Today I was blessed by my home church.
In about 12 hours I will board the first of the six flights which will eventually deposit me in Nairobi, and will head to Stony Point for a week of orientation prior to my arrival in Nairobi on the 28th.
Slowly this is becoming real. This summer has presented incredible opportunities for me to avoid thinking about going. I spent three weeks travelling the Mid-East in May. In June I watched my youngest nephew graduate from pre-school, and visited friends in three states. July sent me to Texas for a wedding, and this month I spent a week at the beach with my family, visited both my grandmothers, and went to an amazing concert.
I have also had meetings with various people at Union and the Presbytery in preparation for my departure, but those were small events in comparison to all the things I have had to distract me.
This is something I have felt called to do for longer than I can remember, and something that I have been concretely working toward and planning for since 2008. My first attempt was redirected to Northern Ireland, and that was a powerful training ground and opportunity to grow a bit more. Northern Ireland is where I finally acceded to God's call for me to attend seminary, and my experiences there opened many doors to me.
I fully expect that working in Nairobi will challenge and change me, and that I will ultimately be stronger for it. Stronger because I will be rebuilt of stronger substance.
I am simultaneously desperately seeking one last distraction, and giddy about the upcoming journey. Frightened of losing what I leave behind and giddy about what I may gain.
Time to finish packing.
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| Photo taken at John Calvin Presbyterian Church in San Antonio Texas |
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