Last year, August 14th was just another day. A day spent by the pool, according to Instagram. But August 14, 2019 is a very different day, it marks the beginning of my last 100 days on the race.
Everyone talks about the first 100 days; for a president, they signify the defining time of implementation and projection for the future term. The last 100 days? No one really talks about those. Usually the last part of a presidents term are focused on the next president, voting, hoping, planning, etc. We move on in our heads before there’s anything to move onto, it’s human nature to plan for what’s coming.
Not surprisingly, that’s kind of how the race is for me at this point. Physically, I’m in Argentina. I’m sitting in a coffee shop watching the streets of downtown Mendoza fill with people bundled in coats, walking to work or the bus stop or wherever they’re going. Mentally, I keep thinking about being home. Trying to process what it will look like to go back into my routine, will I even have a routine? I’m not going back to the same house, the same roommate, the same bedroom. I don’t know what my job will be, don’t know if I want to stay in North Carolina, don’t know much of anything I’m going home to honestly.
So naturally that consumes a bit of my thoughts. But I still have 100 days. And I don’t want them to go by any faster than they have to, because I can’t miss out on the now. So the more I find myself daydreaming about the opportunities and possibilities that await me, the more I have to discipline myself to be present in this place, at this time. I won’t get a year that looks like this one again, I won’t get the opportunities that I have in front of me at this place, with these people, again. I can’t afford to let my head be back in the states already.
Usually at this point in the month, I’m able to reflect and write about what the “theme” of the month is. But this month I’m struggling, and it’s because I’ve been living with one foot out of the door, so to speak. So to get me back on track, I decided to take advantage of the “hundred days” and write out 100 things that I’m hopeful and expectant for in the next three countries. When I started this blog, I originally planned on writing out 100 lessons I’ve learned this year, but I decided I needed to remind myself that the year isn’t over. And God can do more in the next three months than he’s done in the past eight. You best believe I’m not going to let myself check out for that.
So, without further ado, here’s my 100 expectations. I expect to:
- Make new friendships
- Have incredible ministry days
- Laugh. A lot
- Have coffee. A lot of it
- See beautiful nature that makes me emotional
- Have moments so full of love it spills over
- Cry tears of joy
- Cry tears of pain
- Have celebrations
- See beautiful growth in myself
- See beautiful growth in my squad
- Learn lessons I didn’t know I needed
- Hear God speak to me
- Have God speak through me
- Have days that are packed full and leaving me exhausted
- Have days that are full of refreshing rest
- Engaging in intentional, heart conversations
- See so many smiles
- Meet kids that melt my heart
- Meet men and women that inspire me
- Be challenged in the best way
- See miracles happen in from of me
- Find the people that nobody sees
- Hear the Holy Spirit and follow him
- Learn more about what it looks like to be love
- Fall more in love with Jesus
- Learn more about myself
- Learn even more about Jesus
- Learn lots more Spanish
- Watch love change lives
- Sing more praise
- Serve more
- Learn how to think outside of myself
- Watch the Holy Spirit show up
- Grow more comfortable in the uncomfortable
- Have incredible adventures
- Walk a lot
- Learn how to look for the forgotten one
- Learn how to love when it’s hard
- Learn how to forgive
- Have answered prayers
- Know more of His promises for me
- Watch His promises come to fulfillment
- Have joy in the midst of struggle
- Have crazy stories
- Live in incredible places
- See God work in the most unexpected ways
- Fall in love with another country
- Create even deeper friendships
- Eat amazing food
- Fight in spiritual battles
- Intercede for my friends
- Intercede for my family
- Be so excited for the plans He has for me
- Watch God provide for every need
- Surprise myself
- Sing Christmas music
- Have impact where I’m at
- Plant seeds
- Harvest
- Water seeds
- Connect with people in unique ways
- Change my perspectives
- Challenge my ideas
- Learn humility
- Learn selflessness
- See God protect me
- See new life grow
- See hearts change
- Watch baptisms of joy
- Watch water baptisms
- Receive more gifts of the spirit
- Watch my squad receive gifts of the spirit
- Use my spiritual gifts to change lives
- Watch my squad use their gifts to change lives
- Watch the impact of sharing the gospel
- Share the gospel without using words
- Be a leader
- Be a servant
- Enjoy quiet time in Gods presence
- Enjoy loud worship
- Release the expectations that hold me back
- Watch love change a community
- Grow the church
- Inspire the church
- Set holy fires
- Worship in other languages
- Have life changing experiences
- Build lasting community
- Learn not to run from the hard things
- Have so much fun
- Have revelations
- Hear words and prophecies
- Have dreams
- Follow the “yes” to incredible places
- Be interrupted
- Experience grace in a new way
- Watch the gospel work in a new way
- Watch Jesus chase people down
- See Jesus do immeasurably more than I ask
One hundred days. Then this year is a memory, but I still have a hundred days to see God blow my expectations out of the water.
Leggo.
