Final Countdown

Less than one week! 5 days! I can’t believe it. Next Monday I will be boarding a trip to Rome!

It's been a wonderful and difficult season! Full of family time and a goodbye tour to see friends. I’ve also spent countless hours prepping logistics before I leave.

This past few week I was checking off lots of things on my to-do list for the trip. Here’s just a few things:

• Set up new international phone plan

• Travel insurance information

• End car insurance

• Get phone fixed

• Change of address forms

• Update bank info/travel dates

• Update license

• Request absentee ballot

• Check, check, check, check, check

Nobody tells you how many details are involved when you end your life and move to another country. I’ve spent countless hours on the phone with multiple customer service reps these past few weeks. And I made a few friends along the way.

Friend number one was the woman I called about ending my car insurance. After 30 minutes on the phone it came up that I wouldn’t be needing insurance because I was moving to Italy. This sweet woman tells me that she will be praying for me and my trip. She goes, “Oh, you’re going to find a cute Italian man. I’m going to pray for that. I’ll pray that he’s tall, but not too tall, dark, handsome, a hard worker and loves Jesus.” We laughed and I told her that I was also a Christian. She shared a little more about her story, living in California, and how she met her husband. She shared a scripture with me from Mark 5:41, “He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”)” and told me that when she’s feeling down she imagines Jesus saying to her, “Little girl, get up and go.” And now Jesus was saying the same thing to me, “Little girl, get up and go to Italy.” At the end of the call she says, “You know, I don’t know you, but we are sisters in Christ and I’m going to be praying for you.”

Friend number two was looking out for my safety. I got a text saying that I had a package that had the wrong address, I followed the link and paid the fee feeling like I was on top of things. I figured it made sense since I’m changing my address and maybe someone sent something to Italy and it didn’t make it. Well after I couldn't find the package I called UPS where the woman said, “Lindsey! No Lindsey. We do not text from the post office! Lindsey, you’re going to cancel that card. Lindsey no!” When I called my bank and explained the situation to the teller he said, “Yeah, that probably wasn’t a good idea.” Thank you... Friends tell you when you’ve done something dumb.

Friend number three was on the call with Verizon. I was telling the woman that I would be ending my service and switching to another carrier. When she asked why I told her that I was going to be leaving the country and T-Mobile has an international plan. I can keep my number, have unlimited texting, data and hotspot. She goes, “Oh honey you have to do that! I know I’m supposed to convince you to stay but I can’t. That’s a great deal.” She then asked me about my trip and what I would be doing. I told her I was in ministry and would be working for a study abroad program in Rome. She prayed for me right on the phone before hanging up.

Friends were made!

Being a planner, I’m thankful to have all the logistics settled. Now this week I get to enjoy time with my family and do some fun shopping.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. I ended my role at the church on July 31st. There were many tears as I said goodbye to people who had become like family. But I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end a special season and I felt so loved and cared for.

After church my parents and I went back to my apartment to start packing. Only to realize that we had locked ourselves out... oops! It wasn’t a bad alternative to wait at the coffee shop until our locksmith showed up.

After we were in, the packing began. I was so thankful to have Mom and Dad there. We loaded up both our cars with all my stuff and in just a few hours, everything I owned was in two vehicles. I had really wanted to pack everything in my car just so I could say that I did it. But we agreed that I would have been a little tight and not super comfortable to make it fit.

After we finished my parents gave me time to myself before driving away. I had to drop off a few things at the church and leave my keys. It was surreal to walk through the hallways and lock up one final time. It definitely felt like there should have been music playing in the background as the sun was setting and I did one final drive through the village. I drove up to Erie, Pa and I arrived at my parent’s beach house just as the sun was kissing the water. It felt like a wink from God.

After two days at the beach with my parents I packed up my bags again and boarded a flight for Washington State. My new organization was hosting an all Staff Gathering in Moses Lake. It was so fun to meet people I had only seen on Zoom for the first time. We spent the weekend doing trainings, introductions, learning more about the organization as a whole, a beach day and spending time with our individual teams.

I walked away from the weekend with two things: First, I am really excited about the team I will be working with in Rome. And second, I am excited for all the adventures this next year has in store. I felt like a kid in a candy store as they were telling us about the schedule for the fall semester and all the places we will travel and things we will do as part of the program. As well as all the opportunities to explore on weekends and free weeks.

I flew back from the trip and took one souvenir with me... COVID. I think this is now my third time and I’m about to send in my blood for testing. But I think it was God’s way of telling me to stop and rest after a very full couple of weeks. And after a week of laying in bed and watching Gilmore Girls I was ready to get moving again.

It’s been great being home and enjoying time with my family and having time to prepare and plan for the trip. This month God has been teaching me that it’s possible to hold both sadness and joy together. I’ve been sad about ending an awesome season in Pittsburgh and excited to begin a new one in Italy. In the same week I can be crying with friends and family about leaving and later be dancing around my room listening to the Lizzie McGuire Movie soundtrack. And even though holding both grief and joy can be hard, I’m reminded that God is holding me.

Only 5 days, 1 hour and 57 minutes until takeoff! But who is counting anyways...