Day 61: My Adventure in the Rearview Mirror
My first meal back on American soil was airport cheese fries and chicken tenders.
It was glorious of course, but let me tell you what wasn’t glorious- the price tag. I was already missing that 3:1 exchange rate.
In all seriousness, that’s how I feel. So grateful to be back, but missing the second home I made while abroad.
It feels like just yesterday I was sitting at this same computer writing my blog post in anticipation of this summer, nervous but excited.
I knew I would learn a lot over the summer and experience all kinds of new things. And Man was that true:
I learned how to not fall off the back of a motorcycle while driving up a mountain.
I learned how to speak Spanish like a paisa (term for someone from the Antioquia region of Colombia).
I learned that “Chinese” food in Colombia tastes like Colombian food with teriyaki sauce slapped on it.
I learned that I would rather fall off a cliff on a horse than kill a cockroach.
I learned that Colombians do some things way better than Americans (such as parking garages where they wash your car for you and lights above the parking spots that turn green when the spot is available).
I learned a whole new level of what it means to go with the flow (Oh, it’s 7 p.m. already? It’s too late for you to go back to your house. Why don’t you just stay at our house for the next few days? Just hop on the back of the motorcycle with this guy.)
I learned that true friendship truly does transcend language and culture.
I learned valuable job skills.
I learned a lot of awesome stories about our amazing God.
And most of all, I learned that dreams take hard work. That good things take time.
Just because you’re meant to be somewhere doesn’t mean it’ll be easy.
I thought that everything would be as smooth as butter. But, obstacles arise. Setbacks happen. That doesn’t mean you’re not supposed to be doing that work. It doesn’t mean you should give up. It just means that this world is not perfect and perseverance is hugely important to reaching your goals.
For instance, I had been practicing with a women’s soccer team for almost six weeks, hoping to be able to minister to them. Finally, a few days before I left Colombia, I got the chance to share my testimony with them. They also expressed their appreciation for me getting to know them and spend time with them. It was a very sweet moment, one that made all the hard work and daily grind and years of preparation worth it. And it was so much better that I waited to share my testimony because I got to build relationships and consistency first. Good things take time.
Even if the book-writing progress was a little slower than I would like, that doesn’t mean it’s doomed. We push through any and every obstacle. After all, that’s the story of the ministry I was working for; they overcame all odds and numerous unbelievable challenges to transform and save lives.
At the end of my time in Colombia, I was tired. Very tired. And ready to come home. Just being honest. But I wouldn’t trade my time there for anything. Good things can be hard things.
This is how I ended my post before I went on the summer trip:
“So for my future self reading this, I hope this summer was all you dreamed of. For those of you heading off to a new, perhaps scary experience for the summer, I am so proud of you for stepping out of your comfort zone. Even though we can’t know what this summer will hold, I know we will grow and come out the other side grateful that we were brave enough to choose adventure. Talk to you soon. ”
And I absolutely did learn and grow. I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and launching myself into something entirely new. I am proud of myself for choosing adventure.
So if you’re feeling discouraged in something you’re pursuing, just keep going. It doesn’t mean you’re not meant to be there. It just means that big, good things don’t always come easy.
Sincerely, Hannah
Photography: Hannah B.