Location: Hamad International Airport, Qatar
Time: 6:35 pm
I write this evening with a humble and grateful heart. I write tonight having just gotten off a fourteen hour plane ride. I write tonight to all the people who have done life with me. I write to say thank-you. I write in hopes of somehow conveying the impact you have made on my life.
I write so you may know that I would not be sent to the nations if it were not for you.
Thank-you to my crazy and diverse group of my closest friends. You have stuck with me through my careless decisions and trauma in my life. You have been the ones to make my soul smile on my most depressed of days. You have been the ones I have adventured with. You have been the ones who pointed to Jesus through words, actions and simply being there. You have made effort even when I have pushed you away. From Stephen’s love, to Edson’s joy, to Jeff’s loyalty, to Jared’s encouragement, to Deans biceps, to Mikey’s humor, to Johns acceptance, to Braden putting up me through so much, to Caleb following through on his word, and to Josh’s devotion. Thank-you brothers.
Thank-you to the many people that I was able to call co-worker, professor, or teacher through the years. The things I have learned from you I will take with me for the rest of my life. You have shown me so many ways to love and serve the most vulnerable populations and most broken people in this world.
Thank-you to many that allowed me to serve them through work. To the children, the adults, those who are mentally ill, those who have been abused, those in financial hardship, and those with developmental disabilities. Letting me into your lives to listen, facilitate, attempt to care for and experience all different emotions with you all has been an honor.
Thank you to the two church bodies that I have been able to call home over twenty-two years of my life. To my Sunday school teachers in my early days to my youth group leaders who were so intent on showing me the Truth. Thank you to Pastor Dan who took me under his wing, gave me counsel, showed me what a humble yet powerful man of God looks like. I am forever grateful. Thank-you to Pastor Greg who took me to Uganda with him and was so intentional about forming a relationship with me and who guided me into this decision to go on the World Race.
Thank you to my sister for laughing with me. You have been through the world and back and are still on your fight. Thank-you for showing me what resilience looks like.
Thank-you to my father who has instilled so many core values into me. He showed me what hard-work and going after what I want is all about.
Thank-you to my dear mother. You have been the one consistent person throughout my life. You have given me unconditional love. For that I feel forever indebted.
Thank-you to the people who have given so generously to send me on this journey of spreading God’s love while learning how to more fully receive myself. To the brother who sat across from the breakfast table and gave me his tithe for the summer, to my church saying we believe in you Rye, to my long time youth group leader and now friend giving without abandon. To the people who asked me if they could give.
More than anything, with all my strength, with all I have and all I am I thank Jesus. I cannot help but worship and praise Him. He is more than enough. He has saved and changed my life. He is what I want and everything I need. Thank-you Jesus. Thank-you Jesus. The Earth and surely I have seen no greater love.
Ephesians 3:14-21
