Time to ring in another year and 2012 didn’t disappoint at all. It was definitely filled with ups and downs, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Its funny how you start out the year with a snapshot of what you think it will look like, and come to find out it ends up looking nothing like you pictured. The older I get, the more I realize I would never want to go back and live any part of my life over again though, even if given the opportunity. My 2 biggest challenges this year were “walking away” and “taking the plunge.”
Its been an interesting year with friendships...I guess as you get older you can’t expect them to stay the same. I guess the hardest thing is realizing that people will be your “friend” when they need something of you, you have something to offer them, or when you are the one making all the effort. I had to give myself permission to “walk away” from those friendships. As a wonderful friend told me earlier this year, ”Some people come into your life as blessings; others come into your life as lessons.” I had to come to the realization that the people who are blessings are the ones you hold on to, and the lessons, well sometimes you have to just walk away and know that you learned a valuable lesson. That being said, I have some amazing friends who are such blessings to me...they are worth the struggles that come along with being friends!
After leaving my volunteer position with Nehemiah Vision Ministries, I actually spent a lot of time in good old South Bend this year. Got to spend some time rethinking my desire to do ministry and what that looks like. About a month ago, I ended up applying for a job in South Sudan working with an NGO in a nutrition clinic. It would be a year long position with the potential for longer. After much prayer and advice from people I respect, I decided it was time to give it a shot! Don’t have all the qualifications and haven’t heard back from them yet, so who knows what will happen...but it was all about stepping out and jumping in!
Now as I look forward to 2013, there is much to be excited about. The plan is - I’m having surgery which will ground me for at least a month...haven’t had a month off work since I was in college! Looking forward to spending the free time with all sorts of things I wouldn’t normally have the time to do. Also, I am fulfilling a life long dream of traveling to Brazil for a Amazon riverboat medical mission trip with possible opportunities to travel to Togo, West Africa and another area of Haiti. Contemplating some local volunteer opportunities too that I'm excited about. Oh the endless possibilities!! :)
Hope each of you have an amazing 2013 and seize every opportunity it brings your way!!
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