The first piece was left in Siberia, Russia in January/February 2005. I will never forget the feeling of stepping off a plane onto Russian soil. For one thing, it was minus 26 degrees. FREEZING!! The kind of cold that the hairs in my nostrils instantly froze together. It didn't matter.....I was in RUSSIA. Those two weeks were just what my heart needed. We went into government controlled orphanages. Those children were so beautiful! I wanted to bring ALL of them home with me. Drop a piece of my heart.
Needless to say, I was changed. I went to Belarus (between Poland and Ukraine) in 2006. Another piece in another country. I met children that were affected by the Chernobyl incident. Their parents suffered from the radiation. Passed the effects on through genetics. Vision problems, heart defects, brain malformations. All beautiful in my eyes.
Next up, Jamaica in 2007. This was a completely different trip for me. I was recovering from Chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer (more on that later). I fell instantly in love with those dark chocolate colored kiddos. Another little piece of my heart.
The most SPIRITUALLY impacting trip was in 2008. I, along with about 20 other North Americans, went to El Salvador in Central America. I had been a Christian for most of my life. I knew God heard me when I prayed. A lot, though, I had just taken for granted. One morning, I was having my quiet time and devotions. As I was praying, I heard Someone speaking TO me. God was AUDIBLY talking to me. He gave me a vision. There were 100 ears of corn and we (the trip participants) were handing them out to the people. Those "ears of corn" represented Spanish bibles. How in the world were we to get 100 Spanish Bibles? God is AWESOME!! He brought to us someone who had connections with the Bible Society in El Salvador. We took up an offering to pay for the Bibles and.......it was exactly the amount we needed......to the penny. Over and over again, God showed Himself on that trip. BIG piece of my heart left there.
The biggest pieces were yet to be left. In 2009, I went to a country in North Africa. For the sake of privacy, cannot publish which country. This trip impacted me so intensely for reasons I am still discovering. Part of it was the fact I was going in almost "undercover". Because of the political government, this was the first trip I could NOT display my Christianity. I met and became fast friends with many incredible people over there. Huge chunks of my heart.
The best thing: I RETURNED TO THIS SAME COUNTRY in 2010. It was incredible to return and reunite with my friends. They were more than friends to me now. A few of them still refer to me as their American sister. FAMILY. I loved these people! Loved them. Bigger pieces were left. I had already planned to return in 2011. The political climate changed over the course of the year--for the worse. It wasn't going to be safe to go back into the country. I was crushed! I desperately wanted to see my foreign 'family'. It wasn't going to happen.
God had another plan. I went to Israel and discovered my spiritual heritage. I walked some of the same roads my Savior walked centuries before me. It was just what my heart needed. Funny how God knows EXACTLY what His kids need.
The chasm is still there..........just not as deep.
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