I am in Atlanta! I made it. After months of preparation and many hard goodbyes, I am here. It doesn’t feel real!!!
One of my teamates, Emmy, sent me this verse yesterday morning when we arrived…
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. Psalms 46: 5-6. Even in the midst of disaster, God’s presence and voice is predominate. He is radiating his perfect peace even in my sorrows of leaving everything I know. He is within me and he will not let me fall.
He has not let me fall for even a second throughout this journey of preparation. He has provided in AMAZING ways that would be undescribable if he was not by my side. For instance, for my worship night a few weeks ago, God brought in 34 people to worship him for the evening along with $925 dollars! I am now at $10,354. HOW CRAZY!! He has been so obedient in raising the funds that I’ve needed to make this mission happen. Now it’s just time to keep saying yes and go!
I said bye to my family today and it was super hard but also so encouraging. It’s not forever, only a see you later. Just to think of all the support I have back home in my amazing community empowers me with SO much excitement!!!!!! Thank you everyone (: After saying goodbye, I wrote this letter to myself and I plan to carry this letter with me throughout this journey as a testament to why I made this crazy (awesome) decision.
Dear Emily,
I am saying yes to the Lord because I want to love and serve others. I want to go deeper and learn more about who God is. God has been stable my whole life, yet I’ve never had to fully depend on him because earthly things have still been reliable in our American society and have kept me afloat. I want to escape all I know and commit this year COMPLETELY and UTTERLY TO YOU PAPA. Even when I’m lost or confused, even when I’m beat down and broken, or when I’m numb!! (It’s an awful feeling.) But my God will give me strength.
So teach me Papa. Remove the distraction and show me your people and ways. Continue to prepare and open my heart even when I have it closed off and don’t feel you. I WILL PUSH FORWARD. I owe it to the man who pushed forward and carried that cross on his back! Who had nails pierced through his hands and feet. I will press on, I must. There was no turning back for you Jesus, there’s no turning back for me. Your love is relentless and your purpose was much greater when you were on that cross. So I will say YES even with fear and trembling because my father is good- he’s got me.
Your Daughter,
Emily
