Am I really doing this? Am I living out of a backpack for 11 months? Surrounding myself with people of a different culture, language and worldview? Am I ready for the (already) long travel days? Am I truly letting go of my bed, car, heating and air conditioning, and other comforts? Am I ready to try all the weird foods and truly live like the people I will be around? I truly can’t believe I will be in Japan in 12 hours, it doesn’t seem real.
I’m excited. I’m nervous. Our leadership keeps talking about this being the year of abandonment. Abandoning comfort, the need to know, control, our past, our strongholds and who knows what else! I know this year will be challenging but also fulfilling.
I am really excited for what this year will hold. For the community that I will get to experience. For the ways I am going to see God move. For the relationships I will get to make. For the rough days that I will be able to look back on and see how God gave me the strength to get through it. For the days that fill my soul and give me overwhelming joy.
I’ve repacked my bag a good 3 times and I still have too much stuff! I believe this will be the year where just barely enough becomes more than enough. This is the year where I can let go of what I want and simply receive what I need. I want to let go of all the materialistic things that I believe make up who I am and simply discover who God made me when all is stripped away.
I know I am going to miss my family and friends at some point but these 18 people I’m currently traveling with have already become like family in ways and I can’t wait to see how God grows that.
I think I have no idea what to expect. I don’t know what it’s like to live out of a backpack long term. I don’t know what it’s like to ride a Tut tut. I don’t know the customs and cultures off all these other countries I simply…. Don’t know. But I can’t wait to know. I can’t wait to see everything that will happen and how much I learn this year. I know I will never be the same after this year. That can sound scary but it’s truly such a blessing.
