So my World Race international trip is coming to a close. In a few short weeks, I will be home! Of course, I’ll be going again next year, but I just had to take a moment to process this past year! This year has been literally the best year of my entire life. I’ve grown in so many ways, I may seem unrecognizable when you see me next. And I don’t mean this physically (although, I really do look like a different person with my long curly hair now). I have grown to be more and more like my true self— the person God has designed me to be. Now more than ever, I am a person who does not hide. I’m someone who is honest about how imperfectly he can be at times, but a person who is constantly striving to resemble Christ more and more each day.
The Race has allowed me to grow in ways I least expected. The things we go through (quick ministry changes, culture shock, SUPER jet lag every month, frustrations of any kind, etc.) really open us up to some tough lessons about what we need to work through. They reveal the imperfect state we live in. Now add hours of quiet time with Jesus and you have a recipe for spiritual growth. Truly, the Race sets you up to “fail “ so that you can succeed in the truest form of the word.
As I’ve learned on the Race this year, our lives as Christians have three different but connected aspects: intimacy with the Father, godly community with the people around us, and how we are joining the Lord in His mission to bring universal reconciliation. In the next three blogs, I will talk about how I’ve grown in each of these aspects this year. It’s been a wild ride, so get ready! They are gonna be big posts!
But first…
I want to take this moment to thank everyone who has supported me on my mission this year. Your thoughts and prayers have been SO encouraging to me. I have gotten message after message from so many people, it has made my spirit soar. Truly, when the days get tough, messages like these help me recently my focus and continue to press through. It’s not easy some days, but knowing I have so many people supporting me inspires me to keep going!
I also want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all my donors. I literally would not be here if it was not for you. Thank you for answering the call with me and walking alongside me this year! I am SO blessed by you all! In the beginning of my fundraising journey for the World Race international trip, I had a dream that I had raised $8,000 for my trip (I actually dreamed this the very week I started fundraising). But as you can well tell, God blessed me FAR beyond that and helped me get fully funded. He blesses us even beyond our wildest dreams, people! How awesome. And it’s because He stirs people’s hearts to support missions just as He stirs the hearts for those who minister in any other way as well. Whether you fully realize it or not, your donations were ministering to me just as much as to the people I’ve gotten to meet this year. I truly cannot say thank you enough. I could not have done this if it had not been for your generosity and support.
With all that said, let’s get started with the “debrief.”
In all things, be blessed!
AG
