There is so much I wish to say, but no words to say it all in the way that does any kind of justice. The outpouring of support financially, relationally, and prayerfully is far beyond what I could have ever expected for this journey and it gives me so much hope for the future, especially surrounding this trip. Thank you all for your ongoing support financially, emotionally, and especially prayerfully. I really could not have gotten this far without all of your support. I am so thankful that I get to take you all on this amazing journey with me. I really can’t do this without your prayerful and financial support, so thank you all so very much for investing in me and this cause. I hope and pray that you will continue to follow my blogs as I go out onto the field.
The preparations for this trip have been extensive and at times very overwhelming just because there is so much to get done before departure. In the preparation time, primarily in the fundraising, I have met some incredible people. Almost everyone I come into contact with now has asked me what I’m doing back in Chicago, where I grew up. Some of you know, but some of you may not know that I have recently moved out of my home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and back to Chicago as I close in on the date of departure. There is not one day that goes by that I do not think of, miss, or tell a story or two about my amazing housemates and friends that I left back at home. However, moving out of the house I lived in and back to Chicago has been a conversation starter in so many instances. “What are you doing back here then?” is the most common question I get asked, and it’s almost daily, which brings me to telling them all about why I moved out of something so good. “It’s preparing me for something much greater than myself. I am going on the World Race, an 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries.” is generally what comes out of my mouth following their question. After that, they typically ask where I am going, and their mouths seem to drop right about the mention of the 4th or 5th country. That reaction never gets old if I’m going to be real honest. The conversations and interactions that I have with these people have been so life giving. Through these interactions with primarily co-workers, I have discovered that more coworkers share my faith with me than not, and they seen very interested in hearing about and learning about what lead me to making this decision.
I never get tired of telling the story surrounding my decision to go on this trip because there is so much of God in how all of this turned out and it never ceases to amaze me how His plan unfolds. More often than not, they are eager and willing to donate to this trip and want my website/blog address. It is through these positive interactions with other people that I feel affirmed in the decision to do this. It’s surprising to me how many times a day that I get to tell others about my faith and about the Call that I feel that God has placed on my heart to go and do His work in His Kingdom in this way. The relationships that I have developed through these conversations are relationships that have been a rich blessing in my life, and it never would have happened if I had continued to fight God on what He is calling me to do. I am so glad that I have finally said YES to God and stopped fighting him. While the people I come in contact with who ask about my trip have all been Christians, I am hoping that God will provide me an opportunity to spread the Word of Life here in the States to people who do not yet know Him. My fervent prayer as I prepare to go out into the world to spread the Good News of the Gospel is to come into contact with at least 1 person who does not yet know God which then provides an opportunity to share with them all about Him through my story surrounding this trip, and if God wills it, share my testimony with them. Word of Life by Jeremy Camp is a song that I have been listening to lately, and it’s all about listening to God speaking to us and calling us out of the grave so that we can live because we’ve been changed, and it all begins when we breathe in. We have an opportunity to spread the Word of Life every time we take a breath, and I am so looking forward to spreading the Word and sharing His Light with others around the world. He is the Word of Life, and someday soon, I pray, God provides me with an opportunity for a conversation with someone who does not yet believe in Him. I get to share all about this amazing journey that He is taking me on just because they asked “Why are you in Chicago?”
If you are at all interested in listening to the song I mentioned above, feel free to listen to it in the link I provided at the bottom of this post.
