Molly’s Knob, Marion, VA
If you feel like you haven’t heard from me or about my mission trip in a while, it’s because you haven’t! Life has been a little hectic over the past few months. I left the city of Richmond in early March and moved to a small town in southwest Virginia called Marion to finish out my FINAL clinical of physical therapy school. It feels surreal to be so close to the goal that I’ve worked so hard to attain ever since I was a junior in high school. With the move, my next clinical starting, and studying for my certification exam I’ve had very little time to focus on fundraising or really preparing for the World Race in general. But I’ve found my rhythm in my new temporary home, and I felt it was time for a little update!
I’ve been calling this season the “quiet before the storm.” In a few weeks I’ll be taking my board exam (and hopefully passing it, pray for me!), graduating with my degree, and entering a summer full of “goodbyes” to friends and family I won’t see for 11 months, “hellos” to my squad mates at training camp in June and my first nephew in July (EEK!), and lots of vaccines, packing, and preparation for my departure on….. AUGUST 3RD! It really will feel like a whirlwind of a few months.
However, right now, it’s quiet, it’s steady, and it’s requiring a lot of endurance if I’m being honest. I’m just ready for what’s next, I’m ready to see God use me in these countries he’s sending me to. I’m ready for lost people to know hope and I’m ready for lonely people to feel loved. I’m ready to experience different cultures, taste new foods, and see new landscapes. I’m ready to meet and connect with my squadmates and learn how to do life on the World Race with them. I’m ready for all these things, but yet I’m here, in southwest Virginia, waiting on all that I’m ready for to come.
Some reminders that the Lord has spoken over me in this season is that I can still see lost people find hope and lonely people find love in this season, right here, right now. My ministry doesn’t start when I board the plane in August, it can start today, right where I’m at, with the people I’m surrounded by. He’s definitely shown up in this season, so I can show up too. He’s promised good things and planted the seed of anticipation in my heart for all He’s going to teach and show me on the race, but seeds need time to grow and develop, they need to be nurtured and dig roots deep down before they sprout above the soil. And then, the sprouts need even more time and nurturing until the harvest can begin. Seeds require endurance and I’ve learned the outcome is always a good harvest when God’s hand did the planting, no matter how long the growing season took.
So, I won’t wish time by or day dream of what’s to come. I’ll be present in this season, strengthening my faith, digging deep into God’s word, and nurturing my soul as I await my harvest in the mission field.
Though the winter is long even richer
The harvest it brings
Though my waiting prolongs even greater
Your promise for me like a seed
I believe that my season will come
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Fundraising update: I’m a little over $4,000 away from my goal! If you feel led to donate, you can do so by going to the home page of my blog and clicking the orange “Donate!” button to fill in your information. I also still have my “Adopt-A-Box” fundraiser going, to see more details about that and to enter for your chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card head to this link: Adopt-A-Box
