Oh gosh- the time is here. Or nearly here. I'm so stoked that my fingers are shaking typing this but the gig is up- the house is rented (or at least the lease is signed) and the plane ticket is purchased. I am officially preparing to depart the USA for a year to return to my second home in San Juan de la Maguana, RD. I think it was hard for me to keep from huge grinning for most of today (or at least the parts in which I was awake). The departure date is July 8th, which gives me 3 weeks (from tomorrow) to somehow get in gear, get my current tenants moved out, all my stuff moved out, the house and yard polished up a bit, and a lid put on my life here in Chester County, PA. Oh- and I might need a haircut before I go. I made a to-do list at work 2 nights ago and promptly lost it. But I think there were some things on there like: goto chiropractor, cancel cell phone, call chimney sweep, have cesspool pumped out, begin packing, buy shower curtain, change health insurance, write thank you cards, etc. Change sleep cycle to sleeping at night should be on there too. :)
I guess it's kinda overwhelming but I am still SOOOO psyched that I don't know if it's even sunk in yet. The one thing I'm sure of is that somehow on June 28th I need to pack up all of the stuff that is in my house (and there is a lot) and move it out.....within 24 hours. Any and all help would be appreciated. I'll buy the pizza. We all know that moving BITES. Call me at 610-246-1136 if you are interested.
God, as usual, in His ultimate timing, showed up in both huge and obscure ways this week.
I met my tenant at Rocco's in Parkesburg a week ago. We signed a lease last night. My fence blew over in a storm at the house, inciting tears and gnashing of teeth on my part. But then Cousin Kendall and my mom came down and we made short work of the clean up. And Uncle Bob showed up last night to plan the rebuild. The truck went kerflooey on the way home from work yesterday morning- but limped into the shop...and then I was gifted an emissions/inspection today. Blessings all around me. Small group tonight- looking around at these dear faces that I love, that pray for me and share burdens together. It was GOOD to sit there with them.
So many of these little things....I'm starting to see how beautiful they are and were. The time at the cabin last weekend WAS epic- we played a lot of Rook, ate junk food, saw a BEAR, drove around- chilled like villains. And then I cruised around with Matt and Mis and Callie King for a couple hours on a beautiful Sunday evening. And I plodded around out on Creek Road by the creek today. It really put me in a mindframe of tranquilooooo. I have PEACE about how the whole rental thing went down. I mean, I know it's alway scary to enter into this sort of thing- but I just believe that Jesus is on it and over it and through it and working always despite me.
So yeah- 3 more weeks, si Dios kiere. And I'll be headed back. I found a letter I sent out to my friends after I spent my first month in El Cercado, gosh- i think it's been like 4 years ago now.... I read it again and I thought I'd share it here too. It reminded me of my beautiful life...messy- but so rich. How God loves to shower us with these gifts..and sometimes we don't realize that we have been showered upon until we look back.
"Jesus said "I have come that you might have life...and have it
abundantly". I am here to say that I am living this abundant life.
I am living vida como mango...life like a mango. Sweet...rich...not
too many rotten spots....messy of course....but a delicious life. I will miss
the mangos that we get sometimes by throwing rocks
into trees. I will miss the juice running down my face and turning
my fingernails yellow and the citric acid burning the outside of my
mouth. I will miss how excited we all get to find or discover
mangos unexpectedly...how people give them as gifts....how we talk
about different kinds of mangos as though we are discussing
politics. Life like a mango...I am so lucky.
I will remember...how abundant life has been for me here and how good
God is..and has been...and the hope I have to return. Thanks
all..for your prayers, wishes..and funny responses. Thanks for
experiencing this with me vicariously...of course when we had
power..right?"
2008
Here we go now. Next step. Gracias A Dios- soy lista.
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