In preparing for my trip, the plan has always been that I would meet the family that I will be living with in Ethiopia the day I hop off the plane in August; however, just a few weeks ago I got an e-mail that they would be in the states and passing through the area for a few days. Their trip here was unexpected and totally a God thing! Excitement set in faster than I could blink, and we decided on meeting up tonight. I have been eagerly awaiting this day since I Sharpied it onto my calendar. Naturally then, my frustration with the impending snow hit me like a ton of bricks. With all that is in me I wished away the flurries. I spent all last night checking the forecast, looking at the radars, and wishing that the weather man was wrong. He wasn't. When I saw the first flake fall this morning I fell once again into the trap of worry.
During this time I had to remind myself to inhale, exhale, and repeat. This was out of my control. The weather is so far beyond my spectrum of influence and there was nothing at all I could do about it. What a scary feeling to have. Knowing that my plans, my once and done opportunity to meet my host family, could be pulled out from under me and I had no power over the situation. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. That's all I could do.
I was reminded of my mom's favorite verse... a verse that softly filled my heart when I stopped worrying for long enough to let it enter.
As the case has been time and time again, God worked out the details and I was able to travel home to meet the Bridges (my host family). Their unexpected trip home, the opportunity to meet, and being able to get to know one another before touching down in Africa were all such God things. I felt very good about them just through our e-mail conversations, but after getting to meet them in person I am even more eager for all that the next year will hold.
If I'm being completely honest, I was almost as nervous about getting to meet them as I was excited. However, within just a few minutes of meeting, I felt like we had known each other for years; all of the "what ifs" faded into nothingness. I cannot wait to be a part of what is going on over there, and now I am even more eager than ever to embrace the Ethiopian lifestyle. Tonight I am feeling very blessed by how the evening turned out. What an experience it has been. All I can say is: to God be the glory!
Now only 175 odd days until I board the plane to rejoin this fabulous family of four.... but who's counting?
