For some reason, humans tend to look forward to the future. We are always wondering what's next, how will this turn out, where will I be in (insert time frame), and the list of questions regarding our future goes on and on. Lately I have been feeling quite anxious for some future events in my life.
The closest one to the present time being the Belfast Marathon, which is in just 3 short days. I have never ran a race anywhere near this distance, so naturally I am feeling quite nervous about it. But running a marathon has been a desire of mine for a long time, so I am also very excited about doing it. Plus, many people, including my parents (yes they will be in Belfast for it), have told me they will be out alongside the route to cheer me on. Along with the support that I am expecting from my friends and family on the day of the race, I have received considerable support from members of Whitehouse Presbyterian and the surrounding community through sponsorship for the race. It is common for people to get sponsors for running the marathon in Belfast, so I have chosen to run the race in support of the Whitehouse Presbyterian Mission Fund.
[Insert sponsorship pitch here] For anyone living in the Belfast area who has not sponsored anyone for the marathon but would like to, I am gladly accepting sponsors! For anyone who is not living in the Belfast area, say living in the United States, who would like to sponsor me in the marathon, you can give to the YAV program (more details to follow).
Which brings me to the next future event in my life that I am anxious about - a second YAV year for Karl and I. Throughout this year in Belfast, Karl and I have been feeling a call to serve a second year with the YAV program. For the past month or so, we have been speaking with site coordinators in Tucson, AZ and New Orleans, LA trying to discern which placement is right for us. Both sites offer great opportunities for living in community and working with local people to do mission outreach in larger cities in the U.S. After a lot of prayer and discussion, we finally decided on Tucson. We are very excited for the opportunities that Tucson offers and for what the future has to offer through another year with the YAV program.
[Continuing sponsorship pitch here] For those of you in the U.S. who would like to sponsor me in the marathon by supporting our next YAV year, you can:
Make checks payable to “Tucson Borderlands YAV”
On the memo line include "Kendra & Karl Heimbuck"
Mail checks to-
YAV
ICO: Linda Marshall
716 Lucinda Drive
Tucson, AZ 85748
Although we are quite excited for what the future holds in Tucson, I am aware of the 3 months we have left in Belfast. Three months is quite a long time, but I have a feeling it is going to go by quickly, and I can't help but think ahead to the day we leave. That is going to be a very sad day. I have met so many wonderful people, spent a great deal of time working alongside amazing folks, and have grown to love the youth of Whitehouse. I am going to miss these people tremendously!
This really hit me when Karl and I found out about our placement with Tucson for next year. When it became official that we were going to Tucson, we both posted it on our Facebook statuses. I wrote, "Decision is finally made. Come the end of August we'll be moving to Tucson for another YAV year!" The first person to comment on my status was a boy from youth group. Now this boy was a kid who I could barely understand talk when I first arrived, because of his thick Belfast accent, and whom I thought I would not be able to form a significant relationship. I still can't understand half the things he says, but over the course of this year we have formed a meaningful bond. His comment on my Facebook status was, "No u wont, ul be stayin." When I read his comment, it brought tears to my eyes. To know I have impacted him enough to express wanting me to stay here means A LOT. It makes me realize just how close I have grown to the people of Whitehouse and how difficult it will be to say goodbye. That is why I must not look to the future, but strive to live in this moment and make the most out of the time I have left in Belfast.
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