Helloooo everybody! Hope everyone is having the best Thursday! Just wanted to give you guys a little update on how things are going so far. It’s been about a month since I first started this whole adventure so if you haven’t read my first blog post, definitely go check it out. It explains all of the hows and whys of what this trip is all about. 🙂
Anywayyysss, first, a life update: Today is my 20th birthday!! WHOOP!! So that is pretty exciting. This past month at school has gone well, we are getting into essay season. Spring break was a nice change of pace though. It was good to see my family and get outside (we tent camped in Arkansas in sub freezing temps. HAHA.) But in all seriousness, it was fun.
Now to the nitty gritty because I want to be real with you guys. Life has been pretty hard recently. Out of honor for my friends and family who I just love so so much, that’s all I can really say. But yeah, it has been hard. Yet even in the midst of what can feel like utter darkness, God has been sooo gracious and just really really sweet. Specifically he has been teaching me the importance and value of going to battle for people in prayer- the type of prayer where every morning all you can do is get on your knees and cry and pray… and cry and pray… and cry and pray because your heart aches for the people in your life, and Jesus is the only answer. He is teaching me how to lean on him, and the what it looks like to give everything- every piece of my heart, every heavy moment and every light moment, every emotion and every circumstance to him. I can’t carry those things. Wow, God is such a redeemer. I have been trying to memorize this verse this week, its Luke 1:78-79. It says “Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” And isn’t it just so encouraging! It is talking about Jesus and how he is the light in the midst of the darkness. He is our guide into the way of peace, inviting us in right there with him. Man. Jesus, you are just the best.
Okay so now to the trip!!!! I have been doing quite a bit of fundraising stuff, sending out letters and all that. If you would like a letter and have not received one, comment your address and I will happily send one right over! 🙂 God has also been working on my heart, changing the way I see fundraising. It is such a growing opportunity! Learning to live in interdependence with God!! He is my provider and I am getting to see it happen before my eyes. I am already like 32% fundraised or something like that. Like whattttt!!! Praise Jesus!!! EEE! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! That being said, I still have quite a bit left but God already has a plan for that part. So yall keep praying about it and I’ll keep praying about it and I will keep you updated. I am getting more and more excited as time goes on. Things I am most excited for: hanging out with kiddos, obvs, trying new foods!!, learning new languages and cultures!! We talked briefly about Thailand in one of my sociology classes the other day and I was freaking out inside. I am just so excited to learn literally everything. I am most excited about meeting new people. It is just gonna be so awesome. And I know that there will hard moments, and exhausting moments, and just regular ole, less exciting moments mixed in with the great ones but I am just so excited to experience it all. What an adventure it will be. I bought myself some flowy gaucho pants the other day (if you don’t know what those are, definitely look them up because they are amazing) and I just felt like my truest 3rd grade self!! It’s the best!! (I had a pair of brown gauchos in 3rd grade and they were def the best pants I have ever owned.) I can not wait to wear them to my heart’s content all over Asia, and also literally everywhere else. 🙂
Please continue to pray into these coming days with me- for Thailand and Cambodia, for my own heart as I prepare to leave and also for my life right now. As excited as I am for what is to come, right now I am in College Station and I do not want to miss a moment of what God has today or tomorrow or the next day. God is already moving and working and opening doors and setting people free. I am praying for you all too! Y’all are the best!! Happy Thursday!!
Joyfully, Emily
