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HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

trip there and initial thoughts on arrival

As I looked out the window on this first flight, I wondered if I was doing the right thing...

The days leading up to my flight were full of excitement and nerves as I thought of the fun adventures that lay ahead. However, I was also afraid to leave my friends, family, and familiar surroundings of home. I knew that whatever was to happen in the next 9 months was in God's hands. The morning of, I said my last "see you later" 's, and drove with my family to the airport in Atlanta, Georgia. 
Walking away from my family into the TSA line was probably the most difficult part of that day. Knowing I would not see their faces in person again till next April. But, I kept in mind that I was about to have an experience of a lifetime, and that I would come back a better person. "No matter what, God's got my back," I thought to myself. 
I boarded my plane to Miami International Airport where I was to meet the other Student Missionaries who were going to Familia Feliz. As I looked out the window on this first flight, I wondered if I was doing the right thing. All my close friends were going back to school and they would be making memories without me, my family was going to be spending the holidays without me, but I had to stop myself. I am doing the right thing. God put me on this path for a reason. I just have to wait and see what that reason is. 

A few hours later, I arrived in Miami and met up with the other SM's. Together, we boarded our flight to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where we would get our visas. From there, we boarded a flight to La Paz. We arrived in the early morning and then caught a taxi for a 9 hour drive to the town of Rurrenabaque. The drive took us through the mountains turning from cold dry lands to lush warm jungles. The sights were amazing, but the drive was rough. Eventually, around 10:30 pm, we made it to the gate of Familia Feliz. We were greeted by the missionaries there and some of the kids. Our trip had taken over 30 hours and we were all so exhausted. We were shown our rooms and went straight to bed. As I lay in bed, I thought again, "Why am I here?" It seemed surreal and honestly from that night, it took me several days to really process that I was in a whole different world and this was going to be my new normal. 

Waking up the next morning was interesting. I was in a whole different country and not sure what that day would have in store, let alone that week, or month. I just knew that "God's got this." I got up and throughout that day, I saw the rest of campus which included two girl houses and two boy houses. The campus was quiet because many of the kids were still on school vacations. Sean, the nurse who was there before me showed me around the clinic space. The clinic was set up in a three-room apartment. One main room was the clinic, and two side rooms (one would become my room, and the other would be the director's office). 

As the first few days passed, it got more and more difficult to be away from home, but it also got easier to connect with the kids and other SM's. We also got to go into town a bit, and visit some markets and see some cool things. Now, after being here a bit, I know there will be major struggles, as well as many joys. I am trying my best to stay in the moment (as many people back at home reminded me to do so). I know that eventually, I'll be back at home missing even the difficult times. 

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