People have always said I have a wandering spirit. It's one of those things that is frustrating, no one ever says it like it's a good thing.
Generally I have the ability to be comfortable in most situations and to make friends wherever I go. That used to be frustrating as well, I have friends all over the states and in different countries and I miss them dearly. Sometimes I wish I could be in eight places at once.
However, over the past few years, I have started to realize how much of a blessing this truly is, there are many places I call home, many friends I call family and I know if I ever find myself in a bind, I have people all over the country and all over the world that I can count on.
Recently, a friend and very talented artist painted a canvas for me with Africa in the background and the phrase "not all who wander are lost" in the forefront. Right now it is sitting on my kitchen table, leaning against the back wall and every morning I see it and smile. It's also usually the last thing I see before I go upstairs to be and it's an excellent reminder to be thankful for this "wandering heart" of mine.
Most of you know that about 3 years ago I spent a few months in Tanzania and it was one of most amazing experiences of my life. It is one of many places that I have felt at home, the people welcome you with open arms and I made many lasting friendships for which I am very thankful. Since I have been back in the States, the idea of returning to visit my family has been pulling on my heart strings. A few months ago an opportunity was presented to me and I wrote a letter that I am going to share with you in a moment. As you read it, I hope that you would pray for me as I see where the next step on my journey might be. There is a very exciting opportunity on the horizon and I'm praying that it becomes a reality. Work has already graciously agreed to let me travel for 4-6 weeks and still come back to a job. The next step is a financial piece and I have been budgeting but a round trip ticket costs close to $2000 and I want to be certain that I am doing this right if I am going to save and spend that money.
So, without further ado, here is that letter. Please join me in prayer over the next step in my journey:
Generally I have the ability to be comfortable in most situations and to make friends wherever I go. That used to be frustrating as well, I have friends all over the states and in different countries and I miss them dearly. Sometimes I wish I could be in eight places at once.
However, over the past few years, I have started to realize how much of a blessing this truly is, there are many places I call home, many friends I call family and I know if I ever find myself in a bind, I have people all over the country and all over the world that I can count on.
Recently, a friend and very talented artist painted a canvas for me with Africa in the background and the phrase "not all who wander are lost" in the forefront. Right now it is sitting on my kitchen table, leaning against the back wall and every morning I see it and smile. It's also usually the last thing I see before I go upstairs to be and it's an excellent reminder to be thankful for this "wandering heart" of mine.
Most of you know that about 3 years ago I spent a few months in Tanzania and it was one of most amazing experiences of my life. It is one of many places that I have felt at home, the people welcome you with open arms and I made many lasting friendships for which I am very thankful. Since I have been back in the States, the idea of returning to visit my family has been pulling on my heart strings. A few months ago an opportunity was presented to me and I wrote a letter that I am going to share with you in a moment. As you read it, I hope that you would pray for me as I see where the next step on my journey might be. There is a very exciting opportunity on the horizon and I'm praying that it becomes a reality. Work has already graciously agreed to let me travel for 4-6 weeks and still come back to a job. The next step is a financial piece and I have been budgeting but a round trip ticket costs close to $2000 and I want to be certain that I am doing this right if I am going to save and spend that money.
So, without further ado, here is that letter. Please join me in prayer over the next step in my journey:
Hello friend,
Thank you for being YOU! If you are receiving this letter it is because you hold a special place in my heart, have been a source of sage wisdom and joyous encouragement over the years and are a blessing to my life!
As most of you probably know, about two and a half years ago I had the amazing opportunity and blessing to travel to Moshi, Tanzania through Cross Cultural Solutions, CCS. CCS is an amazing organization and seeks to give you a service experience but also a cultural experience, there really is an immersion and you learn a lot about the history of where you were staying, the people and their lives. My sister Brittany also traveled to Costa Rica through CCS and had an incredible experience as well. She had been in Costa Rica prior to her CCS with a study abroad program but said she really felt a connection through CCS and their programming. (That was always a huge benefit because when my mom heard that her crazy, adventurous daughter wanted to travel to the middle of Africa; she was comfortable and trusted CCS to get me to the other side of the world.)
While I was there, I made many friends from all over the states, to Canada, to Denmark and from different countries in Africa. (Several of who(m), thankfully, I am still in close contact with today!) One of those friends, Christiane, is graduating in May of 2015 and we have already been talking about and planning a return trip.
God has definitely been opening a lot of doors with this opportunity for travel to open and a comfortable, reasonably flexible job that would allow me to take this trip.
What I am requesting of you, dear friends, is that you would lift me up and prayers and that God would make apparent to me what is the best choice that lies ahead of me, and if this is truly a God thing. I also invite you to ask me any questions you may have about my prior trip, the possibility of this trip, or any other questions about my life. (Lord knows I LOVE to talk about Tanzania and I have a lot of exciting things happening in my life right now!)
I have so many blessings to be thankful for that I would love to share with all of you and also I seek the wisdom, prayer, and support from you, my beloved family and friends. (Or as Sprint so wisely and affectionately coined it, my framily.)
Nawapenda sana
Love,
Tangawizi (Ginger)
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