Reflections: Part II

A huge part of my wanting to STINT in Venezuela was to test these passions of mine: living overseas, doing missions, living somewhere hot, living in a city. This year has absolutely shaped my desires and understanding of those things for my future and what I choose to do and where. So that is a huge accomplishment for this year! If and when I ever do missions again I now know these things:

1. Leaving America will not be easy. I love the comforts I have there and it will be a sacrifice to be away from those things. It will be an adventure sure, but it will not be as easy as I once thought.
I never knew that I liked the US so much. The US is seriously so great! I used to come back from week-long mission trips to seriously impoverished places of the world and think, "This is disgusting. I hate America." Now I realize yes, our greed and selfishness is disgusting, but my eyes have been opened to the marvelous privileges we have as Americans! Right now we are living in the most convenient, easy civilization of all history. Everyone else in the world wishes they could be an American. Thus, I think I can finally reconcile my thoughts about the USA - I can appreciate the privileges we have, and yet still know they are meaningless compared to knowing Christ.

2. I want to go somewhere where I actually want to speak and learn the language.
I really don't care for Spanish. I never have, and I gave it a try, but the my heart still says no. My only whole-hearted attempts at language learning this year have been languages other than the one which would have been most useful to learn this year. If I ever study language again, I want to go further in French, Greek, or Latin, which are much more interesting to me.

3. I will not choose to live somewhere hot if it's ugly and there's nothing to do outside. If I am led to a mission field as such, it will be because I am following Jesus, not making my own decision!
I love summer, but I would never want to live in another hot city where I can't get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. There is nothing beautiful in Maracaibo (sorry) and because of the danger factor I can't just go out and enjoy the nice sunny weather. The only way I can appreciate the heat is if I'm at the beach, walking around where there are trees and grass, or going for a drive with the windows down and my favorite music blasting. None of those things are accomplishable in Maracaibo, so I've learned my lesson; I know what I like. And it is not just straight up 100-degree weather. Or cities where you can't go anywhere by yourself.

4. If/when I do missions I do not have a desire to do it as a single woman. Especially given the unsafe conditions I mentioned above.

So there's part 2. A more light-hearted post is to come shortly. I am really cutting you guys slack with the comments. Typically I wait until I get at least one to write a new post, but I'm sick of other people not updating their blogs so I don't want to contribute to that absence.