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| Look at my new home in Hayesville, NC! |
I said goodbye to dear, dear people in Nicaragua…
I spent 12 days at “Mid Terms” with fellow Mission Fellows
in NY reflecting, celebrating, sharing and mourning our times spent outside of
our home countries…
I squeezed each of my family members and tried to soak up
every minute of my short time in McKinney, TX…
I visited several churches that allowed me to share about my
personal experiences in Nicaragua…
I arrived 4 days ago to Hayesville, NC and have begun
settling into my new community and job…
I feel like my whole transition from Nicaragua to the United
States was a blur at times. I’ve
experienced a variety of emotions from feeling
sad- to leave people and a country
numb- many times I didn’t feel anything. When I might have cried or
felt overwhelmingly grateful, I felt numb instead.
Joyful- to see loved ones once again = amazing
Disgusted- Yes, at times, I’ve felt disgusted with materialism,
excess of things, attitudes of people, people’s priorities, etc. This is an
intese emotion that I do not wish to feel, but instead wish to feel less
hateful and simply acknowledge my opinions of these situations with respect for
others, yet live differently based on my opinions.
Challenged/questioning- mid-terms allowed me to converse with
others about those social issues that are really affecting the areas where we
were working- what can we do? How are we called? Why are things this way? (My
parents were also wonderful people with whom to discuss the hard stuff- thanks
padres)
Humbled/inspired- all the churches I visited are so open to hearing
about missions and gave so generously of their time and money to my program
Unsettled- I had to think about a word to describe this particular
emotion I’ve been having, but I sometimes feel like an outsider looking in on
what’s happening and a desire to perhaps to be living once again in a Nica-like
culture
Blessed- There were several moments I would be looking at my nephew
or sitting with my parents or siblings & I just wanted to stare at them,
soaking up the moment. I also had time
to spend with extended relatives, after missing the death of one of uncles and
an aunt while I was working in Nicaragua. I definitely have so much more
appreciation for my entire family.
I share these emotions with you so perhaps you can have a
new perspective of thefact that it is tough to face one’s home country again,
after living in a different reality.
Society expects you to just fit right back in again, but what are we
fitting into?
It was great speaking at churches and actually pretty
healing to get to share pictures and stories about my adventures. I do,
however, want to share a few reactions/opions/what-have-yous that made me
realize, hmmm, perhaps I did not share certain perspectives thouroughly. I am not trying to criticize, cause’ let’s be
honest- I’ve probably said some of these things in the past. I simply have a
new perspective now and want to challenge you, too, to think a bit differently
about some of the following things that were said to me.
“so we can learn from
this presentation just how blessed we are to live here”
Is this the lesson you learned..and the only one? Uh oh. Yes,
large majorities of people in the US have access to health care, clean water,
safetly, food, etc. which are blessings everyone deserves and should have. Yet,
if we keep going, in my opinion, those other
“blessings” we have, own, drive, live in, prioritize are many times a
sign of living in too much excess or waste. Those extra things we don’t need,
yet feel we deserve, often cause injustices throughout the world. Perhaps it’s
better to learn from my Nicaraguan experiences …how we need to share those
“blessings”? … learn that we too can live with less? …learn that we have too
much?
“they are poor, but
they seem really happy”
For me, this statement isn’t seeing those “poor people” as
dignified human beings. Of course they are happy. They are also sad sometimes,
possibly mad, grumpy, energized, joyful, silly, and tired- just like YOU. I’ve
come to realize that “poor people” do not exist. Nope. Only people, children of
God, who are living with the issue of poverty.
“aren’t you just so
glad to be back in the United States?”
This one makes me kind of sad. I know people are just trying
to relate and create conversation, but it makes me question their question.
Perhaps, these people are just trying to ask if I am happy to see my family,
because, oh yes, to be able to see my family was amazing, as well as, friends.
Yet, I wonder what this person thinks of Nicaragua or of other countries or my
wonderful friends that I met in Nicaragua. As US students and children, we were
raised to believe our country is the best. God bless America. Elitism and
competition do not help create the kingdom of God. I am not saying we should
dislike the US, but instead try to take on more global perspectives,
uderstanding and acceptance. Oooh, also appreciation!
Today I hope I challenged you some. I know it was heavier
stuff, but that’s what’s on my mind and what we are called as Christ Followers
to think about.
Thanks for your continued support!
Peace, Whitney
Special thanks to…
University Christian Church: Fort Worth, TX
First Christian Church of McKinney, TX
Wesley Foundation TCU
First United Methodist Church of McKinney
Grace Christian Church: Prosper, TX
Lion’s Club of McKinney
