Homeward Bound

My lovely outreach "family" in Portland

 Pulling into the train station yesterday afternoon, knowing that within twenty minutes I'd be back on campus with the rest of the DTS, also returning from outreach, I was struck with an intense "bittersweet" feeling. Outreach, part one, is over. Granted, once I was unpacked and dressed in my favorite fuzzy, blue housecoat, I was happy, thrilled even, to see everyone again after nearly two months of being apart. However, these past couple months have been such an amazing experience, that, I admit, I was saddened at the prospect of returning "home". Coventry was amazing! Never have I felt more at home than with the people hosting us all. Weymouth and Portland are possibly the most stunning places I've been to in a very long time, with cliffside-views of the Atlantic Ocean. Both places were beautiful and filled with the most incredible people, young and old.

The Emily's and myself (Stacy behind camera)

The ten of us on this outreach team went from the awkward first steps of outreach to being a full-fledged family towards the end, including pillow fights late at night and constantly "taking the mick out of one another". As with any family. we had our moments of stress and frustrations, but we worked through it all and walked away from this time having grown in our relationships with one another and with God. 
I was deeply challenged throughout outreach to step beyond myself and make myself "uncomfortable" for Christ. One day in particular, I felt like God was saying to me, "Is one person not worth you humbling yourself and looking ridiculous?". Needless to say, I had to take some serious time to mull that one over. But outreach was amazing, and the people we met and grew to love were worth every moment of it! God loves the UK, and so do I!
But I'm glad to be back in my own bed again...