I remember thinking not long ago, "Wow! We only have THIRTY days left in Africa! That is insane!"
... and now, there's only four. Four days. After three very long months that absolutely flew by, that is all that is left.
I'm excited to come home. So, so excited. But there's something troubling about this too... is this really it? Will I ever be able to come back to the host families who not only asked me lovingly to visit again but also to invite them to my wedding? I'm carrying innumerable fond memories home with me... is it possible for a memory to also be a hope for the future? It's hard to think that this may be the end. By God's grace, if I ever get the chance to come back to this country and the people I have grown to love, I will.
It's a time of reflection now. All that is left for this trip is planning for home. Wrapping up, planning chapel, debriefing. Cross-cultural is basically over. Our last official assignment here is to write a 2-some page paper about how and why we've changed over the past three months. Should be interesting. I definitely have an idea of how I've changed, but I think it will be hard to put into words. I especially wish that we could have more time to write this paper. Say, like 3 weeks after we actually got home. I think it will be a lot easier to identify the differences I see in myself after I go back to the U.S. I have to come up with something though; the paper is due tomorrow! And no - I'm not the only one putting this off. I haven't talked to one other person who has actually started it yet. haha. Maybe after I finish it I'll post some excerpts on here to share with you all.
Four days of meetings, group time, and wanna-go-home jitters. Soaking up our last moments of 80-degree weather before we have to say hello to frost. Last minute gift and souvenier shopping, going to special places "one last time." Two plane rides and some 27 hours later... we will be home.
I'm ready.
Countdown to take-off: 4 days
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