Hello friends, & fam- people the I love!!
Just thought I should throw a little life update out there on where I’m at, what the Lord has been teaching me, how prep for the World Race is coming, and what I’m struggling with.
I like to keep thinks simple and sweet, and I know ya’ll don’t want to read a novel on what’s been going on in my life- I’d much rather expand on that over a cup of coffee, so I figured I’d just hit three points that cover some of what I’m learning, struggling with, and how prep is going. So, here is is:
- Struggle: Finding intentional christian community in Kenosha
- World Race Prep: Persevering in fundraising obstacles- continually asking and seeking
- Learning: Continually surrendering my plans to the Lord in these times of uncertainty
Expanding on those lovely bullet points…
1. Hope College gave me a beautiful community of believers and followers of Jesus and friends that I knew I could go to for anything in prayer. Honestly, I have yet to find that community here, but I also could do better at seeking it out. I also miss my mentor a ton, just having someone to bi-weekly process things with is so so helpful, so I’m praying that the Lord provides a godly woman as a mentor here too! I miss Hope & Holland, MI, but I know the Lord is inviting me into communities that can show me that same love and support here.
2.Fundraising has shown me so much about humility, & really that I just need to get better at continually asking until those “yeses” come, and that I can trust the Lord to provide! Someone once told me, “If its God’s will, its His bill!”, which is true, the Lord will provide, but he’s also inviting me into learning about perseverance in this journey with him. I mean Jesus says it best himself “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keeping on knocking and the door will be opened to you.” -Matthew7:7 NLT
3. I love planning, and I think lately the Lord has just looked at my flawed long term plans and has been asking me to just let them go. I’m fairly confident that God has just been like “Mady, chill out- you don’t need to plan out the next 3 years of your life. Be here, now.” My mind has been consumed with thinking and worrying about what its going to look like when I leave, especially for relationships here in the US, and what some of those same relationships are going to look like when I get back, and other thoughts like if I’m going to go to grad school after that, if I’ll still live in WI, etc.- yeah I’d say I tend to overthink sometimes. But as I’ve sat in stillness and silence before the Lord I’ve continually been hearing “Mads, trust me” God knows me pretty well… and I’m realizing that I absolutely need to hear his whispers each day telling me to trust him with “my plans”, my relationships, and my heart.
I think that the theme of my summer can be summed up in one sentence:
“Let go, and trust me.”
The Lord has been continually challenging me in this season to let go of my tight grip of the things in my life that I feel like I want, and need to or can control. He has been asking me to trust him. I’ve been reminded that Jesus has by back, he holds my heart in his hands, in pain and in joy, he has the very best love waiting for me in his arms, and that I can trust him even when things really just don’t make sense. I’ve found myself saying “I don’t know anything” A LOT lately, because honestly I don’t- I don’t know what my future holds in every compartment of my life, and its about time I feel free from trying to figure it all out. So here I am, in all my mess, uncertainty, & doubt learning to let it go and trust.
I also have my first financial deadline coming up soon & could REALLY use some assistance with meeting that donation goal, so if you are interested in supporting me I would appreciate it so incredibly much!! Just scroll up and click donate! 🙂
Thanks for reading, I love you all!
Peace & Blessings,
Mads
