We had a great New Year's Day: our family friend Aldine, my cousin Paul and his wife Erica came over for a Belgian waffle brunch with my Aunt Char, Uncle Jim, and my cousin Nicole. Here we are playing a killer game of Uno.
My Aunt Char agreed to store my things for a time. A lot of people have asked what I've kept. I've talked to a lot of people who've gone to the mission field, and everyone does things differently. I decided to save all my photo albums, meaningful books (including the medical ones), letters (several boxes-worth!), and some miscellaneous breakable things (wine glasses, trinkets, Christmas ornaments given to me by my Mom). The breakable things take up a lot of space with all of the packing material. So, below is a picture of essentially all of my things, one-box deep:
Paul and Erica live in Wisconsin now, with her two horses and two others that she boards. The temperature was -1 (-18 C), but of course the horses must be fed!
This trip to Minnesota was great. I had three weeks where I worked full-time but still managed to see lots of people, relax with family, get outdoors, and eat Thai food and Neapolitan pizza. I was also encouraged by stories of and from other missionaries, hearing that it takes everyone a lot of work to leave the country. That was very validating for me: I've spent three solid months (plus most of my evenings last spring and summer) on this venture, and I've got a little ways to go. I'm getting better at working while trusting that things will get done, and that this isn't my venture alone.
My Aunt Char agreed to store my things for a time. A lot of people have asked what I've kept. I've talked to a lot of people who've gone to the mission field, and everyone does things differently. I decided to save all my photo albums, meaningful books (including the medical ones), letters (several boxes-worth!), and some miscellaneous breakable things (wine glasses, trinkets, Christmas ornaments given to me by my Mom). The breakable things take up a lot of space with all of the packing material. So, below is a picture of essentially all of my things, one-box deep:
Paul and Erica live in Wisconsin now, with her two horses and two others that she boards. The temperature was -1 (-18 C), but of course the horses must be fed!
This trip to Minnesota was great. I had three weeks where I worked full-time but still managed to see lots of people, relax with family, get outdoors, and eat Thai food and Neapolitan pizza. I was also encouraged by stories of and from other missionaries, hearing that it takes everyone a lot of work to leave the country. That was very validating for me: I've spent three solid months (plus most of my evenings last spring and summer) on this venture, and I've got a little ways to go. I'm getting better at working while trusting that things will get done, and that this isn't my venture alone.
