Community

I have been back in the USA for almost a year now. I’ve lived in North Carolina for about 10 months. One huge thing that has been missing is community.

While I was in Peru, I was on a wonderful team made up of great people. My teammates were my community. There were many times I didn’t get to see or talk to them often but whenever we could get together it was always such a great time of encouragement. We all truly loved each other and had a bond that couldn’t be replicated. Even while I was in Jackson I was part of a wonderful group at church and felt so at “home.” Over the past year I have longed to have this community again. Unfortunately community isn’t just something I could make happen.

I won’t lie. I was almost to the point of giving up on finding it. I had tried finding community in various places (granted I definitely could have tried harder in several aspects-so a lot of that was on me). It just seemed like such an uphill battle and never in my life had it been so hard to find community. I was to the point of not knowing what to do anymore. So I prayed – a lot. ‎


"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, & live righteously, & he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33

There is a new church plant in the area and I knew it was happening but I didn’t want to be the kid that just jumped on the bandwagon. I really felt God was telling me to go there. I kind of fought it though. I don’t know why. It was just something new and I didn’t really “know” anyone there. One Sunday I went and I loved it. Everyone has been so kind and friendly (half the group seems to be from Mississippi so that probably helps me to feel at home). I’ve gone to a small group and loved it! It’s been so easy this time and that just assures me that this is where God wants me to be. I am so grateful for this! I know I haven’t really been there for very long but I truly believe that some wonderful friendships have been started and that I have found community again.

It has taken a little while to feel that I’m where I should be and there were many times I felt alone (see previous blog) but I wouldn’t change any of it. Through this process I realized that I have taken my communities and church families for granted in the past. They always came so naturally that I never knew life without them. I won’t do that again! God has been so good to me!

“But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.” Psalm 13:5-6