I was so excited that my heart could have jumped out of my chest. I was so excited that I contemplated pushing and shoving past people to get off the plane. I was so excited that my smile could have lit up a small African country. I was so excited that I could have sworn I was dreaming.
My first day back was full of “‘You’re here’s” and “Come eat’s”! It was full of hugs and warm greetings. It was like coming home. All the time in between had past, and it felt as if a day hadn’t gone by since I was last here.
I’m not going to down play it, but things are different. There are new people and new situations I’ll have to get acquainted with. Some of my favorite people aren’t here or are not going to be here for much longer. It’s a whole new summer with new experiences in store. It’s going to be great. I know it will. I’m going to make new friends, meet new kids, and fall in love more and more each day. I’m going to invest myself in ministry and hopefully be able to witness the rewards. There will be weak points where I’ll wish it was exactly the same as last year, but I’ll remind myself that it can only get better from here. I am so excited for what this summer has in store not only for the next three months, but what it will mean for the rest of my life.
So here’s to the food that is still to be eaten. Here’s to the many Wednesday night Soul’d Outs. Here’s to full- time ministry and how much I’ve grown to love it. Here’s to the beautiful island of Oahu and the beautiful things I get to see everyday. Here’s to friends- both old and new. Here’s to a summer that will be unforgettable.