It’s official, I’m 24. Thank you all for all of the love and support you’ve extended this past week. I’m blown away. I’ve been asked several times how I feel about being 24. I usually just say that it feels the same as 23, but when we got to ministry this morning, my teammate asked me that question again. This time I actually stopped to think about it. I told her I feel like I should have my life more together. That I should have a plan, and know what I’m doing, but the Lord has totally wrecked all of the plans I had and placed me on the mission field instead. Now, I’m in a Roma community in the mountains of Albania, loving on kids and celebrating life. It feels weird. Something about it feels wrong, and yet feels so right.
Growing up in America, I was told that by the time I was in my 20s I should have a career, a husband, a house, and have kids on the way. Well, none of those things are an option for me right now. The Lord called me to full surrender of my plans and full abandonment of the comforts of a job, a home, and a family. I’m learning to live outside these parameters. I’m learning to trust God’s plan over societies and over my own. I’m learning that it’s okay to be 24 and not have any of those things. That doesn’t mean I’m failing at life, it means I’m following God’s particular plan for me. A plan that is full of his grace, goodness, love. A plan for my “life abundant” that he promises in John 10:10, and for that I could not be more thankful. Though my 24th year looks nothing like I thought it would, I know it is exactly how God planned it. His plan and his plan alone is enough for me.
*Huge shoutout to the incredible women of team Bamboo for celebrating me, laughing with me, and buying me chocolate. Thanks for helping me start off year 24 with a bang!*
