I think I'm Home...

I was always one of those kids who called everything home. We'd be staying at a hotel for vacation and when we'd be out at a restaurant, I'd be the one to say, "So before we go out to the movie, can we stop by home... (meaning the hotel, not my house)." And then there was the first time I went back to see my parents when I was in college. I made the mistake of telling my mom I was going "home" (meaning back to college).
What is this thing we call home? Is it the place where your family is? Or where you feel the most comfortable? Maybe its the place you have friends or just the place you sleep... I'm not sure what home is for you and to be honest, I'm not completely sure what it means to me.
Today was like any other day here in Loja. I went to church this morning, ate lunch with some friends and then went to another friend's house to learn how to salsa and then play bingo with her family (believe it or not, that is a normal Sunday afternoon for a Lojana). I had such an awesome time meeting Leydi's family, being taught something new, and then getting to hear a little of her heart.
As Candace and I were walking back to our apartment, I was hit with this weird feeling. I now know people here in Loja. I have friends to hang out with and people to talk to. I'm slowly becoming part of people's lives and they are becoming part of mine.
When I ask myself: what is home? I think of something someone prayed for me before I left Dallas, "Wherever Jamie ends up, would you be her home. Would she remember that wherever you are IS HOME." So... I think I'm home.

Greetings from fall weather...

Did you know it's fall in Texas for a grand total of 2 DAYS??
Fall is my favorite season... so here I am in the great state of North Carolina where it SHOULD be fall, but it's not. At least not YET.
Somehow this feels a lot like my life right now. There are a lot of things that SHOULD be but aren't. Not yet. I should have a place to call my own. I should have a home. I should be ready to leave the country. I should be so excited about leaving.
But if I'm being honest, I would say that's what i SHOULD be, but I'm not.
I truly believe that this time of transition is one of the hardest I've had to go through. I constantly feel God is stripping me of everything that I consider ME... taking away my roommate, my apartment, my stuff, my comforts, my country, my family and leaving me WHAT?
An adventure called my future. As nervous as I am about leaving, I believe this will be my favorite time of year (kinda like fall), but it's not yet. It's a time of everything being new, drawing near to the heart of God, and waiting.
I listened to a Latin pastor the other day and he said, "I can't swim, but I can float. A lot of Christians can swim... they can work REAL HARD for Jesus, but they have a real hard time floating. They can't just float in the arms of the Lord as HE carries them."
That is me. I am having a hard time floating, but with the help of the Lord, yo puedo flotar (translation: I can float).

SIMstart

"To win the battle, you must go TOWARD gunfire..." I saw that quote by Newt Gingrich on a starbucks cup the other day and was blown away by how often we do the exact opposite. It is so much easier to run away from things that are hard, things that hurt and things that make us uncomfortable.

But those are all the things that God calls us to. It is completely against my nature to go toward the unknown, but that is exactly what I feel God is calling me to right now.

I have an opportunity to go to Ecuador for 2 years to help with a coffeeshop ministry to university students. Pretty much what I will be doing is hanging out with college kids, building relationships, helping at El Sendera Cafe and looking for opportunities to share the gospel... ALL the things I LOVE to do!

So this weekend I'm starting on a journey toward that mission... I am going to North Carolina tomorrow for SIMstart to find out more about the organization and hopefully about the ministry as well. Please keep me in your prayers as I start out on this amazing adventure!

I'll keep you posted!!
Passionately pursuing Jesus,
Jamie