This weekend I had to say my 'goodbyes' to tons of people I love. Friday morning at 6:30am, I answered a knock on my door to see aunties from tour. They drove 18 hours from Texas, to see me. Just to see me, before I move away. While I stood in shock and called them losers, I was amazed at the love I felt in the moment. The day went on, we had lunch at my favorite local spot and then another surprised entered, our 'family,' from North Carolina. They drove 9 hours to be here to see me. Amazed. I was absolutely amazed. We had dinner together Friday night and Saturday we had an entire day planned. Breakfast, skating, lunch, the river and then shopping. We got done with all the things and got home early-- only to see people out of the ordinary at my house.
NOTE: my nerves were already shot. I was shaking most of the weekend because I got surprised and because I was overwhelmed, in good ways.
I was escorted outside by my mom, my friends and Mrs. Angie to see the best set up ever-- string lights, candles, fire pits, hammocks and then Benjamin House merchandise. The crowd was not there yet, because my sweet momma knew that my nerves could not take anymore surprises.
However, Bucky (BHMs leader) popped up from behind the car with his arm open walking towards me, I shouted the same thing I did for every person who surprised me, "what are you doing!" He laughed and then confessed his previous lies during the week. You would think that would be all the surprises, nope- Alejandro walks out of the house, and I said the same thing again, "what are you doing here"
They came to surprise me. To support me.
I quickly got dressed, sent a text to someone explaining that they were the joke person for the night. That was a big job-- "if I don't want to cry, Im giving a signal and I need a joke." It actually worked a couple times.
I cannot give every detail about Saturday night. But I can say that I looked around at the party and saw faces from every season of my life. High School friends, family friends, close family, family that drove hours to see me, friends that drove days to see me, old pastors, friends that are coming to Uganda, old teachers, my high school principal even showed up. I was in awe to see the amount of people. The special moments I shared with each person there, will forever be etched in my memory. The moments I had to walk to my poolhouse to stop from weeping in front of everyone. The moment our family friend, who is a cop, gave me the best gift. Family telling me that they knew Jesus had me, my dads best friend reading a poem he wrote just for me. Friends from high school crying as they said bye. Every moment, just as special as the next.
Sunday morning came and went quick, we woke up early to spend time together before Texas had to leave. My best friend, my Nonna and my Memaw cooked breakfast and we all got dressed for the commissioning service at church. Worship almost had me jumping up and down, at one point I think my body could have burst with emotions. My pastor called me on stage before he preached and got teary eyed as he talked about sending me off. He talked about my love for Africa, and my love for people. Then he called my family up (we took up 3 rows) -- he told them to gather around me and join together as we all prayed as a church. I opened my eyes during the prayer to see everyone together praying. My Nonno with his hand on my head, by momma wrapped around my arm, my Nonna holding my hand, my best friend squeezing the other and everyone else squeezed together. I looked past my family at the church body to see people standing with their hands lifted. I put my head back down and the pastor said, 'amen,' and my Nonno handed me a handkerchief and said, "Its clean" -- I sat down in awe of Jesus, in awe of the unity and in awe of the power of prayer.
Throughout this weekend I've caught myself saying over and over again, "I wish I could relive this weekend forever." But, really I don't. I don't wish that because it would take away from the beautiful moments that lie within it. I read a book, that said something along these lines - “Going from crying to laughing that fast and hard happens maybe five times in your life and that extreme right turn is the reason why we are alive, and I believe it extends our life by many years.” --- I'd like to think it applies both ways. I laughed so hard Saturday night that I cried, I literally cried. I stepped back and looked around to see everyone I love standing around fires, together. I said the quote in my head, giggled and then thanked Jesus because he is too, too good.
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