see you soon

   I am headed to Chicago! Once I get to Chicago I will meet up with my team and my new family for the year. We will have a few days of training and preparation and then we will finally get on a big beautiful plane and head off into the great unknown of God's amazing and powerful plan. Each one of us is following a call and although it may look a little different here and there, we are united in Christ and ready to be the hands and feet used to accomplish his purposes. 

  The last two weeks have been a hot mess of preparing, support-raising, good bye-saying, and packing. regrettably I can't say that I used the time as wisely as I could have. Most of the two weeks were filled with a strange feeling of numbness. Maybe in the sense that I i'm in shock of what i'm FINALLY going to be doing!  

 

 
The Lord used many people to bless me the last few weeks, from my girls at Shelterwood to my rag-tag group of friends coming together to see me off (you know who you are). My family celebrating Thanksgiving-Christmas-Birthday all at once, to my brother and his wife driving 6 hours to see me one last time. I can't even tell you all how loved and supported I have felt.

    One of the most heart-warming blessing was at the Methodist Church where my father works. I've gone to this church a handful of times when i've been home from school and from my various jobs. The people that attend there know my Dad, but not many of them know ME. The offer was extended for me to set up a table after church and to tell people a bit about my story. This last Sunday I did just that. I was amazed by how welcoming and open-armed this church was. The people were excited and interested and ready to listen, and I thank God for them. In just that morning I was more encouraged than I had been in weeks. The Lord used the congregation at this church to shower me with love and kindness. He used them to remind me that there are people in unexpected places that are filled with the love of Christ and ready to pour it onto others. 

 

The next few days were filled with last minute trips to get silly items that will probably be like gold overseas. Packing enough of everything for a year has been a tad stressful, especially for someone who analyzes EVERYTHING. I would have probably packed 5 or 6 large rolling suitcases for the just-in-case- situations. But instead I packed one VERY large backpack and and smaller backpack. It took probably ten tries of unpacking, repacking and weighing the pack. I was surprised at how stressful it was and just how materialistic and selfish I am.

    I honestly thought I would have no trouble and that I could just pack it within one or two tries. But the Lord was showing me, even in seemingly the smallest of tasks, He will challenge and grow us towards Him. I put a lot of value in my clothes and fashion, my hair, my pillow, and all sorts of other small things that I never realized I relied on.
 
   I can already tell, this trip is going to change me so very much. I'm very excited to keep you updated on what the Lord is doing, please keep me in your prayers. The Lord is faithful and good. I desperately want this year to bring glory to His name and to bring the nations to Him.  I am so blessed to be used by Him and I am thankful to all of you who have made this trip possible. The Lord is using you in mighty ways. Lord willing, I will be able to be the hands and feet of your generous sacrifices