The beginnings!

As I was on a run today I started out with the motivation of wanting to be in tip top shape for running on the beach outside of my apartment in South Africa, that was until I picked up my pace and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the sunshine right here in St. Joseph, MN. It's a beautiful day and I felt overcome with excitement and gratitude for everything in my life! Therefore I decided it was time to start tracking the planning and emotions I'm experiencing as I prepare to study abroad in Port Elizabeth South Africa for four months!

As I ran and felt the slight warmth of the sun making running conditions perfect and looked up at the clear blue sky I was struck by the comfort of something my mom has always said... that she loves looking up and knowing we are all looking at the same sky, the same sun, the same stars, and the same moon. Thinking about this I felt absolutely certain that as terrifying as it is to think about being away from my family and all that I know for four months, I couldn't be more certain and at peace with how wonderful this experience will be for me. It's so comforting to know that no matter how far from home I will be, and the fact that without a doubt I will experience homesickness, we all are under the same sky that was made by the same Creator.

And finally as I was on my run I found myself thinking about this "life changing experience" I'm about to have. I keep hearing over and over again how I will come back so different, but I decided I don't think that describes what the experience has been for me thus far. Planning for South Africa and meeting more and more people has not necessarily changed me, I think it has made me more me... it's helped me to become the "Megan" I was made to be! I feel confident in myself and what I will be able to offer to the people I will encounter in my volunteering experiences and simply the people in my group, but I'm also confident that

I will learn plenty from them as well which will help me grow more and more into the girl I was made to be. I may be changing throughout this, but I'm changing into the girl God made me to be!

I want to share my experiences and reflections with my family and close friends so they can experience everything with me! I also want to have this collection of my journey for myself so that when those homesick days hit I can remember that I'm not too far away from home and that I have so much to be thankful for!... Soon I will write about my travel plans thus far and my hopes and goals for my trip!

*Both pictures included were taken on the beach right across from the apartments I will be living in. They were taken at sunrise.