Okay, so lets review the facts about my life currently:
I am 26 years old. I will be 27 in just over 3 months…..
and I am single. Completely. 100%. No engagement ring, no boyfriend, no one I’m “kinda” seeing, no one I am “crushing” on.
I am have no job or steady income.
I have very little money in my bank account.
I have no car.
I have no tangible long term goals or plans for my life.
I am living with my mom.
I have slept in over 100 beds in less then 2 years.
I seem to constantly be in a state of moving, transitioning, change. And I am going to leave again.
On “paper” my life kinda sucks. I mean, reviewing the facts, I don’t really have anything that most people in America would consider a marker for success. I am, in fact, unsuccessful. I can’t afford to go out to eat whenever I want or buy every item I desire at Old Navy. Spending $10 on a movie ticket is a big deal. I sit in my mom’s condo all day because I have no car. Who would want my life?
I do!
These past 4 months have been rough for me. There are have been some low days, loneliness, tears of sadness, moments of depression: basically it has not been easy since coming back from Kenya. But, there has also been much joy, intimacy, and tears of thankfulness for what I have and what’s been given for me. And there has been this immense peace about my life, where I’ve been, where I’m at, and where I’m headed. God has used these past 4 months to re-define success and re-confirm my identity. He has showed me that what many in America value and consider success is not the route for my life, at least not right now. He has stirred in me an undeniable to passion to leave this country once more and to bring hope to a broken world.
He has revealed that success is not based on how much is in my bank account, how many cute dresses I own, how fancy my ipod is, how many hours I am working for a paycheck, what year my car is (if I had a car). Not that any of these things are bad. But they aren’t what I should base my success from. Success for me is having a deep, meaningful conversation with my dad. It’s hearing how my Kenya participants are transforming their families and bringing Kingdom to various locations in the USA. Success is seeing my friends pack up everything they own and move across country because God said ‘go.’ Success is the immense generosity I have witnessed in some of my closet friends. Success is freedom from bondage. Success is seeing the truth of identity in Christ literally transform people. Success is FAITH based, not fact based.
I know I am called out of America. I don’t know for how long. But I know I am called to leave again this summer. God has given me another opportunity to work with AIM and their Real Life program. I will leading a trip this summer to an undetermined location (details to come when I have them!). I will be working with college aged students, doing ministry side by side them somewhere on this earth, doing my best to disciple them and share what God has done in my life. This is where my passions meet right now, this is what makes my heart beat faster. I hope to raise $3,000 by June 1st. This would cover flights, daily expenses, meals, housing, any health insurance/malaria medication I may be required to get, and whatever else comes up. Please consider partnering with me and click http://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=For%20Hannah%20Olsen&tuid=7447173.
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I know my life does not look like a typical 26 year old’s life. I know that some of you reading this may not agree with my words or understand my heart. But either way, please consider helping me on this journey as I try and walk in obedience.
