I'll be Home for Christmas
It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Deuteronomy 31: 8
Tomorrow is the big day! Knowing that in just over 48 hours I will be reunited with my family, hugging my mom and dad tight, and cuddling with my dog Miles makes my heart do a somersault. I'm also very much looking forward to eating real tacos again, going to see a movie or two, and enjoying many Starbucks seasonal Chestnut Praline lattes while I am home. Frank and I will leave Morogoro tomorrow morning and take a five hour bus ride to Dar es Salaam. Our flight doesn't depart until 11:55 PM but we want to give ourselves plenty of time to get to the airport and get settled. As of now my bags are (almost) packed and I'm working on checking off last minute items on my to-do list. I'm hoping to spend this evening at home with Anitha and some of my other friends relaxing and enjoying time together before we are apart for almost six weeks.
The past week has been one of extremely mixed emotions. Every day as I grew more excited about being home and seeing my family, I also grew more sad about leaving my home here for so long. I've become quite comfortable with my life. I'm settled. I have a routine. I have friends who I don't go a day without seeing or talking to. And while my life is not without struggles or conflicts, my ability to find the joy in all things has been strengthened. When you are faced with some of the situations we encounter here regularly, you become a professional at finding the joy. When there are Maasai villagers who are living in the bush without a working water well, you find joy in their devotion to Christ and their desire to make a better life for their children. When people in our community are sick and don't have access to adequate health care, you find joy in the way that the community comes together to support and pray for them. When the children are running around without shoes or clean underwear, you find joy in their joy, in spite of their circumstances. And when Junior called me this morning to tell me he was denied a visa again, I had to find joy in the fact that Frank and I are able to go and speak on his behalf. I will miss him as well as my friends, my church, the Maasai communities, and the children in my neighborhood terribly.
Frank and I should arrive in Texas around 2:00 PM on Wednesday and we will be there until January 6th. We are planning to visit churches and speak with as many people as we can about our work here in Tanzania and Frank and Junior's dreams to attend seminary. I am also hoping to see many of my friends and family while I am home. I have no doubt the reunions will be full of joy, laughter, and lots of hugs.
Many people have asked me about sending items back with me in January and my answer is always YES. If you have any items you would like to donate, please please please send them my way. We can use toiletries, clothing, shoes, school supplies, books, etc. My home base will be in College Station with my family, but I will be in the Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas areas at some point throughout the month so I am available to meet up if you have items you would like me to take. If you would like to ship supplies you can send them to my parents address:
Deuteronomy 31: 8
Tomorrow is the big day! Knowing that in just over 48 hours I will be reunited with my family, hugging my mom and dad tight, and cuddling with my dog Miles makes my heart do a somersault. I'm also very much looking forward to eating real tacos again, going to see a movie or two, and enjoying many Starbucks seasonal Chestnut Praline lattes while I am home. Frank and I will leave Morogoro tomorrow morning and take a five hour bus ride to Dar es Salaam. Our flight doesn't depart until 11:55 PM but we want to give ourselves plenty of time to get to the airport and get settled. As of now my bags are (almost) packed and I'm working on checking off last minute items on my to-do list. I'm hoping to spend this evening at home with Anitha and some of my other friends relaxing and enjoying time together before we are apart for almost six weeks.
The past week has been one of extremely mixed emotions. Every day as I grew more excited about being home and seeing my family, I also grew more sad about leaving my home here for so long. I've become quite comfortable with my life. I'm settled. I have a routine. I have friends who I don't go a day without seeing or talking to. And while my life is not without struggles or conflicts, my ability to find the joy in all things has been strengthened. When you are faced with some of the situations we encounter here regularly, you become a professional at finding the joy. When there are Maasai villagers who are living in the bush without a working water well, you find joy in their devotion to Christ and their desire to make a better life for their children. When people in our community are sick and don't have access to adequate health care, you find joy in the way that the community comes together to support and pray for them. When the children are running around without shoes or clean underwear, you find joy in their joy, in spite of their circumstances. And when Junior called me this morning to tell me he was denied a visa again, I had to find joy in the fact that Frank and I are able to go and speak on his behalf. I will miss him as well as my friends, my church, the Maasai communities, and the children in my neighborhood terribly.
Frank and I should arrive in Texas around 2:00 PM on Wednesday and we will be there until January 6th. We are planning to visit churches and speak with as many people as we can about our work here in Tanzania and Frank and Junior's dreams to attend seminary. I am also hoping to see many of my friends and family while I am home. I have no doubt the reunions will be full of joy, laughter, and lots of hugs.
Many people have asked me about sending items back with me in January and my answer is always YES. If you have any items you would like to donate, please please please send them my way. We can use toiletries, clothing, shoes, school supplies, books, etc. My home base will be in College Station with my family, but I will be in the Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas areas at some point throughout the month so I am available to meet up if you have items you would like me to take. If you would like to ship supplies you can send them to my parents address:
15601 Shady Brook Lane
College Station, TX
77845
Also, with it being the end of the year I know many of you may be making charitable donations. If you would like to donate towards my missionary efforts, there are three ways you can do so.
1. Check
Made payable to Alison Gomulka and sent to the address above
2. Methodist Church's Advance Website
Click the following link, click "Give Now", then choose my name from the drop down bar
https://www.umcmission.org/Give-to-Mission/Search-for-Projects/Projects/982465
3. Venmo
My username is @Alison-Gomulka
I want to thank all of you who have been following my blog for the past five (holy cow!) months. So many of you have reached out offering support, prayers, and words of encouragement and for that I am so grateful. I will be taking a break from posting while I am in the U.S. but I will resume once we return to Tanzania. I pray you all have a blessed holiday season.
Mungu akubariki,
Allee
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