One Year Ago...

One year ago today...I was on an airplane in route to one of the greatest adventures in my life thus far: studying abroad in Czech Republic!

I am still in denial that it really has been one year since I began my adventure.  The past 12 months have been absolutely remarkable.  That is not to say that the past 12 months were without rough patches though. People said that studying abroad would be hard and yes, at times it was.  For me, the hardest part about studying abroad, by far, is coming home.  I have seen it called "Post Study Abroad Depression" and it is a real thing!  I certainly did not expect this to happen to me because I was beyond excited to come back and be reunited my family, friends, and country!  Even though I thoroughly enjoyed being home,  a huge piece of my heart was and still is in Europe.  I miss my friends who became family.  I miss walking to the tram stop and using public transportation.  I miss the smells of the brewery down the street from my dorm and the smell of baked goods as I walked through the city center.  I miss not being able to understand the language and getting to use the little bit of Czech I had learned.  I miss every day being an adventure. 

It wasn't easy adjusting back to life here after my incredible almost 5 months in Europe.  Thankfully, my God saw every tear that I cried and desired to heal my broken heart.  The semester before my semester in Czech, He began to prepare me for international ministry.  The Christian organization (CCF) that I am a part of has an international ministry that I did not know much about before my sophomore year.  Fall semester of sophomore year, I began attending Coffeehouse (a casual event on Friday nights for international students) and helping drive international students to Walmart trips on Saturdays.  Through this, I learned a little about the ministry and about who is behind it.  The group who organizes both of these events and more is called International Focus Group (IFG).  IFG is a group of Christian students who share a common goal of ministering to the international students on our campus.  IFG is led by a wonderful couple, Stephanie and Keevin.  I was really interested in being a part of this ministry and was kind of bummed that I had to leave for a semester.  While I was in Czech, I applied and was accepted to be an IFG member for the fall semester when I got back.

God totally knew what He was doing when He started preparing me for international ministry before I even left for Czech Republic.  I have been incredibly blessed through being a part of IFG.  God has used this experience in IFG as a part of my healing process.  Through IFG, I have experienced an awesome Christian community, had discipleship with Stephanie who totally understood and helped me through reverse culture shock, and have gotten to build friendships with really cool people from all over the world! 

IFG! 

International + American students at International Idol 

What I've been learning as of late...
- Wherever you are, every day can be an adventure if you choose to make it one

- Enjoy the present. Don't spend too much time wishing you were still in the past.  If you do, you will miss out on the beautiful blessings of the present.
- Holding on too tight to the past is making the past an idol

- It is good to experience brokenness and allow the Lord to restore you

 The beginning 

My first look at the beautiful country of Czech Republic

First moments in Czech...my friend Natty, who I hadn't seen in 3 years, picked me up from the airport!

& the end

The sun setting on my last night in Czech Republic

At the bus stop with my amazing friends who took me to the bus station (before the tears)

So even though I still miss my time in Czech like crazy and I won't ever be "over it", I am incredibly thankful for the place I am at and the people I am with right now.  I am trying to treasure every moment because I know that this season of my life will too come to an end.  I am also very thankful for the future places and people God will lead me to in the very near future!