Allison's Big Adventure

I can’t believe I’ve only been in Missoula for 2 weeks! It feels much longer… I think that time is feeling slow right now because everything is so new. I’m still using Apple Maps for pretty much everything, (besides work and Taco Bell God bless), but I’m starting to get more familiar with how this city works.

The people at my church have been incredibly helpful, kind, and hospitable. I have had dinner with several people this week who have opened up their homes to me, shared their stories with me, and have received mine graciously. I am feeling less and less alone everyday — an answer to prayer!

Highlights from this past week…

This week has been a “normal” week. I have been working on a little more unpacking at the AO house and have reached a point of feeling settled into my office at church. I had dinner at a new friend’s house one night this week and she happened to prepare a dish that a past roommate of mine had once fixed and I really enjoyed. It was a nice little God-wink. I went and saw The Odyssey with a housemate — highly recommend. I went to the farmer’s market and got some sourdough bagels, flowers, and Flathead cherries (which are famous around here!) I had dinner with a couple from church who relocated here to Missoula about three years ago from Chicago — it was so nice to connect with other relocated Midwesterners!! I also had my second Sunday at FPC. I felt much more confident this week and I have been enjoying the laid back vibes of worship services during the summer. Since our sanctuary isn’t air conditioned, we’ve been having our services in the fellowship hall next door and it’s been nice to get to know people in a more intimate space.

I’m not sure what it means for me to feel at “home” somewhere other than West Michigan. I’m not holding on tightly to the hope that Missoula will feel just as much like home as Michigan does… that doesn’t seem fair to Missoula. I am, however, starting to feel more attached to this place, and maybe that’s what it means to make a home outside of the place I grew up right now.

Prayer requests and gratitudes!

• Gratitude: I think we have the mouse problem at the house under control! Me and a couple guys from the house went IN with snap traps. It’s only crazy if it doesn’t work…. and it did.
• Gratitude: I’m feeling more attached to Missoula and I’m enjoying the city.
• Gratitude: I feel alone less often.
• Prayer request: please pray that everything goes smoothly as I enroll for my benefits for work this week!!
• Prayer request: please pray that I find the motivation to fully unpack this week and settle into my room. It’s been emotional to make this move more “permanent” (obviously I’m staying here for a while, unpacked or not, it’s just been a hurdle).

Thank you for following along with my journey! Love you! ♡