I haven’t written a blog in a long time. A long, long
time. While I have various reasons or excuses, it ultimately comes down to me
not having anything interesting to say.
When I first came to Mozambique, I had high hopes that I
would have super exciting and thrilling adventures and take lots of cool
pictures and share lots of awesome stories. And then I would capture all of
these tales on my blog. I certainly had story-rich, adrenaline-filled days.
But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks quickly
turned into years, I realized that I was just simply living my life. What
started out as “I can’t believe…” or “my first time doing…” gradually just
turned into life. And I discovered that I was learning to live life all over
again.
I’ve learned how to function in a different country. I’ve
learned how to adapt to different cultures. I’ve learned how to cook kale. I’ve
learned how to make friends in the biggest city I’ve ever lived in. I’ve
learned how to vacation alone in other countries. I’ve learned how to drive in
absurd traffic. I’ve learned different ways to measure success. I’ve learned
vocabulary for wedding receptions in Portuguese. I’ve learned how to live with
a boy. I’ve learned how to grieve. I’ve learned skills I never knew I had. I’ve
learned that pistols can be turned into peace signs. I’ve learned how to orient
and walk alongside people new to Mozambique. I’ve learned not to take hot
running water or wireless Internet for granted. I’ve learned to slow down. I’ve
learned how to be part of a new family. I’ve learned how to not just live, but
to thrive.
MCC was the reason that I came to Mozambique four years
ago. I highly doubt I ever would have come here if it wasn’t for MCC. But I
think that in all of these lessons, God was preparing me to be able to stand on
my own two feet, apart from the loving care of MCC Mozambique. MCC gave me a
vast collection of experiences and lessons learned, and for that I am truly grateful.
Today marks the end of my four years of serving with MCC.
In exactly a week, I’ll begin my time at the American International School of
Mozambique where I’ll be a teaching assistant for grade five. But I know that
despite being expected to help teach, I’ll be doing a lot more learning in this
next year.
My boss described this time as a threshold. I really like
the imagery of being on the brink between two great opportunities. It’s not
that the door is closing on MCC, or that there’s greener pastures in some other
job. I’m not anxious to move on, nor am I clinging to memories of the last four
years. I’m also not in some transient abyss where I feel lost and confused.
Instead, I have great peace. MCC taught me what peace in
action looks like. Mozambique has taught me what expectant hope looks like. So
as I’m in the threshold, I simply take the next step.
