This year took me to places physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually that I hadn't anticipated. I tried going into the year with no expectations where I wasn't anticipating anything but it's hard not to a little bit. What I thought this year was going to be like for me and what it ended up being was very different. My year gave me experiences I had hoped to have but in ways I hadn't imaged they would go.
There is a lot to process. I sit here on my last day still dumb founded that it's my last. I take a look at the buildings, people, double decker buses around me and can't believe that they will all be gone tomorrow. As hard as I try to sit and think, Kaley you are leaving all of this tomorrow, it doesn't sink in....except in random moments where I start to hyperventilate a little. It's been such an amazing journey and I am just so thankful that I had it. I am sad to leave but happy I came. I am happy to come home and see everyone again, but sad I have to leave here to do so. Though this day seemed lifetimes away once, it has made its way none the less. I am blessed, I am happy, I am honored, and I am ready for what's next.
So what did I do on my last day in England you might wonder? Well, after arriving back to London from a week in a rainy, muddy, camp for a week worshiping at Soul Survivor with the youth, yesterday I did laundry, and started packing my room. Today, I finished that laundry, took down all the pictures and Union Jack flag off my wall, and wrote a letter to my future self about what I hope I will have done six months into coming home and what I think it will be like. I went to lunch at one of the youth's houses to find a surprise going away party for me with all the youth from my Soul Survivor week and youth leaders!! I was so surprised and felt so blessed!! It really made my day and last day in England so special (pictures below), especially when a few of the girls told me I had become like a big sister to them.
So I was able to say goodbyes to everyone and spend one last afternoon kicking back and having some laughs with some great adults and young people. I spend another part of the day walking around various places that were special to me throughout the year including a patch of green space called Figs Marsh and a cemetery that I occasionally strolled through and had some really good reflections. I took one last trip to Sainsbury's to buy some British chocolate and then said one final goodbye to St. James church where I worked this year. In the evening I had dinner with the Powell's, my host family, and my host Mom Claire made my favorite meal of hers, chicken stir fry. The rest of the night was writing a blog, making sure I was all packed, and reading airport luggage regulations to see just how much I was going to have to pay for overweight luggage flying home. Prayers people for all the stuff I will have to carry around the airport tomorrow!!!
Everyone just thank you so much for walking with me throughout the year. I've had so many people tell me how much they enjoyed my blog and I only wish I could have written more often. I cannot wait to share my year with all of you. I won't subject you to the over 7,000 pictures I have taken this year alone though, unless you really want to :D. I will see you all soon. And to the friends from England who read this blog, it has been an absolute privilege this year to walk with you and hear your stories. I have been so blessed to have walked alongside you for this one year of our lives and I hope that this one year will have meant something to you. I hope that our paths will cross again one day if God will allow it. You have all been such a huge huge part of my faith development this year and I can't thank you enough for what you all have taught me over the last year. I hope now to take these lessons home with me and see where God wants me to use them and how. I will keep in touch, maybe post a few more blogs, and keep you updated on my adventures over the next few weeks. Praise God for this year and what he has started in me. Praise God for what I am about to step into next and that he has a plan for what he has started this year and how I will go forward. Amen.
As an ending statement I would like to share one of the Bible passages that has meant a lot to me this year, especially in the last few weeks preparing to go home. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Picture from my first day in London
Picture from my last day in London...yes I'm wearing the same outfit...no that was not planned
Goodbye party today
Some really great people!
