Dear Papa,
As I lay here in my new home, ready to sleep for the night, I know you are here with me. You know these last few days have been crazy to say the least, but you’ve been right here with me, enjoying the ride. You have been my comforter and my strength papa. You have been my Shepard and with you I lack nothing. Psalm 23 reigns true. Thank you.
As I lay here on my nice little mattress resting on the floor, inside my cozy sleeping bag, I feel at home. The wooden cabin ceiling hovers above me and the window to my feet overlooks the city of Jeffery’s Bay. The lights make one strait line across the coatline and beyond that is the ocean. I hear the wind blowing and the crickets chirping and the wrestling of my teammates in their sleeping bags. I am so, so grateful to be here.
It’s been a long journey this last week or so. Saying goodbye to my home in Costa Rica was a thoughie and then even more goodbyes after 3 days of camp. Then 3 long plane rides, 2 long layovers and one heck of a long bus ride. But we made it. We are here. And even though my spirit is still wrestling about, trying so very hard to process 4 countries in 3 days and lots of hard goodbyes, (this leaves me quite exhausted I might add which is why I am rambling to you papa) I am still so very grateful. Cause I am here. Wow, I am here.
Thank you papa, thank you, thank you!!! You have brought me to this new amazing place! You have blessed me with this cozy bed, with an ocean view in a cabin in South Africa!!! Like what? Wow you amaze me papa! You have given me the opportunity of a life time to experience this new culture, to love on these new people. To grow closer to my amazing squad and to grow even more in love with you. Thank you Papa.
I relistened to the sermon a few days ago that you spoke through Coert, Lindsay and I last May at youth group. We spoke about Mountains, Valleys and Caves. It was a fun talk. Thank you father for letting me be apart of it. The main idea of our talk was: mountain tops are motivating, valleys help us grow and caves allow us to hear God more clearly. As I relistened, you spoke over me through something Coert said: “Being alone from everybody else doesn’t mean that you’re alone because God wants to actually take you away from the environment, from the business, from the feeling that we fear to miss out, to pay attention to him.” So funny how a sermon from May, one that I was actually one of the speakers as well, can come back around and speak wisdom into my life today. That was all you papa, so thank you. I can now pretend that this cute little cozy cabin I rest in at this moment is my cave. That you have taken me away from the business and the environment I’ve been used to, to simply focus in on you. To be able to hear you more clearly. Thank you for inviting me into this cave papa.
I pray for peace right now as I lay in this cute little cozy cabin. I pray for rest. I pray that you will open my eyes to what you have for me these next 3 months. Reveal to me your perfect will and purpose! Give me a motivation and desire to grow more and more into the Woman you’ve made me to be even if it is a challenge to put aside my selfish ways to do so. Allow me to be patient with you and with those around me as we all try to discover this new adventure together.
I thank you father for loving me so well. I love you papa. Good night.
Your Daughter,
Emily
