Two days left until I head to Atlanta for Launch! It’s a crazy feeling to be this close, as March (my acceptance date) made it seem so far away. At Training Camp they told us “Be 100% absent and 100% present.” So that’s been my aim for this month.
In the past few weeks I’ve gotten to have deep, intentional conversations, gone on crazy adventures and felt a million different emotions. Recently I read Donald Miller’s ‘A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.” (A great read if you’re looking for a book!) He talks about how ordinary things can be made precious, memorable moments as the people decide what to do during these moments. I’ve been so grateful for how intentionality has made these weeks be powerful reminders of loved ones and what they mean to my life.
We have had powerful conversations about what this next year is going to look like. We have made hikes into laughing, gone-crazy adventures. We have made guitar playing into concerts. Catan. (enough said). A 22 hours on a road trip became a lifetime memory of what all can be done if you’re spontaneous and go down the Roller-coaster road. A dinner at Red Robin became a laughing stock when we added a Onzie, a milkshake, pigtales and a game of ‘what are the odds?’ Phone conversations have become times of honesty and authenticity as prayer requests are shared and encouraging words are swapped. A phone call was a celebration of an ENGAGEMENT! Emails have rang words of encouragement and prayers. We made a day gone ‘bad’ into a laughing marathon as we didn’t let it get the best of us. A bonzi bowl tradition was a perfect match for our SoCal day of trying out paddle boarding. And a moleskin journal was made into my fuel of loving, encouraging words and fun faces of loved ones.
These last few days I have been filled with various emotions as I’m preparing my backpack to be ready for the journey ahead and say goodbye to America. I am so excited for the opportunity ahead, about getting to meet our Ministry Contact, reunite as a Squad, begin this anticipated season and to see God in miraculous ways. But, I also know it’s ok that the goodbyes have been tough. If it were easy, then these relationships wouldn’t be as meaningful and impactful as they are. I am so grateful for all these memories and all these ways I’ve been encouraged.
I’m glad to have Miller’s words to reflect on for the every day event. I hope to continue taking this lesson to heart as bus rides become meaningful places of speaking truth and reflection. As a conversation over coffee is a start to a friendship. As eating dinner becomes a place to reflect on similarities and differences. I’m not sure of what’s all ahead, but I’m grateful that this journey has started way before I would ever have guessed!
Thank you to all those who have joined in on this new season and opportunity! I’m grateful for each one of you! On Friday, my parents and I will be in Atlanta for Launch, and a few days later our Squad will be on our way to Cambodia! Team Hungry Youngsters is paired with Rock Foundation Cambodia for the month. I’m excited to continue seeing this journey unravel!
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