I am nearing my
last week in Amman and while I am quite ecstatic about going home where granola
bars are accessible, I am beginning to realize there are a few things I will
really miss once I’m gone. I have pondered over these things and have narrowed
them down to the top three. First on the list are people I’ve met and gotten
close to. Even though Jordanians are not the friendliest, I have met the exceptions
to the rule and it will be very hard to say goodbye. It will be particularly
hard to depart with the great families that have opened up their homes to me
during my stay here. This also includes the people I have been working out
with, a fun and very encouraging group of people. Second on the list is having
easy access to practice my Arabic. While my Arabic is not as good as my German
(could be because it’s 2345728945725 times harder), my spoken Arabic has
improved a lot since my arrival. Being forced to practice on the streets has
helped the learning process and I fear I will forget everything I’ve learned once
I’m back. Last but not least is getting a view of the entire city from every
hill. One thing about Amman is that it is built on hills and while this is very
inconvenient for walking or biking, it is great for getting a glimpse of the
city as you drive from one place to the other. A beautiful view in the evening
as the sun begins to set.
Answering
this question took slightly longer than I thought it would because things I
“wouldn’t” miss kept coming to mind. Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed my time
here and there are many things I have learned to love, but unfortunately
sometimes it’s easier to see the negatives rather than the positives. This
experience kind of reminds me of hiking up to see the “Al Dier” Monastery (the largest
monument in Petra) the first week I was here. We hiked up forever with the sun
shining right on our heads and to top it all off, my right knee started
bothering me. There were sooo many annoyances with the hike that I began to
wonder if it was even worth what we would get to see at the top. And yes, it
was very much worth the hike but it took positivity and endurance to get there.
I
have often missed home to the point of wishing I could teleport back but I have
endured and seen past the things that made me homesick. Seeing past the fog of
differences that often came off as negatives allowed me to enjoy and appreciate
the good things about this place. “As the rain and
the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the
earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and
bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out form my mouth: It will not
return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose
for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11. Wherever we are, God’s purpose for us
will shine and flourish as we push through the rough patches in life. It is
okay to take notice of the negatives, but we can’t allow them to plant thoughts
in our minds that state we are not strong enough or fast enough for our
experiences, because life is not a race to the finish line but rather a test of
endurance. So when the going gets tough and those negatives pile up, pair them
up and turn them into positives.
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