Celebrating a birthday in another country is exciting but it can also be difficult when you are far away from the friends and family who love you. I am so blessed by those of you who found creative ways to be close to me whether it was by sending a card in my pack, dining at a Peruvian restaurant in my honor, or supporting me with a gift of $33 – yep that’s $1 for each year I have lived. Thanks to all of your birthday gifts I was able to reach my third financial goal of $11,000 – pays to be the oldest one on my squad! This means I can continue to serve in the field and, even though it can be really hard, it is the best birthday blessing I could have asked for this year! If you are curious how I celebrated my birthday in the mission field I would tell you that there was no theme this year, no elaborate planning process and no big party but what God planned for me was perfect!
How amazing that of all the places in the world I could be this month, God placed me near one of my favorite spots– the ocean! It was incredible! I was able to watch the sunset over the Peruvian coast as my year came to a close and even went to a beachside café for crepes that evening (somewhat of a tradition ever since my sister had crepes for dinner the night she was anxiously awaiting for me to enter the world).
Since my actual birthday was on a ministry day, I got to start the morning off serving with my entire World Race family (All Squad Month) and in the afternoon my team took me out and treated me to a round of milkshakes. I never expected any of these things in Peru, but I was blown away by each detail that reveals more and more of the Father’s perfect love for me.
This is what 33 looks like on me and it’s just getting started… I am planning on making it the best year of my life! Please pray that I will continue to feel God’s full and unending love in my day-to-day experiences and that I am able to share this love with everyone I meet. Also, please continue to pray that I may reach 100% of my goal and become fully funded by June 1st or sooner! Thank you!
