There's no Place Like Home...

So, the mad chaos of Mission Week and Spring Break trips has taken over. I am looking back now to reflect and post this entry for you viewing pleasure. I have calmed down, but still am longing to see my family, especially after this past week (read the next entry for more details.)

All the initiative evangelism has done my head in! I hit a brick wall. I have reached a point of homesickness, culture shock, ministry burn out, and all other events that can drain my soul. I'm exhausted! For the first time, I want to go home. Nothing else - just home. I have even faced a sleepless night of waking up at 3am to call my dad for a piece of home. I cried. I want so badly to see those I love the most. I want to be a part of their lives. I want to love them and walk beside them. How it kills me that my sister is carrying my niece and I will never know her as we are awaiting her arrival. My sister and I have grown so close this past year and she has become one of my dearest friends. How I wish I could be there with her to serve her, love her, care for her, and help her. Simply put, I want to be there as she embraces the biggest change in her life yet. She's becoming a mother - something we never knew if it would happen. I am gaining a niece, my first. I've decided throughout this, to not join staff this summer. I'm not sure if I ever will, but I know I won't this summer. I want to go home and enjoy it without being rushed around and burdened with jumping through hoops and scrambling from one thing to the next. I think if I were joining staff, it would be this summer. Mainly, I think this is the prime time to do it for me, but not really going to be a place for my to do it later. If there is, I'll go from there. Meanwhile, I'm excited to go home. Although I have experienced a family life here that I never knew, there is a family I long to return to. One that is mine and I am grateful for. One I miss. One I love.