I spent last year in an incredible Christian
community in Florida. As an intern, I lived in intern
housing with others, worked with volunteers, work teams, and other staff all
day. Although I am an introvert and needed time alone, I enjoyed the year of being
around lots of people, and was able to share and learn from others so much more
then I would have been able to on my own. The move to Portland put me in a city
surrounded by people, but lacking the intentional community. Since I hoped to
be travelling while raising support, I did not immediately get involved in my
new environment, because I did not know when I would be available. When I
became a little settled and got a job, my new hours limited the Bible studies
or community events I could attend.
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| A few of the interns and I at ECHO |
As
I was living and facing many uncertainties, learning a ton about my life, it
was evident that I needed community for support and comradery. I used Skype as
a tool to communicate with a few people, but I missed being with people
physically, or having people always present. I learned just how important it is
to find a community or stay in close contact with community as soon as possible
to help with transition and processing.
When I head to the CAR I am going to be faced with this going to a new place, and
not having community right away. I am going to have to stay in contact with the
community I have, and work hard at finding community there. It will be a
smaller and more intentional community there, so that will help, but it is
something to pay attention too in the CAR, as well as where ever I end up next.
