An (Un)Expected Journey

Kaikoura, New Zealand
New Zealand. It must be a dream. There is no way I am boarding a plane to go to that magical distant land in, what is it? Four days. Everyone else is gearing up to face the grind of school and I feel like I'm about to embark on an extended vacation.

"You must be so excited," is the general comment I hear in regards to it. Word for word, actually. Honestly, that's not quite what I am feeling. I'm really kind of nervous. I'm in a strange in between phase; I want to enjoy these last few days, and the people I still have around me, but I'm also sort of avoiding thinking about this grand adventure because it holds so many unknowns. Who will my roommate(s) be? How will my group of 16 get along? Will I feel homesick? No matter how long I spend thinking about it, any expectations I build about New Zealand will likely be shattered as soon as I arrive. But I also can't just assume that the entire experience is going to be perfect. I trust God has good in store for me there, but trusting God is more than expecting a utopian, flawless experience. Rather, trust is knowing that even when I stumble - or start to worry or feel inadequate - He is there supporting and encouraging me.

But I still am a bit nervous as I prepare to embark on a semester long adventure through a program called Creation Care, based out of Kaikoura, New Zealand. Based on the packing list and some of the itinerary, it almost looks like it's going to be a semester-long hiking trip centered around discussion-based classes. Which has brought me to the scary conclusion that this experience is meant to push me out of my comfort zone, to make me a little nervous. But if my hiking trips with La Vida have taught me anything, it is that growth and learning can only occur when you push yourself to do things you aren't necessarily comfortable with.

So here's to saying "Yes" to any and every experience I come across, to long conversations, to new community and new friendships, to growth, and to making a wrong turn every once in awhile.

The road goes ever on and on...I'll let you know where it leads me :)

*To be continued...

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