It’s just a little past midnight and I find myself going through old pictures on Facebook, looking at old pictures, seeing my life and old friends. It’s crazy how one part of life transitions to another and friends you used to be super close too, you arn’t as close with any more. I mean the transition from High School in Lonoke Arkanas, to living in Show Me Christian Youth home, too going to Ozark Christian College, to Camp War Eagle, then Youth Pastor in Golden City Missouri, to ultamately Fayetteville, Arkanas where I am currently going to school at working.
All of the people I have loved and cared for and invested into. Life seems to change for us all and we get distant. I have the memories with those people, but life comes up and relationships change. This is just me being a little vulnerable, but honestly one of the things that scares me the most about The World Race is that I will be gone for a year and people will change and move. Friends will date, get engaged, married, have kids. Friends will move to other areas where they arn’t going to be as close to me. That honestly scares me.
Don’t get me wrong, I am super excited that God has given this path to me, but gosh when you think about the change that will happen its a little scary. Especially since my strongest point of ministry is relationships. I just want to love everyone and always be with the people I care for. I know that is not possible however because the ones that you love in the body of Christ have to move in order to expand the kingdom. No matter if its right up the road or in the furthest reaches of earth.
People we love, brothers and sisters in Christ that we love to fulfill what God has called us to do, and as nerve racking and hard as it is on me, I know that these people that I miss alot of times are doing exactly what God has called them to do.
One of my closest friends in the world is named Abby Armstrong. She and I went to college together at Ozark and we are very close. He have alot of memories of taking random trips, doing random things, and having deep conversations. We have been freinds for around 6 years now. She left four Papa New Guinea in January and will ministering there as a teacher for the next two years. I miss our hang outs and random activities. Taking road trips just because we have a day off. She knows things about me that few people know.
I have a friend named Brandon Marscheider doing church planting in New York, My friend Jenny Smith in Tanzania doing missions work, Stephanie and Jared Henke in Japan. Matthew Herlihy doing ministry in Colorodo. They are all over the place.
I miss all of my friends, but when I see their part in the Body and what God has called them to do. I can’t be mad. I can be a little sad because I miss them, but also have tears of joy because they are doing exactly what Church is called to do. I can’t wait to get to heaven one day and see all of the people that have loved in my life. I can’t wait to see the people they have loved and the people they have show Christ. It will be such a beautiful day.
I know that there will be people who miss me, just as I miss all my friends of the past, but I hope that they know that I will be making a difference. I’ll be loving the lost and feeding the hungry. I’ll be doing something that we are all called to do. Make Disciples!
Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of age.”
I amd currently at $5,500 on my fund raising. I need to be at $7,500 by June 28th. If you can give, please do. Also continue praying for me as I prepare to leave. Bless you all and I love you.
