To get here, I am positive that I have hit EVERY possible bump along the way. Here's what I'm sayin':
August 21st- I get word that my Visa cannot be processed because of passport issues so then it is decided that I, along with a couple other YAGMs, will stay in Chicago and expedite the Visas and hope they come quick!
August 26th- I and another YAGM are moved to a hotel because our Visas still had not yet arrived.
September 5th- My Visa was issued! Hooray! One problem... it was on it's way to McLeod, Montana aka Christikon. Now, this wouldn't have been so bad if someone would have been there to sign for the package and could over night it, but this was really not the case so in the end the package would have been sent back to the British Consulate in New York which was the last thing we wanted. This meant that I got to spend many hours on the phone with UPS trying to figure out how to reroute a package and get help when I was unable to it online. When I thought I had lost all hope, the dear woman on the phone (shout out to Whitney!) asked me the address I wanted to send it to and put it into the system for me. She has gained many stars in her crown in heaven for this. I am positive.
September 7th- My Visa arrived today! Hooray! One problem...I was unable to head out to Edinburgh because the woman picking me up from the airport and getting me settled in would not be in town that day so I had to make different travel plans. No biggie.
September 9th- FINALLY leaving for Edinburgh. I was to fly to Newark in New Jersey and then catch a flight to Edinburgh in the evening. Simple, right? Here's what happened (I can't even make this stuff up): the flight from Chicago to New Jersey was delayed an hour and a half. This meant that I was going to have 5 minutes to run to the gate for my flight to Edinburgh. We arrived safely in New Jersey and as I was preparing myself for sprinting across the airport, our gate to connect the plane to the terminal was broken. So, I and the other passengers stood waiting patiently while we were informed that our other flights knew we were on our way and that they "were fixing the problem as quickly as they could." 40 minutes later (seriously, not kidding) the mechanical crew was able to get a tow to tow our plane to a different gate. Consequently, I missed my flight and was stuck in the Newark airport at 10:30pm. I made my way to a customer service representative and the very kind man calmed me down and assured me everything would be fine. He booked me the next earliest flight for the next day at 8:05pm meaning that I was going to get to spend the night in Jersey. The airline gave me a free hotel room and 3 meal vouchers. Also, I got to spend 8 hours in the airport the next day waiting for my flight out because check out at the hotel was at noon and I had loads of time. (Look for a blog about a list of things to do in an airport for 8 hours--coming very soon.)
September 11th- ARRIVED IN EDINBURGH FOR REAL!!! And good news: all of my luggage made it as well! My first thought as I walked out of the airport: "This is absolutely beautiful and there are SO many hills!"
Though there have been extremely frustrating things that have happened along the way and there were times I just wanted to give up and go home, I'm so happy I didn't. There were also important things that happened during this time of waiting like being able to nourish relationships in the States and have some "Amanda time." I can also recall two specific moments when I felt that all would be fine and that there may be a true purpose in this life. For instance, when I was riding the shuttle from my hotel in Chicago to the airport, I sat with this older couple from Montana. We bonded over our experiences in the state, I gushed about how much I love it there and how my dream is to move there after this year. In an effort to tell them how I truly loved Montana, I said, "It is such a beautiful state." The man replied, "There is beauty in all places and all things. You've just got to find it." I smiled and nodded my head. I didn't really know how to respond any other way. He was right. Instantly, a calm rushed over me. Another time was on my flight from Chicago to New Jersey. I got to sit next to the cutest little girl and her mother. We talked a lot about YAGM and what it entailed, but also about where they were coming from and how this little girl was 5 years old and just starting Kindergarten. What an exciting time of life. As I sat there, I realized that though she was only 5, she also was beginning a journey. A Journey of school, being away from Mom for half the day, having to be around kids she didn't know and making friends, learning new rules, homework, and learning in general. It may not seem like a large journey to those of us who have been through it before, but it is definitely scary for a 5 year old who has never gone through it. Much like anyone starting any new adventure. Again, a calm rushed over me.
I think, when it comes down to it, it we can never fully predict what season of life we'll be in next or what will occur in that season. Now, this may seem obvious, but think about it. The plan was for me to go to orientation, get my Visa, and get a on a plane and head to Edinburgh. This didn't happen as planned. I ended up having to wait two extra weeks and was delayed and arrived on a completely different day.
This past summer at Christikon, our theme was 5 seasons of the church. Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Each of these represents and stands for something different. Never in my life, when i was speaking with campers about "times of Advent and waiting in their life" would I imagine that I was about to enter one for real. Advent is a time of expectation, waiting, and hoping. This has been my life for the past 27 days. Though, Advent isn't meant to just sit and expect. It is meant as a time to prepare for what is to come. I feel as though by nourishing relationships at home, writing in my journal, having much time to think and be aware of how I'm feeling, being in a different place such as Chicago, and dealing with each bump on the road are instances in where I have been preparing. My patience has been tested. My flexibility has been tested. My hope has been tested. As I think of it, all of me has been tested in preparation for this journey. And Christmas has come, if you will.
You may be starting a new school or getting married soon or having a child or going through a break up or through a death in the family or any number of things. These are significant and wildly different from one another in many ways. And no, you can't always relate to what someone else is going through, but you can be there for them. Even though we all walk different paths, we can all share being on a path of some sort. All you can do is respect each person you encounter and learn with them. The 5 year girl's journey to Kindergarten is no less significant to her as this journey to Edinburgh is to me. I cannot relate to her easily, but I can support her in thoughts and prayers and words of encouragement. This seems to be what I've been preparing for: encountering people who have journeys vastly different than mine and yet we can find common ground.
So, whether we are in a season of Advent or Lent or whatever it may be, we can look ahead knowing it will change and we can never predict what will happen. May we find peace in knowing we don't have to have all the answers. May we find peace in knowing we're not alone in our journeys. And may we remember to meet others where they are on their journey and in their season.
This past summer at Christikon, our theme was 5 seasons of the church. Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Each of these represents and stands for something different. Never in my life, when i was speaking with campers about "times of Advent and waiting in their life" would I imagine that I was about to enter one for real. Advent is a time of expectation, waiting, and hoping. This has been my life for the past 27 days. Though, Advent isn't meant to just sit and expect. It is meant as a time to prepare for what is to come. I feel as though by nourishing relationships at home, writing in my journal, having much time to think and be aware of how I'm feeling, being in a different place such as Chicago, and dealing with each bump on the road are instances in where I have been preparing. My patience has been tested. My flexibility has been tested. My hope has been tested. As I think of it, all of me has been tested in preparation for this journey. And Christmas has come, if you will.
You may be starting a new school or getting married soon or having a child or going through a break up or through a death in the family or any number of things. These are significant and wildly different from one another in many ways. And no, you can't always relate to what someone else is going through, but you can be there for them. Even though we all walk different paths, we can all share being on a path of some sort. All you can do is respect each person you encounter and learn with them. The 5 year girl's journey to Kindergarten is no less significant to her as this journey to Edinburgh is to me. I cannot relate to her easily, but I can support her in thoughts and prayers and words of encouragement. This seems to be what I've been preparing for: encountering people who have journeys vastly different than mine and yet we can find common ground.
So, whether we are in a season of Advent or Lent or whatever it may be, we can look ahead knowing it will change and we can never predict what will happen. May we find peace in knowing we don't have to have all the answers. May we find peace in knowing we're not alone in our journeys. And may we remember to meet others where they are on their journey and in their season.
Beautiful Amanda, you are such an amazing human being :)
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