Hello all and welcome to my blog!
My name is Christiana Cole and in September I will embark on my journey with the world race to minister to, serve, and love the people of Romania, Ukraine, Chile, Peru, and India! Make sure you keep visiting this blog, because while I am away on my journey, I will blog about my experiences here!
Between graduation, various trips, starting an internship, and a new nephew being born, I have kept very busy! But here I am, a high school graduate!!
The past few months I have been so overwhelmed by the support people have shown me and I am so thankful. Thank you to those who have supported me financially, your example of generosity is an inspiration to me. You have given your money with no hope of receiving anything in return. Thank you to those of you who have supported me through the love, care, interest and support you have shown me. It means so much. Thank you also for your prayers. This is a big trip for me. Between being away from family, living in different cultures, and all around being pushed out of my comfort zone, I would say that I am a little nervous and a lot excited! But overall I am very aware of my need for God and his help, strength, power, and love in my life. While I am gone I would so appreciate prayers for my team’s safety, prayers for courage and strength, and prayers for the people we are going to be ministering to, that they would have open hearts to hear the good news we have to share.
As I await the start of my trip, there are aspects of it that I am so excited about, but I definitely have certain fears regarding this trip. Often I have wondered, am I ready?
I have grown up immersed in diversity. Since I live near the city, I see people from all over the world frequently. Not to mention, while growing up, my mom ran a program at my church that introduced international students at UMD to American culture, and also taught them about Christ. One thing I am most excited about on the world race is I get the opportunity to meet people from other countries while I am in their country. I have always been the one at home meeting people who were far from theirs. Now I have the opportunity to be the one far away from home experiencing another culture like I never have before.
One things that I am afraid of is failing. I am scared that I will not be effective in showing people who Christ is, that I will let people down, or be a disappointment. BUT, I know that fear is the opposite of faith. And God tells us that with Him all things are possible. This trip will probably not go how I imagine it going, but that’s ok! God has brought me this far and He will not leave me now.
Though I know not where exactly I go, I know that God will be there. He will go before me, He will remain behind me, and He will never leave me.
So… Am I ready? As badly as I want to say yes, are any of us every fully ready for the unknown? I don’t know, but ready or not, I am going to go.
So here are my fears, God, here are my expectations. Take this trip and this life and help me honor you with it.
Matthew 19:26
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
