back with my family in our lovely abode in California. What an adventure it has been! I stepped outside of the airport and saw my wonderful brother and sister standing in front of me with a sign (upside down) that said “pick up for the girl who looks like me.” I choked down the tears and was greeted by my now very tall and handsome brother and beautiful sister (I almost forgot what she looked like. Just kidding). It felt so good to be back.
A lot happened in a short matter of time and decisions needed to be made fast. Overall, I needed to get back to the states ASAP and left the Philippines in a hurry trying to make it back for a funeral. All said and done, God had this all planned out from the beginning and I’m learning that my plans are not always what He has in store, so I just have to trust Him (easier said than done of course).
So now I’m back and am grateful for warm showers, electricity, yogurtland, English signs and smooth roads. (It was weird driving again after so many months gone! Don’t worry… you don’t have to get off the streets ;)) But crazy enough, I don’t mind the cold bucket showers, brown outs, rice for breakfast lunch and dinner, the closest yogurtland thousands of miles away, the bumpy roads, nor signs that all look the same to me. I enjoyed doing laundry by hand in both countries and loved taking different forms of transportation (like triceys and bullet trains and ferries). I don’t mind having to boil water every time I want something to drink and I actually got used to bargaining for everything (although I’m still not good at it and walk away feeling guilty every time).
A wise friend once explained to me what it was like growing up as a “third culture kid” (TCK). She explained it in a way that made complete sense and I could relate to her. Although I did not grow up as a missionary kid or even a TCK, I’ve traveled a bit and have experienced many different cultures throughout the years. Bear with me here… Imagine if every country had a color. Let’s say the U.S. is yellow (my favorite color). If you grow up in a yellow country, that’s all you know. However, say you travel to another country, completely different than your own, like China. China is blue. So you go to China and live there for a few months, then come back to your yellow country. But, you bring back the color blue with you, because you’ve grown and learned so much and have adapted to that culture. Now you no longer can fit into this yellow country and you make green (by mixing yellow and blue). This is just an example… Every time you travel to a place different than your own, you pick up their “colors” and take it wherever you go. I have picked up so many colors throughout the years, from El Salvador and the Dominican Republic to Mexico and Uganda and Rwanda and Kenya and now parts of Asia. What color am I??? I feel like I’m a mix of so many!
This can be disheartening and draining, but it is also so beautiful at the same time. A lot of times it feels like I don’t belong here on earth (which is true… this place is not our home). I’m no longer just one color and it’s hard to fit into our yellow society. But I’m learning that that’s okay! Why? Well, we are supposed to feel like aliens and strangers on this earth.
13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
I can’t wait for this “city” that God has prepared for us! Traveling His world gives me greater glimpses of our God who reigns in Heaven and on earth. Everyone is made in His image, and I am so grateful for the glimpses of Himself that He has revealed to me throughout the past few months.
So now I am back “home” in Lakewood, California and it has been so good. The transition can be rough at times, but I try to take one day at a time and keep on reflecting all that has happened since the end of February. It doesn’t feel real at times, which is why I love to look back through pictures and think, “did this all really happen? Did I really live in China and explore Beijing and HongKong and even Tabuk, Philippines?” It went SO fast, which I guess is a good sign, right?
Here is just a recap of pictures from the past few months. Hope you enjoy!
So now I’m back and am grateful for warm showers, electricity, yogurtland, English signs and smooth roads. (It was weird driving again after so many months gone! Don’t worry… you don’t have to get off the streets ;)) But crazy enough, I don’t mind the cold bucket showers, brown outs, rice for breakfast lunch and dinner, the closest yogurtland thousands of miles away, the bumpy roads, nor signs that all look the same to me. I enjoyed doing laundry by hand in both countries and loved taking different forms of transportation (like triceys and bullet trains and ferries). I don’t mind having to boil water every time I want something to drink and I actually got used to bargaining for everything (although I’m still not good at it and walk away feeling guilty every time).
