2 weeks left…
Where has the year gone? Seriously, I can barely believe that I am finishing up my 11th month, 11th country already and thinking about getting ready to come home. Wow! Blows my mind, but I am excited and ready for the next step of my journey.
Last month, Ukraine was nice and luxurious, and exactly what our team needed at the time. Our contacts were amazing, loving, and American (!), and our ministry felt much like life back home. Hanging out, growing and worshiping together, and having fun. Next, well, you guessed it, Moldova has been a slight travel back in time. A 30 minute walk to the orphanage center we work at every morning & night, cold weather, sleeping bag, no running water, shower once a week, tough manual labor on the farm or in the forest. This is just going to make back home feel even sweeter.
One really cool thing happened a couple weeks ago though; our squad ran into a new, fresh squad on the Race. We were entering our 11th month and they were entering their 2nd month. So, guess what?!? Our team was the one team that got to go back with 3 of their teams and do ministry with them for this month. How incredibly blessed have I been lately? We have poured out so much wisdom, life, and experience into them and shared stories, and in return they have restored our passion and desire for one last month of ministry and I feel renewed going back home now, largely due to my with them.
This month has been great to spend with new people and be around fresh faces, and it has also been hard spending some last moments together with my team and squad. With 2 weeks left, it is going to be hard to say goodbye to my team and my squad; they have truly become family this year. Sad that the adventure of the year is ending, but you better believe that I am ready to be back home around English speaking people all the time, and excited for what God has in store for me when I get back home.
So much wisdom gained, so much love poured out, so many memories made, but now it is time for God to reveal the next season in my life (might as well not ask me what that is, b/c I’m still not sure what door He is going to open). I just know for now, I can’t wait to get back to my family and friends and share with them what God has done and hear what has been going on in their lives this past year.One last week to cherish with my team to pour into one another and prophesy over each other’s future.
My contact, Vitali, this month always blares the Chris Tomlin song “I will follow you,” and it’s in these moments where I just think to myself the question of ‘where I am’ or ‘what I’ve done’ this year, and it is just hard to wrap my mind around all of it. Funny and hard to think of all that God has allowed me to experience this year, and the situations I’ve been brought into, and brought out of. How many people He has blessed me with in order to release the Father’s love into; yet also how much more grace, freedom, and power is there for me to walk in! I know that God has some crazy things in store for me soon, so I can’t wait for it, but I also just want to celebrate and rejoice in the victory that has taken place.
This year is not my ceiling, it is only the beginning of a bright and beautiful future that my Father has planned for me! Thank you for your many prayers and please continue for God’s glory to spread across the nations! Missions is hard and difficult, and there is a fierce battle raging even if you can’t see or feel it back home. My ministry this month needs prayer as much as ever, but now you can also be praying for a smooth reentry back home and for my ministry to continue and even increase when I get back. I seriously am so excited to see my family and reconnect with everyone. Final debrief in Bucharest, Romania, and then NYC here I come! See you all soon!!!
