Today's the Day!!

Well, today's the day! In less than 12 hours I will be on a plane heading for my future home in Tanzania. I can't believe this day is finally here....I've been dreaming about this for so many years now and I just feel so blessed that it has become a reality.

I don't really have any last thought-provoking, especially interesting or deep things to say. I could list all of the wonderful and generous words of love and encouragement that I have received over the last few days from friends and family but that would be a very long list of things. If I got a dollar for every time someone told me to "be safe," I'd be a millionaire.

...but what I do have to say is that this crazy dream would not have become a reality if it weren't for all of the people in my life. The last few days, as I become anxious to leave, all I could think to comfort myself is that there is no time during this whole journey that I will ever be alone. I've been blessed with friends and mentors in Scranton who cheered me on from the beginning, a family, that though they think I'm crazy, knows that this is what I'm meant to do, and a boyfriend who has selflessly and patiently listened and comforted me through all the ups and down.

I guess now that I think about it, maybe I do have just two pearls of wisdom that I can't stop thinking about (are you really surprised? haha). Both of these things I learned in Scranton. The first is something a friend used to say, "God is love. And love is real. Therefore, God is real." (..or something like that, I always mess it up a little haha) And I have to say that since graduation, my relationship with God was put on the back burners...or so I thought. I wasn't incredibly active in my relationship with Him/Her and didn't think about it too much. But through that phrase, God is love, I've realized that even though I didn't see it, I have been strengthening my relationship with God this whole time. Let me explain: I have been nothing but showered in love from the important people in my life, especially as I get ready to do this. And their love is God for me. So, thank you to everyone for being God for me when I was too stubborn to see Him/Her directly. I know for sure I'm not alone in this...because even when I don't see God specifically, He/She is there through all of the other people in my life.

The other piece of wisdom is something one of my mentors shared on Senior Retreat with me and my classmates last February. It was 5 simple words..."Show up for each other." And I can tell you that for the last 6 months people have absolutely shown up for me. I am SO blessed. And even though I'm going all the way to Africa, I promise all of the people in my life that I will find ways to show up. I will still be there for my loved ones... maybe not in person, but that's just geography. I will be available for my loved ones just the way they have been there for me since the beginning of my journey.

Basically, all I can say is THANK YOU! I would absolutely not be getting on that plane today if it wasn't for all of you that love and support me unconditionally.

Next time you hear from me, I'll be in Tanzania! :) So until then....know that God is love and don't forget to show up for the people you care about most.

Amani na upendo (Peace and love),
Kathleen