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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Closing Out a Year of Change

Today is the last day of another year. As many others are writing their wrap-ups, I hope mine isn't another one just cluttering up your feed.

2013 was truly a year of change for me.

New travels and adventures
New job
New boyfriend
New apartment
New roommate
New friends
New community group
New church

Like I said, LOTS of changes. You know how Facebook does that year in review thing? They perfectly captured all of my 'news.' I love going back and looking at that to see everything that happened this year. Some of the posts bring on great memories and smiles, while others bring a heavy heart and sadness.

I'm not going to harp on the bad for too long, because after six months, I no longer see them as being so bad. My life was wrecked by two events within one month back in early summer. My trip to Haiti opened my eyes to how different life is outside of the United States. To how blessed I am and also how much I take for granted. In the process of being wrecked from what I saw and experienced, I also became friends with some wonderful Haitians and with the people in my group. Social media has allowed me to keep in contact with them and I am so thankful for that. On this trip I also got to spend time with a wonderful family I have heard so much about and looked up to my whole life (the Dorrell's). I really connected with one of them in particular and wanted to learn all about his experience living in Haiti, learning Creole and working with the Haitians. Seth had previously given up his blessed life in America and moved to Ferrier with his wife and daughter. Unfortunately he had to return home because he was diagnosed with cancer. Seth was in remission while we were in Haiti and was always keeping people on their toes and making us laugh. I had so many questions for him and enjoyed talking with him.

Almost three weeks after we returned to the United States, the Lord called Seth home. The combination of the absolute poverty I experienced and Seth's death made me incredibly sad and question a lot. Why would God take someone from the earth who was doing so much good for Him? He was so young and had a family. Why was there so much suffering, death and poverty in the world and it seems hardly anyone cares?  Even now there are days when I get sad and angry, but then I realize I'm being selfish. Only a week ago I stopped questioning God and being angry. This wreck and bad thing was turning into a blessing. While I still have so many questions I wish I could ask Seth, I know that he's no longer suffering. He isn't sick anymore and his body is healed. Also, the work he started in Ferrier can continue through me. I look forward to going back to Ferrier in 2014. There will probably be a little bit of sadness as I remember this year's trip, but also pure joy because I will be back in the country I love SO MUCH!

2013 was full of change, but a very good year. My heart was opened up and changed. My passion and compassion for the poor is even stronger and I look for new ways to serve "the least of these" every day. My life is less about me and more world and Christ-centered. I can only account this to my first new thing in 2013 and look forward to making that adventure a yearly one. I look forward to growing my new friendships, joining my new church and getting more involved, making awesome memories with my roommate and continuing the relationship with my amazing boyfriend while looking to the future. If you had told me last January what this year would hold, I probably wouldn't have believed you. I'm excited about the experiences and memories I will make in 2014!!!

Happy New Year!!

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
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