It is 8:50pm and I just said goodbye to my parents and
little sister. I’m holding back tears as I write this. Today is best described
as bittersweet. Today I begin the adventure God has planned for me and today is
the day I leave the people I love the most in the whole world. I am so sad
about all the family times I’ll miss these next 11 months and all the major
events. The birthdays: My grandpa will be 90 years old, my mom is turning 50,
and my sister Kelly will be 16. I’ll also miss friends’ weddings and the births
of their babies.
I
am happy to be sad for two reasons. First of all it means that I am fortunate enough to have something to
miss. I have a loving family, a
nice home, supportive friends and a blessing filled home church. All these make
saying goodbye bittersweet. I know I have their prayers and encouragement every
step of the way and that they understand why I must go. I am so blessed to have
so many people who support my decision to follow God’s call.
Secondly,
I am happy to be sad because it means that I am stretching myself and giving of
myself for another person. I am excited to see how God will use me to bring His
love and hope to the nations this year. I am looking forward to being out of my
comfort zone and fully dependent upon God as I reach out to women in Thailand.
I’m excited to hold an orphaned baby in a Cambodian slum. I can hardly wait to
see the things God has planned.
I
know that in the end the happy will outweigh the sad.
