blog post from 7/8/2022-
Today marks 50 days until I start my journey with the World Race. Over the past couple months, I've seen and experienced so many feelings. Feelings of doubt, stress, uncertainty, and confusion. But more than any of those feelings, I have a sense of peace, purpose, strength, and belonging in this place I'm in. I have chosen to step confidently into the plan that God has for me (no matter how uncertain or scary that is). Having 50 days left at home is news that I can take and immediately be so worried about. I don't have all my gear, I'm not ready to leave my friends and family, and I don't know how to accurately prepare myself for this time. But that's just the thing: It's not up to me to be prepared. I am already prepared because of the goodness of God, the confidence in His timing, and the knowledge that He takes care of all things and looks over His children. Truly knowing this, I am SO. EXCITED. A couple weeks ago I went on a retreat to Colorado to meet 12 other people on the Gap K squad and those people are seriously the best. I saw the love of Jesus through their hearts, the sweetness of God through their smiles, and getting to know them over the short span of 4 days was so incredibly uplifting. We worshipped, prayed, played lots of games, hiked, and I even slept under the stars for the first time in my life. I remember the night I went outside and saw the Colorado sky and the stars at night for the first time (we don't have skies like that in Georgia). I was so overwhelmed by the beauty of that sight that I immediately broke down into tears. I was in the middle of the mountains with complete strangers, looking up at the sky absolutely in awe of God and how beautiful His creation is. Those strangers hugged me as I cried at the stars, those strangers laid down and we worshipped under the night sky, and those strangers so quickly became family. I grew so fond of those people that even after 4 days and the promise that we'd be together so soon, I found myself tearing up having to say goodbye. I could not be more happy to spend 9 months with those amazing people and the other members of my squad that I've yet to meet. In 50 days I start a new life with a group of teenagers who have hearts that are absolutely on fire for their Creator and that is what all of this is about. I want to thank everyone who has been supporting me and praise God that I am almost halfway funded!! How crazy is that? I'm even struggling now to put into words how I'm feeling about all of this, but I guess it's kinda like how I felt looking up at those stars. Awe, wonder, astonishment, peace, excitement. 6 months ago I was just beginning to learn about the race and now I leave in 50 days. God has moved, transformed, and renewed my heart and I cannot wait to see what lies in store for these last few weeks at home and the 9 months I get to serve Him. Signing off from Woodstock :)
Psalm 96: 1-3: "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples."
