So much of my prefield training and the advice I received before arriving was, "Know your expectations," because they WILL NOT all be met. In fact, maybe none of them will be met.
I don't know what I expected, but coming to a region 10 days after the start of a war was not something I expected. I didn't expect for the country to declare a period of mourning the day after I arrived. I didn't expect for my 2 language classmates to be pulled out of the country after 1 week, leaving me in alone in class.I didn't expect to live with a couple on my team for 2 months while trying to find me housing and a roommate. I didn't expect to be so exhausted after Arabic classes that I would need a nap everyday for the first month. I didn't expect to feel so unknown. I also didn't expect to get along as well as I do with teammates who are 5, 10, 30 years older than me. I didn't expect to have so much fun on my first Thanksgiving away from family. I didn't expect there to be so much green. I didn't expect to be able to order at a restaurant this early. I didn't expect to be making friends so soon. I didn't expect to feel so peaceful.
I tried my best to not have expectations, but we all do. A lot of my expectations were quickly dispelled, but through a little bit of my own effort, lots of help, and an immense amount of work by the Holy Spirit, I am okay. I have peace. So for now I'm trying not to expect what's around the corner and just take it day by day because I've learned I rarely can predict what will happen.