As you can tell I haven’t been blogging much in the past couple of weeks. I could blame it on the WIFI, but that would be an excuse. Although the wifi has been very scarce, that’s not why. I have struggled to figure out what to say. How to update you all, what to write about and the words to write.
So here I am just typing away on a bus ride to the last hotel that I will be staying at with my squad. This season of my life is coming to an end as a new season is starting. Yes I have many feelings, and yes I have many thoughts but most of all many prayers. Prayers of many, prayers of sadness, prayers of thankfulness, prayers of excitement, prayers for others at home.
What I’m truly here to talk about is sacrifice. A situation arised recently with one of my dear friends from home and I was hit with the realization of the sacrifices of this year. There have been many, but the greatest of all is the sacrifice of time not spent with my family and friends at home. I broke down in tears thinking about the sacrifice, it is not easy. It has not been easy to sacrifice a year away from home, a year living wherever I’m placed, a year of no chipotle or gluten free snacks, a year of different languages, a year of crazy transport, etc.
When I made the decision to come on this year long mission trip it did occur to me that I would be leaving, but what did that mean exactly? A lot of things.
Most of all, the sacrifice of time gone by at home. As my life has moved on during this year on the Race I have quickly come to realize that people’s lives at home continued to move on as well. Since my life in America has been put on hold it feels like others have to, but that’s not true, your lives have continued.
I’m here to tell you that sacrifice is not easy, but it’s a real part of what God calls his people into. The sacrifice of his Son, Jesus, is where it all started. The minute Jesus died the chains were broken, but the weight of sacrifice was on his shoulders. The minute the sacrifice was finished he was free saying “it is finished.”
I’m feeling the weight of the sacrifice of this year, but it is so worth it. If I hadn’t gone on the Race this year I wouldn’t have met any of these people, experienced or seen all that God did this year. I would not trade this year for the World, but it doesn’t mean that it was just a “mission trip,” it was a year of my life, just like all the others.
The sacrifices that I made are sometimes hard for me to accept, but then I read about Jesus sacrifice for our salvation and my heart changes. My heart stops mourning for the days not spent in America with friends and family, but sings for the days spent around the World spreading God’s love, and is excited for the days to come where I will spend time with family and friends back in America!!!
Sacrifice is WORTH IT. It’s hard and painful, but it is WORTH it.
I will be home in 6 days!
God bless you all and see you soon!
