Day after thoughts: 1. I like the idea of an active relationship being involved with her community much more than being in the background. It sounds more fun.
2. There is more accountability here.
3. Now I see WHY it is important I met Annamarie. Not Myraim necessarily because she was Melissa's assistant...I would have met her anyway. It does make sense why I was so nervous around these people though. I saw them as Mel's business partners and part of her life; I never thought of them as part of my community.
4. This makes my sisters' weddings more important. Honestly now I wish she could come because she is choosing to become part of my community too.
5. Dating someone from Walmart would make Walmart workers part of my community, which would be fine, but if I had the chance, I'd rather have my community as a body of believers. I want to have the opportunity to be built up spiritually. I don't just want to be doing the building (not saying that people from Walmart aren't Christians.) this is why long-term missionary dating is not the best idea. At your core, you want to be built up, not constantly preaching.