Now that I’ve been home for a couple of days, I thought I’d sit down and write a quick update about coming home.
Here’s what was going on before coming back:
The girls were on summer break in the refuge, so that meant a little bit more of a relaxed schedule as far as my workshops and classes goes. We had multiple teams come and visit, the girls were able to get away for a few days with the staff and they had a great time, and I was able to do some things I really wanted to do with them. I was still leading the exercise classes every week, when they didn’t have people visiting or other fun activities to do. They only got a few weeks of break from school, so they were really taking advantage of all the yummy foods, free time, and fun activities. It’s seasons like this where I truly got to enjoy just being with them and was able to see them just enjoy life. My favorite thing was always getting to see them be teenagers. Something I’m truly grateful for at the end of this experience is feeling like I really found my place and where I belonged within the ministry and was able to do my role well.
Apart from ministry, I was also able to prepare for and take a spanish certification exam through the university in Mexico City. I am officially certified as an Advanced Level spanish-speaker. Even though my teacher was amazing, and I was totally prepared, I will say I’m glad that is hopefully the last comprehensive spanish test I’ll have to take. Three hours of reading, writing, listening, grammar, and an interview is exhausting!
Something I really grew to love my last few months there was taking a few of the girls to church every week. I would head over to the house every Sunday morning and pick up 4 of the girls and go to church. Worshiping with them, beside them, quickly became a sacred space for me. Every week during that time, I was intentional about praying over each one of the girls in the home. I prayed that they would know God, experience Him, meet with Him, and then begin to see themselves the way he sees them. Seeing them worship will forever be one of my favorite memories. I’m also super happy the church live streams their service every week, because I’m totally gonna miss worshipping and hearing a sermon in Spanish.
Something else I really enjoyed in my last month there were the moments I sought out to enjoy this city I grew to love so much. I went back to my favorite cafe with a view of Bellas Artes, did some shopping in the artisan market, walked around the old, historical streets of the city center and even got to do some new things I had on my list from the very beginning. I would describe the time leading up to coming home as closure. I was intentional about sitting down and sharing moments with the people who made up my support system in Mexico. I had breakfast with my spanish teacher, chatted with the director of the home, and had many a “goodbye” lunch. It was also fun to be doing some of these things while also celebrating my birthday.
Being back this past week has been good. I’m so enjoying catching up with friends and family, and I’m happy I’m not rushed to fit it all into a few weeks, like normal. I’m still waiting for it to feel real, I think, as it kinda does feel like I’m coming back to visit. I know many moments of home-sickness for Mexico are coming, and I’m planning on riding those waves as they come. The healthiest thing is for me to allow myself to feel whatever it is I need to feel when it comes, and remember that God led me home for a reason.
Moral of the story: I’m sitting on the other side screaming “I can’t believe I did it!” When you sign up for a two year commitment, it seems like such a long time, but it honestly went by so fast. There were plenty of moments where I didn’t think I could do it, I questioned why I was there, or even was upset I had decided to do it, but oh how thankful I am I did. I’m a much better person for it and God has done some incredible things because of my “yes.”
Ps: Picture from a dinner with my prayer group from the top of one of the tallest buildings in Mexico City, the Latinamerican Tower.