and I am recording all my journal entries on my blog. : ) please enjoy the honesty and rambles.
6/30/11
Today was jam packed with travel. Car from Hickory to Charlotte, to stay at Jakes. I stayed up to call him on the calling card at 1am in Africa, and was only able to briefly utter a sentence or so before he lost signal. I think he was traveling in the mountains. Its been so hard without him. How do I deal with having ZERO communication with my best friend? This is why you are my rock, God. There will never be a time when I can't communicate with you. We will never make small talk or lose signal!
So after staying up to talk to Jake for approximately 1.5minutes and being snapped at by the angry operator who had to help me dial the number I passed out at 2am, only to get up at 6am. I showered and prayed, extremely stressed! and drove my car to Kaitlyns to park it during my time in Bolivia. I then hitched a ride with Chris, who was extremely sweet to offer me a ride, and seemed super cool. We had a great convo in the airport and I feel like we will definately bond this week! It was awesome to be at the airport AGAIN and I wished mercedes and Rachel were there to people watch and commentate with me. It was crazy what happened next. Everyone on the trip arrived at the airport and things got hectic immediately. I instantly noticed ( I noticed a tad at the packing meeting but didnt think much of it) that nearly everyone on the team is a take charge, leader, type A personality. Im not sure what this means for the trip but it has definately risen my stress level. I am used to quiet, go with it, laid back travel and I already know this trip will be anything but. Lord please help me not to sweat the small stuff. Help me to calm my frustrations and annoyance and learn from everyone, and accept everyone as they are. I just want to love them and for us all to grow together. I know they each have things to offer me, as I have things to offer them. Please open our hearts Lord, and calm my shakes and nerves. I need to know what I can do better in these situations. You are ALL I need.
We headed from Charlotte to Ft. Lauderdale. We waited for a train, and a tropical storm came out of nowhere. So we are under an underpass wiating on the train and rain is coming in on us and our luggage, were soaked, and then we witness an arrest at gunpoint. Two kids on bicycles were taken down to the ground with a gun and the officer was cursing and yelling at them! I was shocked and for some reason I kept inching closer because I felt like something wrong was happening, they were just kids and he was threatening to put bullets in their brains! It was all happening about 5feet away from me and it was very startling. It was so unreal. Rumors circulated among the team that the kids had stolen a weapon. Being arrested is not fun. Lord I pray for those boys and for those officers.
We took the train to Miami,(first train trip! nothing like Harry PotteR) then grabbed a bus to the Miami Airport. I think another reason Ive been stressed is Im used to traveling with one bookbag. But for this trip I have my bookbag, a small purse/bag, and a massive luggage. Its wonderful we get to bring so many school supplies and uniforms to the boys. But it was so hard to get all the bags on these trains, buses and planes! I left my bookbag on the bus, the bookbag had all my clothing in it for the trip. I was surprised at how quickly everyone prayed for me and helped me out. They were searching buses in the storm with me and Jeanine and Terry were very patient and sweet to me which is what I need in stressful situations. I am really interested in their dynamics as a couple. I find them intriguing. We found my bookbag still on the bus, I had left it in confusion trying to get all the massive supplies luggage off the bus.
It was nice to eat with the team in Miami, despite being stuck at the kids table(come on Im 24) and I was glad to meet our team member Adam, from Connecticut. The flight from Miami to Santa Cruz took FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRR (6hours? I honestly dont remember it felt like a WEEK). Do you ever notice how when you travel in groups everyone always trys to make sure you have people you know or people you are with to sit by? I always secretly pray to sit with strangers. Most of the time they dont talk to me, and I can read and journal and pray and meditate without interuption or having to explain myself. You know how when you know someone you have to explain half of what you do for whatever reason.... But I do enjoy my silence. And everytime I have ended up in conversation with a stranger on a bus, train or plane, I have loved the conversation and made a new friend. Strangers are not to be avoided in these cases, they are to be embraced. Other than the time I passed out last year coming back from Mexico and woke up with my hand on my neighbors thigh.
Today was car, car, truck, plane, bus, train, bus, plane, and now a bus, one more plane and one more bus and I will get to see those beautiful boys again!!!!!!! : ) YAY!!! I want to make the most of this trip. And never stop thanking you for making it happen. Gracias Dios <3 SMB
