What a time to be alive! This time in my life is a huge transitional phase!
The holiday season is upon us, and I am at home, surrounded by friends and family for only a couple weeks more.
The winter season has certainly arrived in Northern Iowa, as we have reached subzero temperatures!
My season of undergraduate studies has come to a close and I have said goodbye to Omaha and all the beautiful people there that I have lived, learned, and worked with over the past three years.
My season of WorldRace preparations is wrapping up, as a new season of Southeast Asian, East European, and South African summers, with 11 full months of service, faith, and traveling draw nearer.
I am currently spending as much time with my family as I can, resting in my comfy bed with too many pillows, enjoying my wonderful job at the Coffee Attic, gathering supplies to squeeze into my pack, cuddling with my cats as often as they will allow it, finalizing a lot of documents, and working hard to fundraise the remaining $8,000 that I need to reach my total goal of $17,400.
Amidst all the craziness that preparations, relationships, work, and the holidays bring, its easy to forget the point of all this! There are so many distractions, emotions, tasks to complete, and people to spend time with that I often have to sit down and bring myself back to what matters. None of this would be possible or real if not for the faith that has brought my entire squad together, moved mountains to take us around the world, moved people to support us, and prepared an incredible 11 months and more for each one of us.
There are so many adventures ahead, so many stories that we will tell one day, so many people to encounter, challenges to endure, foods to try, paths to walk, and shoes to fill. I am trying not to get too overwhelmed with both excitement, nerves, anxiousness, responsibilities, etc., but that often means I set aside my feelings instead of taking them to God in prayer. In my role as logistics coordinator, I will need to grow in this area so that I can both handle my responsibilities and live each day to the fullest in the field.
My to-do list is dwindling down little by little, my friends and family continue to encourage and support me, the goodbyes are getting harder and harder, and our Launch date draws nearer and nearer. As the seasons change, it is important for me to take things day by day, careful not to loose sight of the long-term or the ultimate meaning of this journey.
It has become clear that from start to finish, I cannot do any of this alone. I am making sacrifices with trust in the Lord, I am asking for donations with confidence that the He will provide, I am hearing the worries of others without letting those fears in, and I am patiently waiting to be reunited with my squad as we prepare to step out in faith on this amazing journey!
T – 2 weeks friends!
Wishing each of you an abundance of love, hope, courage, and warmth this holiday season!
