ending.

I can’t believe it’s time again. Time to end a chapter of my life and time to begin a new one. This week, we started talking to our team about re-entry, a fancy word for going home, and a flood of emotions hit me. First hallelujah choruses rung through my mind, then I got sad, then I got overwhelmed, and then I got sentimental.

I’ve “gone home” to America many times now from very similar (yet somehow, wildly different) seasons. The first two times prepared me for the next. But still, it’s really hard to plan for stuff like this. One would think that I would be an expert by now…news flash, I’m not. But in an effort to prepare you, family and friends, for what to expect when your Passporter comes home…I’m going to share some helpful tips and tricks to help you, help them.

Here’s what you can (maybe) expect: 

1. A very tired emotional blob in the body of your beloved child/friend.
2. Probably some tears…and if no tears are present keep waiting.
3. If your kid was somewhere in Asia or Africa, you can expect them to be up at weird times of the day (i.e. 3am) raiding the kitchen or zoning out in front of the TV #jetlag.
4. Some of you might want to prepare for tattoos or piercings… Have grace. They’re adults. Breathe. Ask them the story!
5. A. LOT. OF PICTURES. Some of them will make no sense to you, but your Passporter will think they are hilarious. Look at them all, ask questions!
6. Either word vomit or silence. If it’s word vomit, hear them out, they have a lot to process and some people need to do this in their external environment! If it’s silence, you might have an internal processor on your hands. In this case, make it known that you want to hear everything, but allow them time to process on their own first.
7. Smelly, smelly clothes and gear. Ew. Quarantine is sometimes a form of love, I give you permission to burn everything.
8. On this note, lice…that’s all I will say.
9. Lot of American food. Yeah, your kids have been talking about their first meals back in the States for 3 months. Chipotle, Chic-fil-a, and pizza seem to be the MVP’s on my team at least…expect to allow them to dictate your food regime for a few days. Or force them to eat white rice and be the hilarious people I’m sure you all are.
10. A completely changed person.

I will elaborate on #10 a little bit…you see, your kid, your friend, your significant other has changed a lot in the past 3 months. As a leader, it has been a JOY and an honor to watch these men and women grow, change, and become more like Jesus. They have matured. They have learned. They have experienced. One of the hardest things for you to do will be to believe me when I say- they are adults and they deserve to be treated like adults. Give them a chance to prove me right, you will be as proud as I am, trust me. And Passporters…if you are reading this, prove me right. Don’t backslide. You are new and you will change the world and continue to impact the Kingdom. We believe in you!!!!

Everyone: you did it! This time next week we will all be in Atlanta and about to part ways to come home.

Parents- thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your most prized-possessions, they are all amazing treasure. Friends and significant others- you guys have good ones. My team- thank you for being you! You have changed me as well. Jesus- bring on this next season and thank you, thank you, thank you, for this one.

(no better way to end our time in Thailand like a three day nation-wide water fight #sangkron, love you people)