Trust.

It’s been something like a month now; I hate to realize that it has already been that long because it reminds me of what I haven’t done in a month. A month on the ship was packed full and now a month at home feels quite empty. I have to create purpose for waking every morning; it is true to say that I came back to with no plans. I guess it has made me come to know or better remember my need for plans and that I get quite uncomfortable when I don’t have them. I realized the other day that I haven’t every really not known what I am going to do next. Year after year in school you always know that the following year is to come and at the end of school I knew that the ship was next. But now my next is over and I have no next. I guess this leaves me with one thing to do… trust, trust God. The great thing about trusting God, is knowing that he is worth trusting and remembering how he has been faithful time and time again.

America.

America, the country I call home, the country that I lived in for 18 years without crossing its boarders. It was a year’s time since I walked on its semi-solid ground and two years since called it home. Now that my feet are back, I honestly didn’t miss it all that much. I flew from Germany to Atlanta, Georgia (it wasn’t as simple as it sounds, it included 2 lay overs and a total travel time of about 24 hours), America yes but not the America I am familiar with.
Did you know that in Peach Tree City they drive golf carts like cars; they have paths along the roads specifically for the carts, shocking. Nadar took us to the grocery store in his golf cart and we saw some young kid with a tricked out golf cart complete with big tires and a paint job with flames.
I had my first meal of fast food on my second day back in America (I didn’t really want to eat fast food and haven’t had it since) and I was shocked by the size of a small drink, it wasn’t a small at all, it was a large in my point of view. If I ever go back to a fast food restaurant I will know to order in kids sizes because the adult sizes are quite ridicules.
I became completely aware of the fact that so many Americans are overweight; it was something that I knew but didn’t notice as much until now. It’s quite sad how many people are overweight in this country and even more sad how many children are already overweight. The other night I was driving with a friend and as we drove past a MacDonald’s I mentioned how there was a backed up line at the drive through, she said she never really notices. There were something like 8 cars in line for MacDonald’s at 9pm but the craziest part for me was that the drive through had two lines to order, seriously is that necessary, I guess.
You know, America isn’t a terrible place at all; it just isn’t all it’s cracked out to be.

it happended.

I thought I would never leave the ship, not literally but when you first come two years seems like forever. But it happened and I write from a house, not a ship. I left the ship on Sunday, September 12th at about 1300 with my South African friends Brad and Francois.
My Sunday started with being woken up by a phone call from the purser, he wanted me to go to immigrations to get my passport stamped, I quickly realized that I had slept longer than I wanted.
It came time to say good byes soon after coming back from immigrations (I walked up the gangway for the last time).
The page happened, the one you hear so often around change over.
"Attention ships company, brad, francois and krysten will be leaving the ship, if you would like to say good bye please go to the lobby now."
I dont know how many time I have heard this page but of course this was the first time it featered my name.
The line formed and I gave hug after hug. I was quite tiring to say good bye to people one after another. It was esspecially hard when you get to people who you really love and who you will really miss.
Yes, I did cry but it wasnt until I got to Catherine in the line.
I survived the good byes and now it was time to walk down the gangway for the last time.
Some good friends prayed for us and then it was time. Down the gangway and into the car.

We drove away and at that moment my new adventure and new season began.