My letter to future Goers
It was some of the hardest months of my life--and I would do it all again. I faced culture shock, loneliness, language-learning burnout, interpersonal conflict, feelings of failure, hating my city at times, doubts about God, depression, anxiety, hopelessness... and I would do it all again. I am not the same person that left America 2 years ago. I'm more vulnerable. I'm more emotionally mature. I'm stronger. I'm wiser. I've seen more of what I'm made of and more of who God is (even through having many beliefs about him crumble). I see people differently. I see the world differently. I don't… Read more >>
Moving back to America
This month I finished my term and made it back to America. My last few weeks were full, surreal, and very emotional. I experienced so many “lasts” and had lots of tearful goodbyes. I’m still processing the end of that part of my life, but a few moments and thoughts stand out the most. In my last coffee date with my friend, D, who I previously shared the meaning of communion with, she was the one who opened the door for spiritual conversation! She asked about Christmas and different Christian beliefs. We talked about Christmas Eve church services and I shared how we often use candles to… Read more >>Arabic Wins
In addition to wins like initiating increasingly deeper conversations and feeling more comfortable in Arabic, I placed Advanced-Low in an oral exam in July! This basically means I can speak conversationally about a range of topics at paragraph-length and am often catching my mistakes. The test was an encouraging way to quantify how far I’ve come in less than 2 years. While I still feel like there is a mountain of things I don’t know, it’s good to reflect on my accomplishments and perseverance. At this point in my journey, I’m learning more complex vocab and concepts, trying to listen to media… Read more >>