Swimming Together

  For the past month I have been at the Center for Intercultural Training (CIT) with an incredible group of missionaries attending classes from 8:30AM-3:30PM on Monday-Friday. I "graduated" this past Friday and I can't begin to explain the changes that have taken place over the past month.

Fall 2015 CIT Training

  Living in community was a big change for me, as I currently live ALONE in a cozy one bedroom house. So, sharing the kitchens and bathrooms with six other women was a bit of an adjustment for me. However, when I got home and settled back in I was overwhelmed by the solitude and quiet that surrounded me once again. Mornings at CIT were bustling. Starting around 7AM the dorm would come to life with sounds and people. The sound of alarms going off waking ladies from a night of sleep, dodging each other in the kitchen making coffee, the sound of hair dryers, the sound of music drifting from the rooms as ladies got ready for their day, the echoes of "good morning" said to one another, and the increasing sense of urgency as the time to attend class crept closer punctuated the weekday mornings. The routine continued when we returned home at the end of the day and dinner was made, homework was completed, and social activities were planned and executed. Living among other people quickly became my "new normal" although I did have to retreat to the seclusion of my room to have some alone time from time to time.

  Upon returning home, I realized very quickly how alone I was. My little house was very quiet and no one greeted me when I walked in the door. I cooked dinner and I wasn't "dancing" with anyone else who was trying to use the kitchen. There was plenty of hot water because no one else had showered before me. There was no music, no conversations, and no hum of other people living around me. I was alone, and I missed the ladies I had spent the past four weeks living with.

  I realize that all of CIT is structured intentionally to help you acclimate to living in community. The majority of the world is a collectivist society which means that they live together, work together, and do what is necessary for the good of the group. The United States is starkly different. We are extremely individualistic and we are out for ourselves and our best interest. We like to be independent and we like to do it on our own. My time at CIT has changed my viewpoints on more things than I could write in this post (or that you would want to read), but I will say that I like living in a collectivist society and I miss my CIT family.When I get to Guatemala, I  know that I will be living with another female missionary and sharing a small apartment, and even sharing a bedroom with her. We will be living in a small rural village where we are the only two people from the United States, and we will be immersed in a collectivist culture. I expect a certain amount of culture shock and it may be a slow acculturation process. However, I am grateful for the opportunity to experience a taste of collectivist culture before heading to Guatemala, and I know my experiences at CIT will smooth out what may still be a bumpy transition. I am reminded of the Psalm 68:6 which states that God puts the lonely into families, and I realize that man is made for relationships with other people. God has created us for community. We are made to work together, live together, support each other, and walk beside each other throughout life.

Part of My Goofy Family 

  As I prepare to leave in a little more than two months, I am reflecting on my relationships. I know I will miss my family, my friends, and my support systems here in the United States. However, I have a quiet peace that honestly does surpass all understanding. As I sit in my quiet house, I look around and I feel sad when I realize that I won't live in this place much longer. I think about the things I am giving up to follow God's call... things like my two beloved dogs... and of course.. cheese.. yes.. it's ridiculous.. but most of the world does not have cheese like we do in the United States. I'm serious!! Still.. I have a peace (even without cheese). I know it's going to be ok. I feel like I am standing on the edge of something much bigger than I can imagine. I am so excited about what lies ahead. I am excited to see what friends I will make a long the way, what life will begin to look like, and where this journey will take me.

  I do want to thank each of you for your prayers, support, and encouragement. Know that you are all part of my family, and I am grateful to have each one of you to help support me a long the way. I cherish your prayers.

 
Blessings,
Meaghen