Nicole's Journey to Chiang Mai, Thailand: It all comes to an end..

It has come to an end, my friends. I got back from Thailand a week ago, and still adjusting to the lovely jet lag and getting back into my routine. I was just sitting and looking at my pictures from the last couple days of our trip, and could not beleive that I had been in Thailand for a month. It was such a great experience, including all the ups and downs that it entailed. It made me a much stronger person, and taught me things that I never would have learned about myself, God, and life unless I had put myself out of my comfort bubble like that.
I made some of the most amazing friends while being there, ones that I know I will stay in touch with for years and years. I definitely miss the quiet, laid back, peace, and contentment that I had in Thailand, coming home I have been trying to maintain it but the culture and pace of things are so much different.
A group of the students that we hung out with made Ryan and I presents for when we left, they made this notebook and on each page they glued a picture of themselves and wrote a note to me next to it. All of them said "forget me not", never could I forget them - they brought joy into my life while I was there.

There were about 10 or more people who came to the airport to say farewell to us. In Thailand when friends go and come - everyone comes to greet them or see them off at the airport. I absolutely love that - so genuine, respectful, and caring. I am going to miss them all deeply.
I learned a lot in the past month, and still learning, and will be for quite some time- forever actually. I have come to know, that that is ok - it is ok to have questions and doubts at times. It is what we do with those questions and doubts that determine us. Some of my questions will never be able to be answered until I can sit down with Jesus himself and ask away - which I am so excited to do! I learned to rely, trust, and lean on God more than I have ever had to do before. It was incredibly hard, but I managed to do it - and so thankful that I did. It made our relationship that much stronger. I know I am going to still make mistakes, and let down people - but God will always be there - He has his arms wide open at all times and cannot wait for us to come running to Him. I have found a deeper inner peace and inner contentment by working on my relationship with God - it is not always easy and I have to work at it everyday -and each day I grow closer with God.
I want to thank everyone for the prayers and support while I was in Thailand. It never would have been possible without you guys. Thank you for this amazing opportunity and following me as I grow and learn. Here are some pictures below of our last couple days, love you all :)