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Sunday, June 1, 2008

I've spent the last two weeks at home trying to majorly clean out my bedroom and the things I've used at school the last four years. You would think that if I haven't needed the stuff here in my Virginia house since I left for college, that I wouldn't need it at all. Funny, that doesn't seem to be the case at all...

The goal is to clean out everything I don't think I'll need or want to deal with in two and a half years when I return to the American civilization of "muchness."

Kinda scary, right?

I have a hard time envisioning what to expect in the next 47 days until I leave for Bulgaria, much less what will happen during my 27 months of service.

But what about after all that?!?!?!

I know what you are thinking.

One step at a time, Katie. One step at a time.

But I've always been a dreamer. Not really an unrealistic sort of dreamer, but one just the same. I love to think about where God is going to take me next, and what sort of things I can do to ready myself for what He has in store.

Don't get me wrong, I am SO excited to live, learn, and love in Bulgaria over these next couple of years, but there is this part of me that also sees my time in the Peace Corps as a stepping stone to the next great adventure.

God brought me to Elon where I got involved in Service-Learning, where I started to work at Boys and Girls Club, which lead me an interest violence prevention, which sparked a desire to work as a police intern with the gang involvement, which lead me to Camp Brown (which was, lets face it, a MAJOR learning process!) and then BACK to the Burlington PD before heading off to New York City to combine my love for youth ministry, the city, and service!

I mean, judging from where I have come in the last few short years, I can't help but get excited about everything that will happen in the NEXT few years.

But seriously, I don't need so much of this STUFF I have been hoarding.

But YOU try to enision if you'll need that sweater, or this kitchen item, or those DVD's in two and half years.

So much is going to change between now and then, and I can't wait to see whats going to happen.

2 comments:

Jeff Royce said...

Katie...it was great to see you at Barcroft the other night. I love the "learn, love, live" reference in the post. I had to laugh.

Anonymous said...

Hey! I totally did the same clean-house thing when I got back from Spain. When I realized that I've lived perfectly happily with everything I truly needed being packed into a single suitcase, I realized how much I hated going back to a world of "much" like you said. Just feels good to have the extra clutter out of your way - donate it, recycle, it whatever you need to do to get it off your hands. I applaud you and think it was a really wise decision to do before you get back!

P.S. I miss you, but I know you're getting excited! So close!


Christine