Thoughts

I named this post "thoughts" because I just want to share some of the things I have been processing and reflecting on lately. This past weekend was very interesting and a new experience for me.

Both my roommates were gone, one left Wednesday and the other on Thursday. They had both shared with me previously and were caring in terms of finding different options of how I could spend the next 3 days well.

I didn't know what to expect. I began to worry that I would lose track of time and daydream or resort to trivial activities to keep me from boredom. I thought I would become increasingly homesick and have a horrible weekend thinking of my family and the different things they would be doing instead.

I am glad none of the above were the outcome! I not only had a very productive weekend, but a much needed time alone. I was not bored at all because there was so much I had to do, but I was also given time to reflect and think in times where I would regularly spend talking or doing things with others.

I was not a hermit for those 3 days! I was able to spend the evenings with other interns and had much fun (we were able to watch Wonder Woman and on Sunday we were invited to a picnic). To be honest though, I truly enjoyed the time by myself much more than what I thought I would.

PRODUCTIVE  I was able to do all the errands I had planned for. I was able to do laundry, clean the bathroom, organize my room, do the dishes, and buy a few essential items. I found that by being alone, I was able to spend time in places I found meaningful and less on places I could go back to.

For example, I had gone been to downtown Lancaster before. However, going by myself and walking to different areas helped me better situate myself and understand street names and places. I had also gone to the Central Market before and to Aldi's (a supermarket), however, going alone allowed me time to think of pricing and options and make wiser decisions when shopping for produce and eggs.

This by no means meant that I was moving at a slower pace. In fact, I saw that in one day, I accomplished much more than what I had expected of myself!

REFLECTING  These past days I went from listening to music to being in silence and vice versa. It was new to me to have most of the day spent in silence with few words exchanged, either because I had bought something or because I was asking a question.

Back home, this is impossible! There is always an exchange of words with my family and friends. Even on stressful days before finals, there still is significant interaction amongst students and family.

Although I love music, there was something calming and beautiful of just hearing my footsteps around the house or the sound of rushing water.

In those times, I was able to talk with the Lord and share my different struggles and questions. I was also able to receive peace and grace.

The smallest of things became the greatest excitement: finding and understanding parts of the project, going into a café and staying to watch Saturday cartoons, getting oranges at such a cheap price (when you're out of Florida, you realize oranges aren't too easy of a buy!)

FRIENDS  With each day it has been easier to get along with all the interns. It can be a little difficult just adjusting to a different environment and culture, however, all the interns are caring and inclusive.

I would be lying to say I don't miss my friends back home. And that is why I was so happy that I was able to have a Skype conference with my core group of friends from InterVarsity. We have been through thick and thin and have seen each other in the good and the hard times.

It was so refreshing to see them all in their different cities, holding a cup of tea (it's an FIU InterVarsity thing, and Josh), and ready to talk and share time together.

I think one of the most difficult things of making friends has been finding something we share in common or being known. By comparison, my friends know me as a strong leader, a caring friend (or as some would say, Mom), a friendly and creative person, etc.

Being able to joke around and share with them directly the different things I have been thinking of was great! Hearing of their summers and the ways that the Lord has been working in each of their lives was also amazing. I can't wait until our next call!

Another important thing for me personally, has been to find a church community. Being at Laurel Street Mennonite Church, I have been able to make good connections with the ladies, amongst them Liza. Liza is an older lady who was kind enough to call me on Saturday and ask me how I was doing as well as to share with me her plans to visit her niece and her expectations of the trip.

We agreed to call each other again and to meet for coffee. Having people like Liza, take their time to call and share a conversation has really encouraged me as well.

CHRISTIAN BUBBLE  This has been, in some ways, a culture shock. I had never been so surrounded by Christian people in my whole life. Although my family is Christian and I do have Christian friends, I had opportunities to be with others of different faiths than my own.

Whether that is through work, school, friends, clubs, there are places where I have interactions with people very different than me. Although everyone is Christian at HOPE, we do come from different backgrounds and denominations. However, living my week with little if any interaction with anyone else, is pretty different.

I am not in any way complaining! I have enjoyed attending prayer meetings and staff devotionals and have learned much with each conversation we have with the interns. Thing is, I feel like the way I am currently living each day, is not real.

Let me share a little context. I come from a city which has people from many places and with all kinds of beliefs. Christians are minority (5.95% according to http://www.bestplaces.net/religion/county/florida/miami-dade), and within the college environment, it is an even smaller percentage.

Apart from the statistics of my hometown, I was born in a family that is very mission focused. And then there's also the fact that I have been actively involved in Bible club in high school and InterVarsity at FIU. If you were to hear the conversations we have amongst us, you would see that we pray and have intentional conversations and meet with people in our classrooms with the hope of being good friends and sharing with them about God some way or another.

Although I have enjoyed being with such an intelligent and knowledgeable group of people here in Lancaster, my fear is that I am becoming too comfortable. So how can I seek places where I can meet others different than me?

This past Saturday I went to a library that hosts a Toastmasters meeting after work and hope to go to their meetings and help in any way, as I too am part of the e-board of Toastmasters at FIU. I was also looking online for different community activities/meet-ups, some at libraries, others at coffee shops in order to meet locals.

I am also hoping that by getting a part-time job it opens possibilities to conversation and meeting others. Before coming to Lancaster I got in contact with the local IV chapter to ask about their summer plans, however, because students go back home for summer, there isn't anything planned.

Even though all of these are future endeavors, I am glad to have the opportunity to help at church. Two Saturdays ago, I was able to help with their Strawberry Festival, an outreach for the local neighborhood. It was great to talk with the kids and families that passed by, inviting them to join us for Sunday service.

This Sunday I was able to talk with the leader of the Kid's ministry and shared with him that I was a Sunday School teacher for 1st grade in Miami. He was excited to hear that and proceeded to say, "Does that mean you could help us here?!"

CONCLUSION  I still have much to learn and much more to share with you all. I do want to thank you for being faithful to reading my posts and patient with me in understanding my journey! I will leave with this verse, which does a great job at describing friendship:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two are better than one,

    because they have a good return for their labor:

10 If either of them falls down,

    one can help the other up.

About the pictures (in order of appearance)  Strawberry Festival, Sunday service, a vegetarian lasagna recipe from Angelit (follow her on Instagram @morselsandmunches), our Skype call, my Saturday adventure, Sunday picnic