Excited for Whatever's Next!

This decision not to come back was not an easy one, but every time I started leaning towards coming back another year, God would point out something that just didn't work with that choice. As much as I hated it, I realized it will be best for me to go back to Illinois. At least for now. Now, don't get me wrong. I DO plan on returning soon, even if that just means visiting. To me, my heart's desire is to come back down here once I've taken some Spanish classes and at least gotten a grasp on the basics of Spanish. See, while living here, I've been able to pick up a lot of it, but not enough to form many useful sentences, just enough to make sure I don't go hungry and can travel to the places I need to go. I could easily stay here and take Spanish classes in the country filled with people who actually speak it, but in my heart, I really need to be home. Well, maybe I don't need to be as much as I just want to be. My dad's back in our lives after a really long absence and it's been really, really hard being away from him during this time that he's officially become a part of our family again.

In the meantime, before God reveals my next step to me regarding Honduras (or somewhere else if that's where He decides to take me), I am going to take Spanish classes and immerse myself as much as possible without actually being in a Spanish speaking country. I would love to get involved with an organization that works with teens somewhere here in Honduras, but in most cases, you have to be bilingual for that. All that to say, I could be a long way away from my long term goal. And that is okay. I have learned to accept whatever and wherever it is God has placed me, even if that means I have to wait a long time just to find out where and what that is. I am excited about getting involved with other ministries and organizations in Springfield while I wait, places that I never really took the time to invest myself in before. God doesn't HAVE to have me in Honduras in order for me to do His work. I can do that anywhere. I just want to be a blessing for Him and shine a little more of His light in this world. Selfishly I just wish that would bring me back to Honduras full time someday.

For now, my plans are not really concrete once I get back to the States. I'll move back in with my mom. I'll most likely substitute teach again, because I loved that way more than I expected to. I look forward to getting involved again in my church life at Lakeside and also find some way to work with teenagers in the community. The biggest thing for me will be taking Spanish classes. I will be taking a class at the community college and hopefully get to practice with my students, too, since half of them added me as a facebook friend as soon as the last day of school was over. You know, it's not cool to be friends with your teacher, but when they're just another person, it's totally acceptable. :)

I'm so looking forward to seeing many of you who are reading this in the coming months once I get back home in a month! Get a hold of me and let's set up a time to hang out so I can tell you all about this in person! Thanks for going on this journey with me, and it is far from over, no matter WHAT I end up doing next. :) God bless!

My daddio and me!

So excited to get to spend lots of quality daddy/daughter time with this guy!