Unexpected Plans

As those of you who follow my newsletters know, this year has been a very positive, formative one for me.  The relationships and community that Mission Year has helped, guided, and stimulated me to participate in have given me the freedom to come into my adult self in a way that is not typically afforded in our society to a person of my age (or any, rather).  I am extremely grateful for the time I've spent here, the people who've been so intentional in helping me learn about love, and the people whom I have been able to practice loving intentionally. (I use the word not in the sense that love is simply something I would practice on somebody, but in indication of the intentional way I've been trying to learn to relate to people in the context of my life here.)

Now that I am facing the end of year and the next phase of my life, I have found that my time in Houston is not yet completed.  Though completely unexpected and ossified over a period of only a few weeks, I am at peace with my decision to return to Houston over the next school year.  My intentions in coming are to continue the lifestyle and relationships that I have been practicing here; this time, I will be practicing them of my own accord and means, rather than under the commitment and responsibility to a program.

I am extremely excited to return to Houston at the beginning of September, after visiting all y'all in Whatcom County during August (:

I'm excited to grow in the relationships that have been gifted me, to continue to learn how to sacrifice and invest in the right places, to stay true to simplicity and neighborliness in a new context and while very much on my own, to be challenged to trust God and my new church here completely with my support system, to continue the process of learning about my true self in a context where I am able to start fresh in many ways, to continue the work I've been doing at the Forge for Families with being an encouraging influence for mentorship (through the Reading Tutors program) and building the community garden, to nanny a trio of very darling children, to explore the city of Houston with a bit more time on my hands and a bicycle . . . the list goes on and on . . .

This has in no way been an easy decision.  I feel a lot of angst in not coming back to be close to you friends and family who I love dearly and completely.  God has given me peace, though, in knowing that I can love you better here now than I could being right with you: because He has more to teach me here.  I'll miss you still and more and hope to stay in touch perhaps more than I've been able to this year.  I am anticipating with much joy coming back to share my growth in the Whatcom County area, and to dive fully into community with you all, but it turns out that this coming year is not the time to do so.

If you would like to speak with me about this decision in more detail, I would be happy to share with you.  Give me a phone call (:

With love,
Hannah