The past 11 months have been so full of exciting experiences that it is hard to put them into words. It was amazing and hard at times! Each one pulling me closer to God and helping to define who I am in Him.
At the beginning of the race, I tried clinging to things that reminded me of home and kept me in my comfort zone. I looked for a little piece of home each month wherever I was staying and each month it was something different. However, as I enter my last month, it no longer matters to me as much. I do not want what is easy or comfortable – I want to continue to push myself. To continue the growth that I have experienced on this trip, especially when I return home and get back into a busy schedule again.
Life has become more than a schedule of things I have to do. It is a life pursuing after God and His heart for people. It is looking for opportunities to share the love of God with others. It has become less of what I want to do and how I think it should be done but more about what is God’s plan.
Before I fell into the trap of staying busy all the time, yet never really knowing what it meant to slow down and rest. To take a step back and learn to focus on what God was speaking about each situation. I am now at a point in my life that I am totally ok with not knowing the next step because I trust God so much with my life. As long as I keep pursuing after God with all my heart He will direct my path and show me the next step.
This year was full of adventure, surrendering it all to God, enduring, joy, community, learning deeper levels of God’s love, deepening my identity with God, discipleship, learning to slow down, to keep my focus on God not the problem, and dreaming with God. It was full of opportunities to share the Gospel, to love others, to see people others don’t see, to encourage other believers, to come along side what God was doing in each country, to prayer for others and for breakthroughs in that country. And even to teach English, teach about marketing and encourage other’s dreams.
Its crazy that this year is ending already! It seems like it just started. This year has gone by so quickly but I am excited for the next thing the Lord has for me. I want to leave you with this quote I read the other day “No life is more secure than a life surrendered to God.”
As I get ready to head home, I am unsure of the next step but I trust God to show me!
