Hey all!
I have a few things I want to say. First, thank you all so, so, so much for all of your prayers and support; all your donations and your donated time; all your good-byes and concerns; it has been great to feel so loved by so many people. It has been hard to say truly how thankful I am and how excited I am to be heading out on this adventure.
The pending schedule goes like this: I am in Virginia for my cousin’s son’s wedding (yes, I have a cousin who’s kid is already getting married… I am the young cousin by far!!) but am leaving Virginia on Sunday to start heading to Georgia. My parents are dropping me off at a squadmate’s house in Gainesville, GA on Monday, and the rest of my squad arrives in Gainesville at AIM (Adventures In Missions) headquarters on Tuesday for training for just my squad. On Saturday, September 6 (I think it’s Saturday), we head up to Atlanta for “Launch” which is 3 days of final training and prep for ALL of the squads leaving in September (there are SEVEN). Then all the squads embark on their various journeys. My squad’s first stop is Guatemala!
As I sit here I cannot help but be so thankful for all the support. It has been a whirlwind last couple weeks, from my visit to ONU with a bunch of college friends to visiting with church friends. Eating lots of great food: ice cream, brats, burgers, the good stuff, with my family. Going to the wedding this weekend in Virginia and getting to see a lot of family I don’t see very often. I can’t explain just how blessed I have been and am. It has been crazy preparing to leave, most days I don’t feel like I’m going to be gone for a year, but now that the bags are packed and I’ve left home this is real. There is no going back, there is no looking back, certainly I will be thinking about so many people back home who love me and are praying for me, but now the only places to look are forward and up (to God). I am excited for what God is going to do this next year and I hope you all truly join me on this journey. God has great things planned for YOU this year, not just for me. There is work to be done everywhere. God needs people to “harvest souls” everywhere, not just overseas, but in your neighborhood, your city, your state, your nation. I plan on praying for all of you as you pray for me. We are one community, one family, in Christ and we support each other no matter where we are.
Blessings on your year! Thank you all for your gracious and generous support as I get ready to begin mine!
