After having blogger’s block for quite some time, I felt as though it was time to write a blog. It’s only a couple weeks until training camp and only about 3 months until I take off for our first country. At this point honestly I am kind of freaking out. I am beyond excited and so blessed with the support and encouragement that I am getting, but I am still very scared. I know that this is what I am supposed to do, I just can’t imagine leaving my family for 11 months. I know I can do it, but it is not going to be easy. This will be a time in my life that I will really have to trust God and rely on Him.
This is a big trip. A lot of preparation goes into preparing for this adventure. A large amount of gear is needed to travel to 11 countries in a year such as a tent, sleeping bag, clothes, mosquito repellant, etc.
I feel pretty equipped with the gear that I have already, but when it comes to being equipped spiritually, I don’t feel fully prepared. I don’t think anyone will ever feel fully equipped, but together the Lord will use us in so many ways. It’s constantly a worry because it feels like there is always so much more that I could do to prepare but the truth is, God will give us different unique and spiritual “gear” that we can use to bless others.
Although I don’t feel equipped with hundreds of Bible verses memorized and numerous sermons prepared and ready to go, God has equipped me with a smile. It's quite appropriate that one of my role models is Buddy the Elf. With this I am hoping to be a light to others. Making people laugh is one of my favorite things to do. Even if that’s the only part of someone’s day that they smile, at least I know that they were genuinely happy for those few moments. I hope and pray that through my ginormous smile and the conversations that I get to have with people next year that God’s love will shine through. I like to think of my smile and hugs as a portal giving other’s some of God’s love.
Some of my absolute favorite memories during my trip to Indonesia last year were when I saw the kids laughing. Many of them smile with their mouths closed because their teeth rot away before they even have a chance to lose them and give them to the tooth fairy…but gosh when they laughed I got to see their beautiful smiles. Not only that but I got to see them completely happy. 
One of the fishing villages that I stayed in for a few days had a big sign above the entrance that said “Senyum Selalu” which means always smile. Quite a coincidence that, that was where I got to live for a week. J
It comforts me to know that smiling and laughing is universal. I will be living in 11 different countries, which means I will be in many different cultures who speak many different languages. There is no way to be completely fluent with all the languages that I will experience next year. I took 4 years of Japanese in high school (not exactly sure why I chose that..) and one of the only full sentences I remember how to say in Japanese is (sounded out) “Watashi-wa nekoga sukides” which means “I love cats” ……and I don’t even really like cats that much.. Needless to say, that won’t really help me, but do you know what? God’s love is universal and the gear that each of us is given will be able to bless others through relationships. So even though there will be many times that I can’t converse with people next year, I will still be able to connect with them because I am equipped with a smile. We just have to trust that God will provide with exactly what I need to be ready for next year.
