I’m sitting here in a camper on vacation with my family, and I’m thinking about the fact that I only have TWO WEEKS until I leave for Atlanta to begin my World Race journey. Yes, you read that right…two weeks! That’s fourteen days!!! There’s so much running through my head right now that it’s hard to keep track of it all. I have a to-do list that just seems to get bigger no matter how much of it I accomplish. I have a list of foods that I want to eat before leaving, a list of things I want to do, a list of people I still have to say good-bye to. I have countless emotions, although it is mostly a back and forth pendulum between fear and excitement. I am trying to continue to be present here with my family and friends, but fighting the desire to begin this adventure with my new friends (soon to be family).
There’s so much I could write right now, but I have a feeling it would be a lot of rambling and would probably not make a whole lot of sense. So I’ll spare you the chaotic confusion of my brain right now! I think I’ll make a list, seeing as how my brain is full of them at the moment. (I can’t exactly take credit for the idea of listing things I’m going to miss and things I’m excited for and things I’m scared of….buttttt I can take credit for the original content)
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I’m really going to miss my family! Since moving to Charleston 6 years ago to attend Charleston Southern University, I’ve been 2 hours away from my family. That’s not very far when you look at the size of the world, but it’s far enough that I didn’t want to make the drive home every weekend, even if I had had the time. Having this month to spend mainly with them has been great, and it’s going to be hard to have limited communication with them during this year.
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I’m really excited to get to know my teammates! Some of them I know a little better than others, but all of them are practically strangers to me. I can’t wait to figure out who they are as people and learn the little details that make each of them who they are. #TeamSoulSpark
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I’m kind of nervous about all of the different types of food I will be eating. I’m not what I would consider picky, and I’m willing to try most anything, but I do like what I like. Comfort food is just that…comforting. It’s good to have it to fall back on. But, I am really excited to find new comfort foods all over the world (also see what desserts each country has…I have a big sweet tooth!)
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I’m really going to miss my cat! I would never imagine that that statement would come from me…but I do love my crazy, spunky Savannah! She’s cuddly at times and entertaining at others, and she has taught me a lot in the almost two years I’ve had her.
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I’m really excited to work with kids all over the world! In fact, this is probably the thing I’m most excited about! Anyone who knows me knows that I love kids! I worked at a daycare, I worked at a summer camp, I volunteered in the children’s ministry at my church. Kids have always been something I’ve been super passionate about. I want to love on kids that are hurting…and I know there will be so many hurting kids everywhere we go. It will break my heart, but it will also brighten my life in the best possible way!
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I’m pretty nervous about being surrounded by people so often. If you hadn’t guessed by now, I am an introvert. (Although lately, I’ve discovered that maybe I’m not quite as introverted as I thought) Nevertheless, I need my alone time to recharge and become sane again. Finding that time will be a challenge, but I’m blessed with a team/squad that recognizes that we all need it and respects that fact!
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I’m really going to miss a comfortable mattress! Having a down topper on my mattress has been a nice luxury for sure! But my soft and squishy dolphin pillow pet and I will be best friends after 11 months! ***Side note: I still haven’t decided on a name yet!
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I’m really excited to see and hear and experience new things this year! A. Watching people come to Christ is the absolute coolest experience ever!!! B. Watching people worship in other countries (and being able to participate) will be awesome! C. I may get to witness people get healed, which will be completely new for me. D. Every culture is different and beautiful and challenging in it’s own way, and I get to be right in the middle of it all!
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I’m pretty nervous about the whole bathroom situation. (nervous is not really the right word, but I’ve got to continue with the theme) Ok, yes, I’m going to talk about that! Bathrooms in other countries are, well, not always the greatest. But hey, I can only imagine the stories I’m going to have about that when I come back!
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I’m really going to miss my friends! Each of them means so much to me…Rachelle and Casee and Lauren and Emily…you guys are awesome and I love you!!! I hate I’m going to miss a whole year with y’all! (and the baby…I really hate I’m going to miss a year, the first year, with the brand-new Baby Lane!!!)
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I’m really excited for all-squad months! Getting to know each of my squadmates at training camp was the BEST, and I hate that we are split up for most of the year! I’m super excited for those few months we do get to be all together in one place!!! I know it will be a blast!
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I’m pretty nervous about the growth I’m going to go through…well more so what is going to produce the growth. Growth usually comes from challenges and hardships and trying times. A seed doesn’t automatically become a beautiful flower. First, it has to push it’s way through the soil and then, it has to endure all the weather around it. Only after all of that does the flower bloom.
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I’m really going to miss the comforts of America! I didn’t want to admit this one, but it is true. Life is going to change completely, and it’s not always going to be easy or fun. I’m blessed in that I’m not going through it alone. I have Jesus and I have my team and I have my squad and I have my leaders! I will also have a great support system back home!
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I’m really excited to form relationships all over the world! I’m going to know people in almost all parts of the world, and how cool is that!? I will have new mamas and papas, I will have new friends, I will have new brothers and sisters in Christ. I will hear stories from other people and I will get to share my own. God created us for relationships, and I’m ready to find out who I am going to form those relationships with each month!
So, I hope that wasn’t too confusing and all over the place! Thanks for sticking with me!
On another note, I am excited to announce that I have reached my second goal of $10,000!!! I still have $7,000 more to raise before November 30th, so I can spend 11 months on the field serving Jesus!
Here’s how you can help: Pray! Donate! Spread the word!
God Bless and Much Love,
Chelsea
