I'm just days away from American soil, my mother's embrace, and the long awaited comforts of home. I can't believe the race is almost over. As I prepare to end one season and start the next, there are a few things I want to say.
The race has been nothing like I expected, but it's been amazing nonetheless. I've ministered to students in Serbia, preached in Japan, and loved on orphans in Swaziland. I've been surrounded by breathtaking views and amazing community. I've ridden an elephant through the jungles of Thailand, danced on the Great Wall of China, and gazed at wild animals on an African Safari. God has absolutely been good to me this past year. I've experienced different cultures and discovered more about myself in the process. God used me to minister to people all over the world, and He did a great work on my heart every step of the way. I'm undoubtedly changed forever because of this past year.
So I want to say thank you! Thank you to all my supporters who generously gave and faithfully prayed. Thank you to my friends and family who offered encouragement when I needed it most. Thank you to my church community for believing in me and commissioning me. I couldn't be where I am today if it weren't for each of you. I'm truly grateful and there are no words to describe my appreciation.
I want you all to know that through partnering with me, you made a huge impact on the world. I may have been the one at the podium preaching to a church full of Japanese people, but you were right there with me. In Albania, you helped Donnaldi come to know the genuine and unconditional love of Christ. You shared love and light with university students in China, and you brought hope to the sweet old ladies in the Gypsy communities of Romania. I may have been the hands and feet out on the field, but I was representing the hands and feet of those who sent me. Thank you for making a difference in the world.
As this beautiful season comes to an end, I find myself reminiscing and remembering all the sweet, hilarious, and challenging moments. The times that I laughed with my teammates until I was gasping for air. The heart-wrenching pain of saying goodbye to dear friends. The freedom that came from chains being broken. What a whirlwind of emotions and experiences it's been.
As I prepare to reenter the States and reintegrate into a culture that now seems so foreign to me, I want to ask for your patience and your grace. I absolutely want to reconnect with each of you and share with you in detail how God worked in me and through me this past year, but I must ask for your patience. I have no idea how the reentry process will be for me. I might bounce back immediately, but more realistically it will take me a little time to get back into the swing of things. I will undoubtedly need time to process through and grieve the closing of this season of my life. Thank you in advance for being understanding and supportive during this transition period. And thank you for your continued prayers.
The race may be over, but the journey continues…
So stay tuned! Within the next few weeks I'll be announcing what's next. And it's pretty exciting. 🙂
Again thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Blessings and love!
