It has been officially a week since I’ve gotten home from the race. It has been a whirlwind of a week and super nice to be back, but also very strange. The last two months feel like a dream and I still have a lot of processing to do.
Being home I have been very sad inside, but happy on the outside. Not that I’m trying to fake it by any means, but something feels off. Something feels different. I find myself feeling uncomfortable in big groups of people when normally I would love to be surrounded by so many people. It could be the fact that in the last two months I haven’t been in a group larger than 7-15 people. I came back to some difficult news and navigating that has been difficult, but God is good. It is gonna take some adjusting, but it’s so worth it.
The people I got to know, both racers and locals, is one of the biggest blessings God has given me. People are beautiful. And learning their stories just makes life so much better. I have learned a lot about myself and the beauty of communication. And though I still have things to learn, I’m excited to see what life looks like a year from now and the impact the race has made on me then.
I had thought saying goodbye would be easy. I thought I was made of steel and I couldn’t cry. However saying goodbye to the kids we lived with in Thailand broke me. I had loved getting to know them and they made me feel loved even when I was having a rough day or felt like I wasn’t doing my best. These kids knew how to have fun and enjoy the little things. Our host mom told me that I needed to come back “with your husband and kids next year.” Though I will not be coming back with my husband and kids next year, what a blessing it would be to go back and live with them again. They have all have incredible life stories and though I only knew Wanida and Aaron for a month, their love story is one of my favorites:)
I had about 54/61 hours of travel time back to the states to prepare to say goodbye to the people I have lived with for the last two months. I knew a good amount of us would stay in touch, so I wasn’t too worried about it. It was all fine until half way through our 9 hour flight from Paris to Atlanta, Alisa says, “I mean if we never see each other again, at least we will see each other in heaven!” As much as that is true, it made me so sad. These people had seen me at my worst and grossest sweaty self, to jumping up and down in pure joy. Through no air conditioning to hot dog and crab pizza to getting attacked by monkeys and making weird birthday videos, they had accepted me and poured into me no matter the circumstances. I am forever grateful for that.
And lastly, I am thankful for YOU. Thank you for supporting me in prayer, financially, and by emailing me. I could’ve not done this without you and you have no idea how much this ministry trip means to me. Thank you for trusting me and supporting kids I have interacted with. I appreciate the love I have felt from the states when I was on the other side of the world and way God has moved me through people like you. I love you, I appreciate you, and I am so grateful to have you in my life.
Thank you Lord for this wonderful life I live, the amazing people you have surrounded me with, and this beautiful yet temporary home I get to enjoy.
Amen
Until next time,
Rylee:)
