Some of my most vivid memories of
growing up in Florida take place during the hurricane season. In 1999, a
category storm named Hurricane Floyd tore up the East coast, resulting in a
mandatory evacuation of Floridians from the state. For some reason my family
chose to stay put. For days it rained
and as the storm approached, it became clear that the eye would pass right over
our home. As the wind got stronger and the rain fell harder, we stayed inside,
having to yell over the sound of water pounding the skylights. I will never
forget the eerie calm of stepping outside for fresh air as the eye of Floyd
passed over us. For one brief hour in the chaos of a Category 4 hurricane,
everything was still, peaceful even.
The weeks
leading up to my departure for South Asia have been an absolute whirlwind.
There have been visa applications, immunizations, support letters, last coffee
dates, packing logistics and pre-travel details to attend to while traveling
between Massachusetts, Florida, California, and Washington DC. In that ‘storm’
of preparation, it has been such a blessing to have the encouragement and
support of friends and family. For those of you who I have had a chance to see
in the past few months, thank you so much.
As I sit and
type in the second of four airports I will see in the next 24 hours, I feel the
calm of the in-between. The wonderful chaos of home and preparations for travel
has passed, but I have not yet entered the bewildering, confusing, and
beautiful whirlwind of this year. Here, at Gate 4, there is no internet access
and I am forced to sit and relax. To just be still in the eye of it all.
In lieu of a
long list of South Asian must-do’s and [re]commitments to healthy living, I have
just one fundamental goal for these next twelve months: To experience Hope. The
world is full of brokenness- in both human relationships and in nature- and
this year I will be confronted with it in overt ways every single day. Amidst
this messiness, I desperately desire to grow in Hope. To give it, to receive
it, and to see it. Hope can hide out in the tiniest, most unexpected places,
but sometimes it is as obvious as the Himalayas. I invite you to join me in
experiencing it all in these next few months.
Every time I
blog, I plan to ask myself (and you) how Hope is alive. So, how is Hope evident
this week? This week, I had the pleasure and privilege of spending a week with
other new members of International Justice Mission, as we all prepared for
service in various parts of the world. As a group with a diverse experience but
similar interests, the hope for justice around the world was almost palpable. I
saw it in the eyes of the staff heard it in the conversations of the fellows,
and felt it while laughing with other interns. It is from this place of great
Hope that I take off to begin this internship.
If you pray,
pray for the victims of exploitation in South Asia, that they might feel Hope.
Pray for the people working with IJM, that they remain safe, hopeful, and
strategic in their work. Pray for me, for health, for the willingness to serve
in every way, and for a safe living situation in South Asia.
I
look forward to sharing this next year with you!
Blessings from here,
Alice
Your blog is inspirational! It encourages me to find hope in every little thing I experience and see. It encourages me to keep hope and to be positive no matter the circumstances. I hope you travel safe and wish you the best of success in all you do :)
ReplyDeleteAlice a vivid word picture and an inspiring invitation to travel with you into life-infusing hope. Thank you for the invitation to 'travel' with you through your eyes, heart, and words. I am honored to tag along. Peace (through any and all storms) and prayers.
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