Everyone wants to hear words of encouragement and I’ve had people say some very nice things to me over the past couple of weeks, but there has been a common statement I’ve heard more than most that at first I wasn’t quite sure how to take. Here is a paraphrase “You’re the last person I thought who would be a full time missionary”. At first it sounds like a nice compliment, but when you think about it what is it really saying about the type of person I was? It’s important to know this statement never really made me mad, but just allowed me to realize that people have seen a change in me.

Since I got back from my mission trip in September I have definitely pursued a deeper relationship with God that I didn’t know I was capable of. During that time I knew I was changing a lot internally, but I didn’t think I was changing enough that people would notice. Which made me wonder how different people really think I am from what I think of myself. Now, I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’ve always had a hard time figuring this out. For example, I always like to make sarcastic jokes with people and I’m also a little shy. To me that doesn’t seem to be a bad combination, but to everyone else it looks like I’m someone who is a jerk and isn’t interested in getting to know you. About six months ago I had someone tell me this and it devastated me. As much as I didn’t like to her what was said it made me analyze my actions from the outside and really see how I could change. Since that time I’ve been watching my words and being a lot more outgoing so I never make anyone feel that way again.