A wise friend once explained to me what it was like growing up as a “third culture kid” (TCK). She explained it in a way that made complete sense and I could relate to her. Although I did not grow up as a missionary kid or even a TCK, I’ve traveled a bit and have experienced many different cultures throughout the years. Bear with me here… Imagine if every country had a color. Let’s say the U.S. is yellow (my favorite color). If you grow up in a yellow country, that’s all you know. However, say you travel to another country, completely different than your own, like China. China is blue. So you go to China and live there for a few months, then come back to your yellow country. But, you bring back the color blue with you, because you’ve grown and learned so much and have adapted to that culture. Now you no longer can fit into this yellow country and you make green (by mixing yellow and blue). This is just an example… Every time you travel to a place different than your own, you pick up their “colors” and take it wherever you go. I have picked up so many colors throughout the years, from El Salvador and the Dominican Republic to Mexico and Uganda and Rwanda and Kenya and now parts of Asia. What color am I??? I feel like I’m a mix of so many!
This can be disheartening and draining, but it is also so beautiful at the same time. A lot of times it feels like I don’t belong here on earth (which is true… this place is not our home). I’m no longer just one color and it’s hard to fit into our yellow society. But I’m learning that that’s okay! Why? Well, we are supposed to feel like aliens and strangers on this earth.
13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16)
I can’t wait for this “city” that God has prepared for us! Traveling His world gives me greater glimpses of our God who reigns in Heaven and on earth. Everyone is made in His image, and I am so grateful for the glimpses of Himself that He has revealed to me throughout the past few months.
So now I am back “home” in Lakewood, California and it has been so good. The transition can be rough at times, but I try to take one day at a time and keep on reflecting all that has happened since the end of February. It doesn’t feel real at times, which is why I love to look back through pictures and think, “did this all really happen? Did I really live in China and explore Beijing and HongKong and even Tabuk, Philippines?” It went SO fast, which I guess is a good sign, right?
Here is just a recap of pictures from the past few months. Hope you enjoy!
What an AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, UNBELIEVABLE, SPONTANEOUS, and FUN adventure it has been! And I can't believe that season is over... but boy was it a season full of many gifts and wonders. I thank God for EVERYTHING that He has done in my life and how He continues to shape me and mold me into more like Him. And that's my prayer... to know God and make Him known wherever He leads me. Where He goes, I'll go. Where He stays, I'll stay. When He moves, I'll move... and I will follow.
Thank you for following my blog and for journeying with me. From the bottom of my heart (down to the very left ventricle), I thank you for your prayers and support. The trip would not have been the same without all of your prayers and encouragement, so XIE XIE! SALAMAT PO! THANK YOU! I now have 1.5 years left of undergrad nursing school until I graduate! Going to China completed my international health minor and my dream of starting a clinic overseas is becoming less of a dream and more of a reality. It is possible if it's God's will. It's definitely been on my heart for years and it continues to grow... so we'll see what happens and where He leads me!
Thank you for following my blog and for journeying with me. From the bottom of my heart (down to the very left ventricle), I thank you for your prayers and support. The trip would not have been the same without all of your prayers and encouragement, so XIE XIE! SALAMAT PO! THANK YOU! I now have 1.5 years left of undergrad nursing school until I graduate! Going to China completed my international health minor and my dream of starting a clinic overseas is becoming less of a dream and more of a reality. It is possible if it's God's will. It's definitely been on my heart for years and it continues to grow... so we'll see what happens and where He leads me!
Yes, I give you permission to laugh at my all white scrubs, hideous nursing shoes, messy hair, and old-fashion hat. I sure did :) I can't wait to be a nurse and am loving my career choice more and more each year. It's not just going to be my occupation, but my vocation. I know without a doubt that the Lord is calling me into this field and I am so grateful for His guidance. I get to serve and love His children in a holistic manner and I'm excited to see where He takes me in the future. So stay tuned... this simple sheep is going to follow her shepherd for the rest of her life. I pray you do the same because He will use you and equip you and lead you.