The most common question I’ve been asked, especially as this day has gotten closer and closer, is if I’m nervous. Honestly, I don’t think there’s been one day where I’ve been nervous about what I’m about to do. I’m sure this sounds crazy, but it’s true, I promise. Yes, there are certain parts of the World Race that makes me nervous (ie preaching- but even with this, I know that God is going to take over and I can only pray that those we meet along the way will see and hear more of Him and less of me). Since committing to the World Race, I’ve felt nothing but excitement and peacefulness (peacefulness? Yeah, that looks right J).
I have been so at peace with this trip and so excited about everything involved…it has been an amazing experience the last few months and we haven’t even left the US yet. This leads me to believe this is going to be a wild ride J
So, I’m at the Flint airport now, waiting to board our overbooked flight. I ended up pulling an all-nighter last night. I hung out with my family that I’m going to miss like crazy and then chatted on the phone until about 3am with some friends that I love oh so much, then it was shower time, then back to packing once again. I managed to jam everything in my bag and run out the door. Then it was off to the airport with my parents. At this point this all still seemed so surreal to everyone.
I’m sure it will hit me. My sister and I decided it would be tomorrow night when we’re getting ready for bed in Ukraine. I guess we’ll see. I just know I’m going to miss everyone so much.
My sister in law, Keren, put it like this, “Although the goodbyes are sad, think of all of the hello’s you’ll have over the next 11 months.” I love my family.
This year isn’t about leaving. This year is about loving and serving God…which I’m sure will be a very interesting, challenging and life-changing journey. I can’t wait to reunite with the team I fell in love with 2 weeks ago. I can’t wait to visit countries I’ve only read about. I can’t to meet the people in each country that I know will leave an everlasting impact on my life. I can’t wait to make a difference in someone’s life. I can’t wait to see the miracles God brings to life. I can’t wait to know God better. I can’t wait for the good, the bad, the beautiful, the heartbreak, the days I don’t know I’ll make it through, the day’s that make it all worthwhile, the days that I know this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
I can’t believe today is actually here!!!
I want to thank all of you for supporting me. I would not be here without you. Because of YOU lives are going to be changed and transformed. Orphans will be loved, the hungry will be fed, God will show up and do UNBELIEVABLE things…thing’s that only seem possible through bible stories. You are making this happen. Thank you for your generosity, your love and your prayers. You are amazing. I wish saying thank you provided even a fraction of the love and appreciation I feel for you. I’ll continue thanking you by blogging as often as I can, sharing stories of healing, salvation, love, laughs, crazy and wild (but still safe 😉 adventures and pictures!
As of today, $12,955 has been raised on a goal of $14,300. This only leaves $1,345 to go! This ALONE is so unbelievable! Seriously. Think about that for a minute. I started fundraising the very beginning of March. In three and a half months, $12,995 has been raised because of people like you. Going into this, my thought process was, ‘I’ll raise what I can. If I raise $2,000 then I’ll just have to come up with the other $12,300 on my own. I should be able to do that somehow”. Haha, little did I know God was going to show up in a huge way and show me that He’s got me covered. I have a habit of needing to figure things out on my own, I like being in control. God is showing me that I don’t need to always rely on myself…I’m sure I’ll learn that over and over again on this trip.
Anywho, our flight is about to head out! Here’s our plan: Flint -> Atlanta -> New York -> Paris (yay!) ->Final Destination at Kiev, Ukraine tomorrow at 4:40pm (7 hours ahead of MI)!
Love you all and I’ll talk to you when I reach Ukraine!
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