Hello there.
I know it has been a while. About 4 months to be exact. I have started and stopped so many blogs over the passing weeks, but I couldn’t connect what was in my head to my fingertips on my computer.
All I can say is I have been in a creative drought. I didn’t have words to blog, I never wanted to have my camera with me, and I kept my paints packed deep in the bottom of my pack. It has been a strange season. Creating is at the very core of who I am, but that passion has faded for many months.
I can’t explain what has been going on, I can only explain what God has done though it – which, spoiler alert, is pretty incredible.
Because such a big part of myself had been quieted, it allowed the Lord to come in and fill the gaps with new passions and new pursuits. I entered a season with members of my team that demanded more of me. I spent months walking in the depths with people I loved. It has reveled my ultimate passion, a passion that will turn into a life mission, and life direction (more on that later). I discovered my heart is most happy when I am walking alongside those that need to experience true freedom and identity in Christ. I was finally able to see other passions that I can release into the world other than creative endeavors. I am an artist, but I am also so much more.
While this season has often been confusing and directionless, I cannot see how I would have learned about another deep passion of mine unless the passion that was blocking it from shining through was dimmed. But something I have also learned is when the floodgates are opened and the drought finally ends, old passions that are withering can be watered and new passion can blossom
I was spending time with the Lord last month, reflecting on this strange creative drought I was in when he gave me a picture. It was a cup of paint water and paint brushes tipping as if it was about to be poured out. The Lord revealed to me that my passion for art was about to be poured out onto me once again.
Not only have I learned a new passion about myself – that is, walking alongside those as they figure out how to experience freedom and identity on Christ – but God is flooding me with passion for creating once more. AND he is showing me how to intersect these two core passions of mine.
I’m excited to get back on my blogging game and for new creative projects on the horizon!
Since I have been silent on the blog for so long, here is a quick overview of things I have experienced during my time in Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia.
-I Fell in love with bubble tea
-Fell in love with condensed milk
-Became friends with precious people who couldn’t speak my language
-Ate more noodles than ever in my life
-Semi-mastered the art of chopsticks
-Learned I can actually compete in soccer as long as it’s against 9-year-olds
-Mastered the art of tuk tuk bargaining
-Discovered you shouldn’t go to the beach during Chinese New Year because everything is triple the price.
-Learned how to plant banana trees
-Rode an elephant
-Renovated a classroom
-Preached in a prison
-Learned what community looks like in the midst of struggle.
-Visited the most beautiful place in the world, Phuket Thailand
-Released floating lanterns
-Learned what it looks like the let God be the fixer and healer
-Learned about the spiritual gift of prophecy
-Lived in a country where evangelizing is illegal
-Taught art classes
-Visited Jungle Tribes
-Painted murals
-Rode a train for the first time
-Slept on rooftops
-Discovered new passions while developing old ones
-Said goodbye to 2 dearly loved teammates
-Experienced the longest travel day ever (Malaysia to Guatemala)
-Spent 12 hours in America
-Changed continents (Oh hey Guatemala)
-Changed Teams (What up Team One Hope)
That’s all for now. Talk to you soon, friends! Exciting things are ahead.
