Imagine with me that you are a droplet of water tumbling through the rapids of some impressive river. Careening off rocks and fallen trees, you bounce and bubble along. Whatever is happening at the moment is so exciting and complex that you can't afford to think about what just happened a moment before. Before you know it, you've gone over a massive waterfall, and all the water that was behind you is suddenly on top of you, pounding you under. You'd be peeing your pants if you'd had any time to think about what's going on. And then... the slow drift of the lake at the bottom.
That's what my summer vacation has been like so far. Two days after graduation, I flew from Conakry to Seattle (via Dakar, Brussells, and Newark). Two nights in Sammammish, one in Mount Vernon, and one in Seattle, and then off we went to Kaua'i for a week. Thence to Ridgecrest. Three church services, three trips to the pool, one to the movie theater, and a whole lot of spinach later, off I go again to the airport. Now I am in Lindale, Texas, at Mercy Ships International Operations Center, and I can finally take a moment to process the great adventure that was my summer vacation. It was a lot shorter than what I usually have (two and a half weeks instead of two and a half months), but I seem to have crammed a good summer's worth of visiting into it. And it was lovely. I'm sad that it's over, but I have a fresh appreciation for the wonderful relationships I have with my friends and family at home. With all the busy-ness of my Great African Adventure, I think I may have begun to take for granted all the things my friends and family have poured into me. Also, I have to admit that a tiny part of my heart was afraid that all the wonderful people who helped make me who I am might have turned into strangers after a year of separation. Happily, that was not the case. I am so grateful for all of you!
Now that we've transitioned into the slow quiet of 'the lake at the bottom', I also have a bit of time to think about the future. That part is a little bit scary. Of course I have at least one more year of teaching on the Africa Mercy. That's all settled. But what to do after that? I have no idea. Several impossible ideas float through my mind. I could teach at an international school, either in the US or abroad. Having experienced the delicious chaos of West Africa, I am eager to see what the rest of the world is like. Europe would be interesting indeed, and I do not want to leave this world without first having spent some real time in New Zealand. I thoroughly enjoy teaching, but I'd like to try doing it in a university setting somewhere. Only, I'd probably have to go back to school for that. Going back to school is problematic, not just because of the funding issue (I'm still paying off those pesky school loans), but because I don't know whether I should throw myself into studying English, Linguistics, Counseling, International Relations, Law (that's out of left field, I know, but the thought has crossed my mind once or twice), or just go to Seminary. The old dream of finding someone and making a family has not gone away either. *sigh* I have no answers. I guess I'll just have to keep praying and see what opportunities come. I just hope I'm bright enough to recognize the good ones. Sometimes I get the feeling that my 'impossible ideas' aren't quite impossible enough. Hmm... Well, the Bible is full of dim characters whom God uses despite obvious flaws. Maybe I can be one of those.
Well, the Gateway (a.k.a. On Boarding) program has officially begun. That's why I'm in Texas at the moment. Already, I've met some marvelous people from such exotic locales as Norway, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Portland. East Texas is greener than I expected (I always thought Texas=Cowboys=wide open spaces and lots of dirt), and dreadfully bug-ridden. Also, there are wild pigs (!). The classes have been good so far, and not as redundant as I thought they'd be, considering I've already lived on the ship. Plus, the salads come with good ranch dressing (not that gross stuff-in-a-bottle, but the mix that my mom used to make). All in all, I believe I'm just exactly where I need to be right now. It will indeed be interesting to see what comes next.
I hope that your summers are shaping up to be just as interesting (in a good way)!
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