11 months, 11 countries – My expectations…

Have you ever been asked this question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" or how about this one: "What's your 5 year plan?" haha ..I have yet to have an answer for either of those.. but hey I have a better one..say your going away for 11 months..letting go of the "known" for the "unknown", leaving everything and everyone you hold dear behind, and your asked: "So what do you expect to happen?" …haha well..

It would be a big lie to tell you I have no expectations of this 11 months..not to mention it would be a big waste of yours an my money.. lol No no, no have no fear. I have many expectations.. While it is tempting to just say I don't, I do. I don't actually know what these adventures will look like yet, but I do however know the places I'm going. Knowing the countries I will be visiting has already helped me enter into prayer for those places and the people within it. Having this knowledge gives me  purpose and sense of direction ..thinking to myself "ah this time next year I will be in so an so country" It builds the expectations, and so without further ado this is what I expect so far…

I expect transformation.
Every year that I look back on since I was like 15 some kind of event, or some "point of conflict" if you will..some moment transformed me in some HUGE way. EVERY YEAR! I change year to year. It's just how I roll. If you don't like me this year, talk to me again next year haha.  I am constantly growing and ALWAYS ALWAYS in a constant state of learning, and ya know what I  have kinda grown to love that about me. 

I expect to go deep
"He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:8
I expect as I always do year to year to go deeper in my relationship with Jesus. Deeper in His words, deeper in intimacy..deeper in His heart, deeper in His love ..for me and for His people ..near and far..I expect that I will face "the heat" from time to time, but that even in extreme temperatures and days of drought I will still come out smelling like a rose..lol  He loves me, and  He takes care of my and my heart so I try to have no worries daily 😉

I expect to look different 
I believe that with 11 months of travel and not even really being state side that whole time, I imagine when family and friends see me again I will look very very different. I imagine my countenance to have some of the same boyish qualities ..all starry eyed and still kinda caught up in the clouds with my dreams.. yeah that won't change..if anything that may increase.  I do expect to have many great shifts in how I perceive the world around me though. I believe my view of the world and the people within it is very limited to what I know here where I'm at. I am looking forward to expanding my horizons so to speak. In my travels I will see with my own eyes, hear with my own ears..I will mold my view by adventures I have yet to go on.. and that excites me! 

I believe I will learn the valuable lesson that life isn't all about me..

 I believe that the team I will be with will become like me and me like them. We will bring out the best in each other and pour into the best of each other. I believe my appearance, music and style may change..not because I don't like who I am now or anything, but because I'm simply always growing, always changing, always transforming..and I kinda hope I develop a bit of an accent in my travels lol..

I expect my heart to break
I already love children! I know I am just gonna wanna pack all them youngins in my backpack when I visit the orphanages in Africa.. I know that I am going to fall in love with the children I meet. I know my heart to adopt will only beat harder because of this event in my life.

I believe my heart will break (and already is somewhat) for the girls stuck in the sex slave industry. My heart already is petitioning God for JUSTICE  to come swiftly.

I know my heart will break for my friends and family and in missing them. I will miss the families I hold closest to my heart The Arwoods, The Weeks, The Roberts..Geesh I'm gonna miss em no doubt!

Being real with ya I expect that at one point or another I will put my foot in my mouth.. lol.. I will most likely let someone down, or get let down by another or get my feelings hurt by someone in my team, but I'm not afraid of those moments..those moments and the getting past those moments will be what brings us close like family, and it will produce in me and us such good fruit our hearts will be full of joy, peace and love. I believe it will be evident on our faces when you see us. 

I expect Him to blow all my expectations out the water
I believe I will see miracles, healings, signs and wonders…I believe and expect and anticipate that His plan for me on the WR is a GOOD future, one filled with hope, and love..without lack or disappointment.

I believe that the money you and I are investing into the WR and these countries(the people within em) I believe it's the best thing we can do with our money, and I expect to see it impact me and the countries I visit more than either of us could possibly know.

I believe that this step is just another stepping stone in preparing for my bridegroom to come home and love on His people. I want to be one of the one's that loves those He loves.

I also believe that this adventure is the type of adventure I was made for. I shouldn't expect less or downsize my dream. "Freely you have received so freely give" I want to freely love all people from all cultures and races and I expect that I will. I want to and expect that I will loose the chains from all those who are oppressed..I don't know what that kind of justice looks like right now but I anticipate finding out in the months to come. 

I expect while all these things as big as they are to me right now.. I will look back on later on, and be amazed at just how much more He had in mind… "More than I could ever ask or think"

… And finally 

I expect to change the world
Starting with me..and then one person at a time…=)

Live a great story ~ Devin