Adios, El Paso!

Hustle and bustle. That’s what this week has been, which is ironic because I’ve been told to expect an EXTREME change in pace when we set foot on African soil. Americans live at an accelerated pace. We rush to cram as many activities as possible into our already packed day. We are a society obsessed with daily planners and calendar notifications on our smart phones. We stay glued to social media because FOMO is real. (fear of missing out, for all you who aren’t up to date on modern lingo) My final week has felt like a beautiful blur of family, friends, church, just plain old daily life, and I can’t wait to leave. 

I feel somewhat conflicted because some part of me is suspicious of the fact that I haven’t had any emotional breakdowns, sessions of balling my eyes out, or anxiety attacks as the realization of what I’m about to do sets in. That internal conflict rests in my deep rooted habits that came from my life before walking in relationship with Christ. Those were my old reactions to change. My fight or flight response was almost always to run away from anything unfamiliar, and now I’m running toward the unknown at a full on sprint.

This year, my heart is going to change. I’ve prayed so much and asked the Lord to make me radically uncomfortable in the transformation that my entire squad is about to undergo. He has spoken and showed me things that right now seem pretty darn intimidating – places I’m afraid of going and things I’m afraid of seeing. By myself, I know I could never go on a trip like this or venture so far out of my comfort zone, but already in this entire journey, I have held peace. Every time I feel like the next turn is going to be terrifying, I am met with grace and the open arms of my Father. 

I am eagerly awaiting launch, and simultaneously soaking in every last second at home. I have been so blessed by my community and am surrounded in love and support. This journey is possible not because of anything I’ve done, but because God is good and has provided for me through people like you. 

My prayer for my community at home is that you would all push into the uncomfortable areas of your walk with God and allow Him to stretch you and help you grow. I pray that you would find peace in the season you’re walking through and that your eyes would be opened to find the lessons God has placed around you. I want abundant joy for each and every one of you and the overflow of God’s provision in your life. Lean into His strength and hand Him your weakness so that He may be strong for you. Don’t do it alone. Press in when you feel like giving up and hold on when it feels like you have no hope. Change is hard. It is scary. You have no control, which feels like suffocation, but when you release your life into the hands of the Maker of heaven, you’ll be glad you don’t have to be in control.

Find your Sabbath. Rest in the Lord, and give Him the time He needs to work in your life. Tithe not only your money, but also your time. It is definitely a game changer!