Friends! It’s Launch day! Wow, the last two weeks have been a whirlwind. There’s a lot of stuff to take care of when you leave the country for 11 months! I want to take a minute to let you in on some of my thoughts leading up to this day.
I’ve always been told this, and it’s always proven to be true for me. When you’re getting ready to do something BIG for God, satan will try everything he can to deter you from that task. This month I have run into more than a couple of obstacles – like just realizing YESTERDAY that I couldn’t find my yellow fever card. (P.S. I found it) But God has shown His faithfulness every time. He has proven Himself bigger than any obstacle the enemy could or will possibly throw at me. Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” I have most certainly tasted and seen my Lord this week.
All the love! Last weekend my family gave me a going away party. I was overwhelmed at the amount of people that love me and are wishing me well on this journey. Even now, I find it hard to process all the people who took time to come and share their afternoon with me. And even the ones that couldn’t be there, you flooded me with your comments and love on Facebook. I want you all to know I see God’s love through you and I am so grateful for the time I had with you.
All the feels! My thoughts and emotions have truly been a roller coaster leading up to today. Things like “What was I thinking!? I can’t do this! How can I possibly leave for 11 months and not know where I’m going or what I’ll do when I get there??” And then right behind that “God, this is what I wanted. I wanted You to use me. I wanted something different than hustling to work and hustling to practice and never slowing down to see You and hear You. I wanted more than just a one week mission trip once a year.” I think we all probably have feelings of inadequacy. It creates space for us to lean on the Father. Philippians 1:6 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
I have had the gift these past few weeks to see several people one last time before I leave for 11 months. I’m amazed every day at how big God is. He cares so much for us and wants to show us that love. Each person I have seen and met with has been an actual gift from Him. I can just see Him aligning everything as if He’s placing it in my hands and telling me “Happy Birthday Erin. This is only a portion of my love for you.” He loves you that much too. And He wants to show you if you will allow Him to.
Finally, this has been on my heart for a while and I haven’t shared it with anyone. Mainly because I tear up too much and then I can’t speak. Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” I used to think that if I just loved God enough, then He would give me the things I desired. However, this verse means something different to me now. I’m realizing that the closer I get to God, the more my desires align with His desires. He desires for people to know Him. He desires a relationship. My life looks much different than it did three years ago. I’ll get to that side of my story somewhere in these next 11 months. For now, I want to challenge you to ask God what He desires for you. Ask Him what your life looks like to Him, where he sees you serving. Ask Him to prepare your heart for that. He’ll do it.
Finally, finally, YOU ARE INVITED! Through this whole process I never gave you an official invitation! I want to invite you on this journey with me this year. I invite you into my life, into my personal space. (
This has not been a short blog. And I’m sure there are still parts I’m leaving out. I love you all. I mean that.
Thank you for loving me.
